Meet the League at Boston Children’s Hospital

Member Since ‘97
Hasbro Team Leader 2008-2022

Mal Malme (Dr. Maladjusted) has been a healthcare clown for over twenty five years at Boston Children's and Hasbro Children's Hospitals. Mal is a Boston theater artist and activist. They co-created and perform in The Pineapple Project, a play for kids that celebrates gender diversity. As an actor, Mal has worked with many Boston theaters including; Boston Playwright’s Theatre, Company One, Moonbox Productions, Sleeping Weazel and Speakeasy Stage.

Member Since '14

Leah Abel (Dr. Bucket Buster) is the founder and executive director of Circus Up, a Boston-based, social circus program making circus more inclusive, joyful and accessible for all. A performer/instructor with Clowns Without Borders - performing in Haiti, Palestine, Myanmar among others places - Leah once worked for Cruze Comics on Royal Caribbean. They perform all around the Boston area doing duo aerial acts (Baechtold and Abel). Leah Abel holds an MA Degree in Environmental Law and Policy and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Member Since ’15

Clown and variety artist since 1978, Joe Howard (Dr. Joekulele) is a magician, puppeteer, balloon artist, juggler, musician and stilt walker. He has performed at AEMI Clown Festivals, China, as well as fairs, festivals, schools and colleges across the USA. Magician and Co-Producer of The Mystery Lounge in Somerville, MA. Medieval Trixter (Magician), King Richard’s Renaissance Fair, Joe is an avid cyclist and instructor for indoor cycling (spin) classes.

Member Since ’16
Hospital Clown Since ’97

Jeff Smithson (Dr. Bafu) fosters the power of play in a wide variety of settings: from hospital rooms to classrooms; from board rooms to halfway houses. Through his consulting company, Proponent of Play, Jeff offers workshops in Mindfulness and Movement. He is a graduate of Bates College, Ringling Clown College, and Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre.

Member Since ‘18

Joy Powers (Dr. Sweet Pea) has been clowning since age 15, and has performed with Ringling Brothers, Theatre a Tempo, Hideaway Circus, The Piccolini Trio, Theater in the Open, and Cirque Us. In 2023 she joined forces with Aaron Dewitt to form the creative clown, acrobatic, and juggling duo "Joy and Aaron", with their two person circus show, "To the Moon and Back". Joy is also an artist, sculptor, and large-scale muralist. Her favorite things are dogs, Cheezits, nature, making art, and laughing with friends. And exclamation points!!!!

Member Since ‘22

Hasbro Team Leader

Lori Tolentino (Dr. RaH RaH) a professional Musician, Web Designer & Visual Artist joining the Laughter League November 2021 to spread a little sunshine bringing along skills from many years as patient service coordinator for an Autism Center and Mental Health Facility. She is known for being a kid magnet with her dazzling lights and silly songs.

Member Since ‘22

Amanda Ludeking (Nurse Blooper) graduated with an M.A. in Drama Therapy from Lesley University in May 2022. Her focus is on using play and playfulness to foster therapeutic relationships and help others navigate this chaotic world. She's loved theater and improvisation for as long as she can remember, and has been involved with Theater in the Open for over twenty years.

Member Since ‘22

In addition to clowning, Liz Hartford (Dr. Zippy) is a classically trained actor and an educator. Some of her specialties include bubbles, magic, balloon artistry, and physical comedy. For the past couple decades, Liz has also performed with Silly Sally’s Parties and Entertainment, Boston’s hit Shakespeare show, Theatre Espresso and The Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse, among others. Liz also creates and directs productions for up to 50 budding actors from Ward After-School in Newton, MA.

Member Since ’07

Jay (Doc Skeeter) has been lucky to have worked with some of the best Clowns in the business, in places like Kinoshita Circus, Japan, “Three Stooges, Live!”, Las Vegas, The Seaside Clowns, Myrtle Beach, and as Boss Clown of The Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus. Jay is now proud to be Team Leader of The Laughter League at Boston Children’s Hospital. For over 30 years, Jay’s been happy to make a living playing the fool!

Member Since ’17

Jenny the Juggler (Dr. BeBopper) has been creating fabulous unforgettable experiences through juggling, magic, music, bubbles, balloons, "child whispering" and witty repartee for 25+ years. Becoming Dr. Be Bopper has been a privilege of a lifetime. Jenny also sings lead vocals and plays electro-acoustic ukulele in her American-Latin rock band, Chica Fuego & The Gringos.

Member Since ‘22

Ivy Jackson (Dr. Kewl) is an actor, performer, and then some! Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Ivy recently relocated to Boston to further her acting career. Ivy has been in multiple plays, webseries, and other productions but she managed to stumble upon healthcare clowning and hasn’t been the same since! “Healthcare clowning has taught me that there’s more to the world than just myself, and that clowning can be a source of healing, not just silliness and laughter (although that definitely makes the job more fun)!

Member Since ‘25

Shir Livne (Dr. Bird Brain) is a circus artist who specializes in tightwire, aerial rope, and clown. She has performed her solo show about motherhood, MOM*, across the USA, and also works as a circus instructor for both kids and adults in the Boston area. Before becoming a circus performer, Shir studied mechanical engineering, and worked as a robotics engineer for a decade. In all her professions, she often asks the question “what if?”, and dreams big.

Member Since ‘25

“Gwynnethe Grooves” Glickman is a mother and multi disciplinary artist from Newbury, MA. Gwynnethe found their way to clowning at 14 years old when she was cast as the eccentric clown in a trio for a panto at Theater in the Open. Gwynnethe studied Theatre and Education at Northern Essex Community College and was nationally awarded twice for acting at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. Gwynnethe is a self proclaimed “Quack of all Trades”. From school to the stage to the screen Gwynnethe aims to share her passion for the arts in meaningful ways that uplift all walks of life. As Dr. Grooves they specialize in improvisational ukulele songs, silly gooseness, and groovy vibes!

Member Since ‘25

Born to tame lions but cursed with a cat allergy, Liam began performing with Circus Smirkus at the age of 15. He then went on to study circus arts at the Circus School of Quebec, and since graduating in 2020 has been traveling and performing on stages and street corners around the world. Currently based in Boston, Liam is overjoyed to have joined the ranks of the Laughter League this past winter, where he assumes the role of "Dr. Goggles".

Member Since ‘25

Kylie Rolincik (Doctor Toad) is a writer/performer with an MFA in Writing for Film & TV from Emerson College and an MA in Performance Studies from NYU. She studied clown at Brooklyn Comedy Collective and The Pandemonium Studio in NYC and École Philippe Gaulier in Étampes, France. 

She works as a communications coach, using her signature PLAY framework to invite more ease, joy, and connection into her clients’ lives. She also serves as a professor of screenwriting and media studies in the Film Department at Boston College. 

Her daily spiritual practices include Tai Chi and scream-laughing directly into the sun.