Hearts and Noses Hospital Clown Troupe - Boston, MA

Our Founder

JEANNIE LINDHEIM

"In 1996, I read Patch Adams’ book Gesundheit! When I read his words, ‘I take clowns to Russia,’ I knew I had to go!

So, in November of 1996, I went to Russia with Patch. As I was putting all my fanny packs on the conveyer belt at the airport, I heard my husband yelling, ‘Watch your stuff!’ I looked at him, smiled, waved good-bye and in that moment, I was nobody’s wife, mother, teacher, or friend. I was just this incredibly silly clown who just didn’t ‘get it.’ My clown, Bloopers, was born in that instant! People think that I am fairly intelligent, but the truth is that I really don’t ‘get it.’ So my clown was based on myself, vulnerable and innocent.

One evening when I was sitting in my Moscow hotel room, I decided to start a Clown Troupe in Boston, my home town. I decided to offer a day-long workshop called The Art & Joy of Hospital Clowning in order to teach some techniques for hospital clowning. I honestly thought about six people might sign up. Twenty-five people registered and another 25 were on the waiting list, much to my amazement!"

Jeannie came back committed to bring the light and love of Clown World to children right here in her home town of Boston, and in 1997 founded Jeannie Lindheim’s Hospital Clown Troupe. Patch Adams had planted the seeds of his inspiring work in fertile soil, as Jeannie already had extensive experience in improvisation, theater, and training.

Jeannie has taught for over 30 years at many educational institutions including University of Mass/Boston, Harvard University Law School (Theater in the Courtroom), Boston University, Boston College, The Boston Conservatory, Lyric Stage, Wheelock College, Lesley College Expressive Therapies Graduate Program, Antioch College, American University, and George Washington University.

She has given workshops at the Educational Arts Association National Convention and at the JFK Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. In 1985, she opened her own theatre school in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Jeannie has acted professionally and studied at Boston University; the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, England; New York’s Herbert Berghoff Studio; and the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. She holds a Master of Arts from the University of California and a Masters of Fine Arts from Brandeis University.

She also offers a workshop to physicians called Special Connections: Communicating with Patients with Life-threatening Illness.

She teaches this workshop at Harvard Risk Management Foundation, at Boston hospitals, and around the country.

In 2003, Jeannie was honored to be chosen as a recipient of the Magic 106.7 Exceptional Women Award, which was given at a special ceremony on May 15, 2003. In 1999, she was honored by the Boston Celtics as one of their Heroes Among Us. On July 26, 2002, the troupe was featured on Boston’s Channel 5 Chronicle in a segment entitled, Clowning Around: Just What the Doctor Ordered.

In June 2006, we adopted a new name, Hearts and Noses Hospital Clown Troupe, to reflect the growth in our organization and in its charter. We now conduct clown training seminars to teach our bedside clowning techniques to hospital clowns outside Boston, in addition to continuing to serve hospitalized children here. Jeannie Lindheim continues to serve the Troupe as our Founder and as 'Bloopers', the clown.