Willow Glen Resident
Community
Photograph courtesy of Scotty & Trink
Talent Returns: Performers Scotty Meltzer and Trink Spang-Hanssen are returning to the Willow Glen Middle and High School Little Theater with their comedy and juggling act.
School welcomes jugglers who throw everything into act
By Mayra Flores De Marcotte
Comedy comes to Willow Glen Middle and High School's "Thursdays and Fridays at the Theater" this month in the form of knives and unicycles.
On Jan. 18, comedians Scotty & Trink will perform their spur-of-the-moment comedy and juggling act for the Willow Glen community.
"They're a great act," says series spokesman Rick Guptill. "It's constant fun. Even between acts, while they talk to the crowd, there aren't any breaks."
This will be the duo's second appearance at the theater series designed to raise money for the schools' music department.
Willow Glen Middle and High School Music Boosters, a branch of the Willow Glen Middle and High School Foundation, produces the event.
Guptill says their first appearance in 2005 was one of the best-attended shows.
"There are just good belly laughs to be had," he says.
Guptill says Scotty & Trink's act is perfect for the whole family.
The duo, formerly Grinn & Barrett, are performers Scotty Meltzer and Trink Spang-Hanssen.
The comedic jugglers have performed with such headliners as Bill Cosby, Bob Hope and Weird Al Yankovitch.
Their routines include juggling knives, balls, clubs, rings, torches and bowling balls as well as riding a unicycle while they juggle.
"We've been jugglers for over 20 years and make our full-time living on it," Meltzer says. "We have no other marketable skills, so we have no other options, and we love it."
Meltzer studied drama in school while Spang-Hanssen studied juggling in Denmark. Both say they are thrilled to be part of the "Thursdays and Fridays at the Theater" series again, allowing them to perform for a community, such as Willow Glen, that values its music and drama programs.
"It was great fun," Meltzer says, adding that he appreciates the fact that the majority of the people attending the performance are involved in the theater department.
"I get to go and perform for people that are enthusiastic about theater," he says. "It's their sports field."
The range of ages also is attractive to the duo.
"It's not like a comedy club," Meltzer says. "Everyone at a club are adults. Here, you get young and old and everything in between."
Scotty & Trink perform Jan. 18 at Willow Glen Middle and High School Little Theater, 2105 Cottle Ave., from 7 to 8 p.m. For information or tickets, call 408.464.3643 or visit www.ThursdaysAtTheTheater.org. Tickets are $6-$7, or $25 for families.
