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JuggleJoy Educational Entertainment features the
husband-and-wife team of Keith Hughes and Mary Joy (M.J.) Moriarty. From their
home-base in West Hartford, Connecticut, the two regularly perform at schools,
libraries, festivals and museums throughout New England and have taught circus
and theater arts to students ranging from kindergartners to college students to
adults.
They are the opening act for the Bushnell Children's Theatre and are teaching
artists for the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts' Partners in the Arts
educational programs. They have served on the faculties of University of
Hartford's Summer Place, Oddfellows Playhouse in Middletown, and New England
Academy of Theatre in New Haven. They are listed on the Connecticut
Commission on Culture and Tourism's Roster of Performing Artists.
Keith and M.J. have been presenters at the Connecticut Storytelling Festival, the
Connecticut Drama Association Festival, and the New England Theatre
Conference. They have also been guest lecturers at the college level at the
University of Hartford and the Hartford Conservatory.
Prior to JuggleJoy, Keith performed as a family entertainer in a variety of venues.
In 1984, he ran away and joined the circus, performing in 35 states as a juggler,
unicyclist, and clown for the Royal Lichtenstein Circus. As a member of the
Spaghetti Brothers from 1986-89, he performed throughout Connecticut with
partner Ed Chiucarello. Keith was a West Hartford public school teacher from
1987-95. A graduate of Fairfield University, he holds an M.A. in Community
Psychology from Central Connecticut State University. He teaches theater and
circus arts as means to foster resiliency and positive social skills in children and
teenagers. As a former member of Toastmasters International, Keith won
numerous awards for his humorous and inspirational speeches. He currently is
an adjunct professor at Manchester Community College, where he teaches Public
Speaking.
M.J. studied acting at Holy Cross College in Worcester, MA and the Folger
Shakespeare Theater in Washington, D.C. After graduating from Georgetown
University Law School and practicing law for two years, M.J. decided she
preferred to practice juggling, performing for classrooms rather than courtrooms.
Since 1992, she has performed as a comic variety artist and storyteller, both solo
and with Keith. M.J. was a founding member of the professional comedy
improvisation troupe, The WHIT, with which she performed for four years. M.J. is
also an adjunct professor at University of Hartford, where she teaches Creativity:
The Dynamics of Artistic Expression.
| JuggleJoy Educational Entertainment |
