Move over, Emmett Kelly and Bill Irwin. It's time for Zzoomm Zzoomm The Magic Clown, a dark comedy about the travels and travails of a grotesque clown troupe, which opens Oct. 23 at the Pelican Theatre in New York City.

The biting political satire, set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, is written by Stephen Spoonamore and directed by Ken Gasser and Ron Mathews, with a cast featuring Shay Gines, Angel Hayes, Jenna Jolley, Paul Sparks, Bill Velin, and Trevor A. Williams.

Spoonamore is the author of 16 plays, including Obsession and Noah's Archives.

In 1995 he was named a Playwrighting Fellow at the Sundance Institute, where he developed the children's musical Lindsor Newt and the Real Boy Suit with composer Michael Silversher; Lindsor Newt was later produced at numerous theatres including the Hanger Theatre in Utica, NY. Spoonamore is currently at work on a play about Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the "Little House" series of books.

Zzoomm Zzoomm The Magic Clown, a production of Esperance Theatre Co., is being performed at the Pelican Theatre, 750 Eighth Ave, New York, through Nov. 9. For information and tickets, call (212) 479-7752. --By Rebecca Paller