Calling Reed Martin a clown is not an insult.

Prior to his current employment, Martin was a circus clown for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. That experience comes in handy today as Martin’s two jobs require him to draw a few laughs from an audience.

In a cramped office inside Burbank Auditorium, as the sun shined brightly through a window, Martin let out a smile and simple laugh. An adjunct instructor at SRJC’s Theatre Arts Department, Martin is co-owner of the Reduced Shakespeare Company (RSC) a three-man comedy troupe known for taking long, serious topics and making them short and silly.

The RSC formed in Northern California and tours the world. “We started at the Renaissance Fair in Black Point in 1981 as the ‘Pass the Hat’ act, doing short versions of ‘Romeo & Juliet’ and ‘Hamlet,’ and that’s where we developed our style, which is fast, funny and physical,” Martin said.

Martin has been with the RSC since 1989 and when he started, it wasn’t a full-time job. At the time, the RSC only had one show, but about a year later it became a full-time job.

The RSC will perform “The Complete World of Sports (abridged)” on March 27 to benefit the SRJC Theatre Arts Department. “You don’t have to be a sports fan to see the show. The show is just silly, no matter what your opinion of sports is,” Martin said.

The performance will be the RSC’s second to last before taking the show to the U.K. this summer to coincide with the Olympics. “We’re excited to be going back to London and to show our Sonoma fans where we started and where we are now,” Martin said.

The RSC will perform “The Complete World of Sports (abridged)” for 11 weeks: five weeks around Britain and six weeks performing at the Arts Theatre in London. “We’re very well known in England and although we started here, we live here. We’re known in America, but we’re famous in England! So we’re looking forward to going back and it just seems like the ‘Sports’ show in London during the Olympics is a no-brainer,” Martin said.

Dodds Delzell, a Sonoma County based stage actor and Martin’s acting colleague, met Martin 11 years ago while working on a PBS fundraiser. Later while working with Sonoma County Repertory, Delzell said Martin offered some updates to the RSC produced show titled “The History of America (abridged),” which Delzell acted in.

According to Delzell, when Martin and RSC co-owner Austin Tichenor wrote “The Complete World of Sports (abridged),” they tried to change how shows were done in the past since Martin and Tichenor did all the work themselves as writers and performers. Delzell was chosen to work on the “Sports” show. “It was a successful partnership,” he said.

Delzell was quick to point out that Martin’s style is loose and very businesslike, but he is open and creative. The words and vision that help create the shows are all Martin’s and Tichenor’s. “They are constantly watching, evaluating, looking for better words, moments and making things better. Reed is super smart, and his eye for detail is incredible, so for me it’s the best of both worlds. In short, (he’s) driven,” Delzell said.

In addition to Martin’s job with the RSC, he has taught SRJC theatre art classes for the last five years. He enjoys working close to home and is glad to be able to balance both jobs. “I don’t do all the RSC shows. The JC theatre department has been very generous in allowing me some flexibility to go out and do performances when I feel like there are things that I can’t miss,” Martin said.

He admits he learns a lot from his students because as a performer, he tends to do things instinctively, but after a while, he forgets about the process. Having to break it down and explain the process to students brings clarification to Martin, whose students then come up with their own ideas and questions. “I think I get more out of it than the students do. I just love the energy of the students and their enthusiasm,” Martin said.

As for Martin’s job at SRJC, he said it’s wonderful to work at a college that is superior to most four-year schools the RSC visits. Martin first connected with SRJC when he performed here with the Summer Repertory Theatre in 1984.

SRJC Theatre Arts Department chair Laura Downing said, “Reed brings so much enthusiasm and first-hand knowledge to his classes, which is invaluable for our students. As a colleague, he is a great professional resource and always ready with a smile, and a positive word. It is not often you can say, ‘I work with a clown!’ and mean it as a positive!”

Martin said he feels fortunate to have his job with the RSC because it’s something he’s enjoyed doing since first taking acting lessons while attending UC Berkeley. He’s always loved comedy.

Growing up, he felt inspired by the likes of “Monty Python,” Bugs Bunny, Bill Cosby, Buster Keaton, Steve Martin and many more.

“To be able to write and perform comedies for a living…so many people in the entertainment business can’t make a living at it, so to be able to do it is just wonderful,” Martin said. He’s content in making people laugh hysterically and enjoys seeing new places, and meeting new people.

Regarding the “World of Sports,” Downing said, “This benefit can make a big difference for the Theatre Arts Department as we continue striving to produce top-quality educational theatre in these tough economic times. This is a perfect way to do something wonderful for yourself and help us make magic for years to come. Whether you are a sports fan or not, this is guaranteed to be a hilarious night of fun.”

The RSC’s comedy style is similar to television shows like “Monty Python,” “Whose Line Is It Anyway” or “Saturday Night Live,” that is the kind of performance you will see March 27. “All proceeds are going to the SRJC Theatre Arts Department, so it’s for a good cause,” Martin said.

Tickets for the show are $30 per person and can be purchased at the SRJC Box Office or ordered online at: www.santarosa.edu/theatrearts. A parking fee of $4 is required for on-campus parking.

For more information on the Reduced Shakespeare Company, go to: http://www.reducedshakespeare.com