In a world besieged with serious issues, problems and tragedies, Theodore White provides a special touch that impacts those around him in positive ways.
White has served as a volunteer chaplain at Inova Alexandria Hospital since the early 1990s. He assists patients and their families during times of illness and death and is a comfort to those facing challenging and difficult times in their lives.
Originally from Norfolk, he’s been married 28 years with no children; his wife quickly learned what a sense of humor White possesses. When he attended her nieces’ birthday parties, White would dress up as a clown and perform magic tricks. If a friend or acquaintance of the family was hospitalized, he would appear in his clown attire to cheer them up.
When he previously worked for the Alexandria Department of Social Services, he entertained his colleagues. “It was an explosion of a reaction. They just laughed and laughed,” he said. After four years of employment at the Department of Social Services, he left to work in the clowning arena full time. “It’s been scary financially but every second has been an enjoyable ride,” White said.
Though he began his clowning career by “winging it,” he began to seriously study the entertainment modality of clowning. He learned the rules of makeup and clowning, read books, attended seminars and talked to people in the business. “I read every book I could read on clowning and magic. I knew it was something I wanted to do, but I didn’t feel comfortable with it,” he said.
He soon established himself as the “Amazing Budget Clown” and advertised himself. He began to get phone calls immediately. “Between The Washington Post and the Yellow Pages, I did pretty good,” White said.
He entertained as a clown at many birthday parties for children and also attended a few adult parties. As time progressed, he served as a clown at all types of events. He was even invited to The White House to perform for the Easter Egg Roll when President George H.W. Bush was in office.
In addition to performing at parties, White has taught lessons to others through the medium of his clowning and magic techniques. His current clowning business, “Amazing Clowns and Etc.,” presents magic shows with a message. Some of the various theme shows include the Black History Magic Show, Child Safety Magic Show, Ecology Magic Show, Reading Is Fun Magic Show, and the Self Esteem Magic Show. His services have been engaged for Black History Programs. He conducted a self-esteem show through performing magic and involving the participants with encouragement to value themselves. “Always treasure yourself — even if others talk trash,” he told his audience.
White considers the linkage between chaplaincy and clowning to center upon participation and getting others involved. “As an entertainer for kids, I want to get them to volunteer. They have ownership,” he said. White also teaches Bible Study to seniors at Oakland Baptist Church in Alexandria and gets them involved as well.
Several churches have hired him to explain the Bible in balloons. He would create balloon sculptures in the shapes of whales, pandas, sharks, and other creatures to demonstrate that God created them. He would also create sculptures of the sun and stars and other entities of God’s creation. Other balloon sculptures consisted of flowers and fruit to demonstrate growing of the spirit. “It involves a lot of creativity,” White said.
The Bible and Balloons Program is a form of ministry, and White has performed magic shows for Baptist, Catholic and Presbyterian churches. “My ministry as a clown is to get involvement. They open themselves up to creativity. The goal of it is to help them to solve problems and have a feeling of accomplishment. Magic is very important. It gets more participation,” White said.
He has performed at First Night Alexandria and also participated in the 2014 New Year’s celebration. “He is incredible. He is so engaging. He does such beautiful balloon art. The kids just love him,” said Ann Dorman, producer of Alexandria’s First Night. In the past, he also performed as a clown on Del Ray Day and delighted those in attendance with his balloon sculptures.
“Ted has been clowning since before I met him. It is an essential and treasured part of his identity. Both this and his volunteer work as a chaplain at Inova Alexandria Hospital demonstrate his concern for and interest in people. When he was performing at the recent Hanukah Party at the hospital, the kids, and their parents, were entranced. His way with balloons was magic,” said Laura Clerici, a fellow volunteer chaplain at Inova Alexandria Hospital.
“I love what I do. The love I get back is incredible” White said.