Eric “The Great Zucchini” Knaus
For 30-plus years, Eric “The Great Zucchini” Knaus has been delighting one of the toughest audiences in the world: the 2 to 7-year-old set.
The Great Zucchini brings slapstick, physical comedy and plain fun interaction to more than 700 shows a year, and that’s why he’s our Scene Setter this week.
Sunday morning, he’ll wow families at Hook Hall on Georgia Avenue NW in Park View.
We caught up with The Great Zucchini to ask four questions.
After thirty years of performing around D.C., you must have kids who are now bringing their kids to your shows.
When I was trying to figure out what my shtick was gonna be, my stage name was “DingBat the Clown.” It was the worst-looking clown I've ever seen. This only lasted about a month before I figured out what my angle was gonna be. Now, I'm seeing second and third generations. Parents send me little messages: “You did Tommy or Joey's birthday party 20 years ago. He's now a doctor or in law med school.” So, it's pretty wild.
You started as a party host at Discovery Zone and have a background in preschool education. What can people expect from a TGZ show?
I might have a 3-year-old up, and I’m pretending like I can't find 'em, and I'm looking around for them, and he's helping me out with tricks. I think the parents are having so much fun because I just let the kids talk — because kids are hysterical themselves, so I try to let them shine up there. The parents have a good time watching the kids react for sure.
To be a family entertainer for 30 years is quite the feat. Are you still going strong?
As long as people keep having kids, man, hopefully, I'll be doing this until you have to wheel me through the door — but I'll still be doing it.
The greatest compliment I ever got from a parent: “I want you to know I've seen you four or five times, and I've never seen you throw in the towel on a show, ever.” That meant a lot to me. I still enjoy performing, I get a couple more aches when I wake up in the morning, but I still love it, man. I have to have as much energy during that 10th show [of the weekend] as I had during the first show.
What’s the Great Zucchini’s D.C. dream show?
I've already done my dream shows here. I'm a huge fan of standup comedy. So when I did the DC Improv, I was the only children's entertainer that the DC Improv has ever had on their stage. We sold it out with kids.
I feel blessed every day that I'm doing it still. I'm very thankful to the parents that keep bringing me in and keep bringing their kids to my shows. I feel like I'm living a dream all the time, man. I know it sounds cheesy, but I really do.
This Q&A has been lightly edited for length and clarity.