Red Noses, Real Grit, Real Opportunity

n the Mojave Desert, far from the distractions of campus life, CSUN theatre students are discovering what they can become.

A weeklong, immersive training experience, the Circus and Clown Desert Intensive — an annual program unique to CSUN — provides 30 hours of instruction by renowned Cirque du Soleil artists. The program is designed and led by professor Sonia Norris. Students stay at the Sandy Valley Ranch outside Las Vegas and work through training on rarely accessible skills such as trapeze, acrobatics, juggling, clowning and miming.

What makes this program exceptional is its impact on how students think, create and perform. The experience is “a valuable part of actor training because it challenges us to confront our limiting beliefs — physical and psychological — and to go beyond what [is] possible … it requires that we face our fear of failure, building courage, imagination and daring,” Norris said. Students leave the program stronger in body and mind, more confident in auditions and bolder in performance, she said. They learn extraordinary performance skills, discipline and stronger sense of self, building better communication skills and trust, Norris added.

However, the intensive remains financially out of reach for some theatre students. Many juggle full course loads with multiple jobs and family responsibilities. Participation requires program fees and a time commitment that might otherwise be spent earning a paycheck, often creating a financial barrier for qualified students.

Across CSUN, donor support ensures that transformative programs like the Circus and Clown Desert Intensive remain accessible to the talented students who need them most. Contributions fund scholarships that offset attendance costs and replace lost wages, ensuring access is determined by commitment and potential, not financial circumstances.

Thanks to donor generosity, students facing sudden family or financial hardships have been able to seize opportunities they once thought were out of reach. Investing in programs like the Circus and Clown Desert Intensive is an investment in resilience, confidence and nurturing imagination. Your support allows CSUN students to discover how far they can go to reach their dreams

—Naz Keynejad