Full-Tilt

The troupe's new show, "Clowns Full-Tilt: A Musing on Aesthetics," aims to explore such subjects as the pursuit of beauty, free expression and the pursuit of love, and to find humor in those topics along the way.

The Red-Nosed Revolution Barbara Chai 2011

At a rehearsal for "Clowns Full-Tilt," which opens Friday at La MaMa's First Floor Theatre on East Fourth Street, Ms. Cornell spoke with The Wall Street Journal, a red nose dangling from an elastic band around her neck.

The Red-Nosed Revolution Barbara Chai 2011

Full-Tilt stayed backstage for most of the evening.

Buried Alive, The Biography of Janis Joplin Friedman, Myra 1973

She babbled unceasingly about her happiness with Full-Tilt.

Buried Alive, The Biography of Janis Joplin Friedman, Myra 1973

Janis and Full-Tilt arrived back in New York the next day, just in time for the Peace Festival at Shea Stadium.

Buried Alive, The Biography of Janis Joplin Friedman, Myra 1973

We'd arranged to do the photos somewhere near the West Village studio where Full-Tilt was in rehearsal.

Buried Alive, The Biography of Janis Joplin Friedman, Myra 1973

By the time they got back to Ungano's, Full-Tilt was in the audience and Janis was a great deal worse.

Buried Alive, The Biography of Janis Joplin Friedman, Myra 1973

John went out to San Francisco, was properly delighted with Full-Tilt, and went marching back home to his old job.

Buried Alive, The Biography of Janis Joplin Friedman, Myra 1973

That evening, Toby Ben, Janis, myself, and several members of Full-Tilt went to dinner at Bradley's.

Buried Alive, The Biography of Janis Joplin Friedman, Myra 1973

Despite the proficiency and commitment of the five musicians in Full-Tilt, it is doubtful that Janis could have worked so well, even with them, had she not managed to kick the junk.

Buried Alive, The Biography of Janis Joplin Friedman, Myra 1973