The award-winning 500 Clown company is an amalgam of performance art, improvisation and circus acts that creates an unpredictable environment which takes the audience from being a passive witness to becoming active observers. 500 Clown's Frankenstein begins as "three clowns embark on a madcap journey to construct Dr. Frankenstein's laboratory," according to press notes. "Challenging and elaborate period costumes, poor lighting, difficult language, and an ornery table prevent them from properly telling Mary Shelley's classic tale. Comic mayhem takes a sharp turn to a devastating climax when one clown is forced to play the role of the creature and suffer abuse and abandonment. The result is the creation of unexpected horror."

500 Clown is readying a monstrously busy holiday season with performances of its Christmas production, which is also slated for the line-up at PS 122. The New York debut of 500 Clown Christmas will run Dec. 21-30.

Musician John Fournier will team up with 500 Clown in a "clown-rock-pop-jazz-theatre-concert-party" that explores all facets of the holiday season from the commercial to the classic. Press notes state, "3 clowns and a 3 piece band throw a celebration to make Fezziwig proud, complete with a holiday toast, gift-giving, and original live music."

Performance Space 122 is located at 150 First Avenue (at East 9th Street). Tickets are available at www.ps122.org or by calling (212) 352-3101.