Bold & Beautiful: Styxx the Variety Performer

With artistic influences ranging from the theatrical choreography of Charlie Chaplin to the whimsical, oddball nature of Mr. Bean and vaudeville mime and clown Avner the Eccentric, local variety performer Styxx is exceeding expectations and overriding perceptions on what it means to be in the business of “clownery.”

A born-and-raised Utah native, Styxx had an initial interest in theater and improv in school which later progressed to entering the “flow” scene, where he began to juggle and perform at festivals. Mat Uhl, whose clown persona is Beeber B. Clown, was looking to put together a clown show, piquing Styxx’s interest and giving him the needed push to pursue clowning. “[Uhl] told me that he tries to sift through people and find the true clowns,” Styxx says.

“After viewing my Facebook profile, he said that he felt I was, indeed, a true clown.” From his time with Uhl, Styxx would then meet Celeste McCulley — stage name Ms. Meowgick — who he would become an apprentice for. “She showed me the wonder of circus life; she taught me balloon twisting, burlesque and clowning. My life as a performer really took off from there,” he says.

“It’s been difficult to find a title that represents everything I can do.”

Styxx has learned many skills — either self-taught or from friends in the community — that present in his performances, including improvisation, crowd interaction and juggling with props such as devilsticks, clubs and balls. Although the art of clowning may carry a misrepresentative image of brightly colored, ruffled costumes and squeaking, red noses, Styxx opts for expressive makeup that exaggerates his own features as “clowning is about accentuating authenticity,” he says. “I basically just [am] me, but more.”

He notes that to be a clown you really just need to live in the moment and approach life with curiosity and wonder. “To truly be a clown is to be vulnerable,” he says. “Clowns walk the border between sanity and insanity; wisdom and foolishness … I chose the name Styxx for the River Styx that crosses between the world of mortality and spirit. And then I added another x because I enjoy being different.” 

Although some of their abilities may appear to be standard clown fare, Styxx is an artist of many hats, preferring the term variety performer as it better encompasses their myriad talents. “I’m a clown, but I’m also a fire spinner, boylesque performer, juggler, flow artist (movement and prop manipulation), emcee, clown instructor, balloon twister, puppeteer, therapeutic clown, improviser, creative consultant and experiential facilitator,” he says. “It’s been difficult to find a title that represents everything I can do.”

“Clowns walk the border between sanity and insanity; wisdom and foolishness…”

Ultimately, Styxx performs with the desire to create memories, invite others to play, have fun and embrace the silly. When asked what other local artistries could better be represented by SLUG’s Bold & Beautiful features, he says, “Silly burlesque acts. Silly is sexy. Dare to be ridiculous and don’t take things so seriously.” As an award-winning boylesque performer (a blend of traditional burlesque, drag and performance art, sometimes referred to as male burlesque), Styxx recognizes the necessity to highlight and support these underground communities. He mentions that those in

the local performing arts scene are supportive of one another and that there is a growing interest in clowning. “Nick Keil (@thatstixguy) has been doing an amazing job advocating for and helping out the flow community, and Keith Petersen (@hug_juggler) is a very talented juggler and a great friend. Ms. Meowgick (@celestemcculley) is absolutely incredible, and I would not be where I’m at today if it weren’t for her.”

Despite being a seasoned variety performer, Styxx recognizes that occasional mess-ups in this line of work are inevitable and it’s best to persevere, regardless of the outcome.

He says, “The most difficult part has been the ability to embrace failure and keep going without saying sorry. To be able to mess up and, instead of turning away from the audience, look at [them] with a smile, raise my arms and say, ‘Ta-Da!’”

You can find Styxx on Instagram at @_fiddlesticks_26 and on their boylesque Instagram @styxx_x_variety, to keep up with upcoming events and festivals where they’ll be performing. To learn more about the art of clowning, Styxx also teaches classes, workshops and private lessons at Vaudeville Underground, a circus arts studio in West Valley City. 

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