Leaders

Warren Shear is a physical therapist, mental health counselor, expressive therapist and massage therapist living in Cambridge, MA since 1975. He holds a dual M.Ed. degree in dance-movement therapy and mental health counseling from Antioch University, a Certificate degree in physical therapy from Emory University, and a BFA degree in sculpture from the University of Michigan. Warren has been a licensed physical therapist and a licensed mental health counselor in Massachusetts for 25 years. He is a Certified Laughter Leader with the World Laughter Tour. 

Barbara Michaels is an actor, clown, dancer, and circus artist who performs internationally. She has appeared at First Nights Boston & Portland, on the Discovery Channel, at Boston Museum of Science, Cambridge River Festival, ImprovBoston, with Behind the Mask Theater, and with Big Apple Circus Clown Care at Boston Children's Hospital. She recently performed with Clowns Doktoren in Germany and at the Feverestival in Brazil. She has taught performing arts classes for adults and children since 1998, including with Merrimack Repertory Theater, Cambridge Performance Project, and Cooperative Artists Institute, Tribal Rhythms. She has an MFA in performance from Massachusetts College of Art and a BA from Brown University. Barbara is a Certified Laughter Leader with the World Laughter Tour. She co-leads the Funplay Laughter Club in Jamaica Plain, MA.

Rebecca deGraw is a dance-movement therapist, dancer, improv actor and blossoming writer/poet. She holds a MA degree in dance-movement therapy from Goucher College and has worked for 15 years in a variety of settings with people of all ages and abilities. She currently works with children with special needs. She began performing modern dance at the age of 16 with a company in her home town, Omaha, NE. She has performed Playback Theatre for several years and recently made her debut as a spoken word artist. In addition to playing and laughing, she enjoys martial arts, yoga, cycling and hiking. She is very motivated to become a Certified Laughter Leader, and she will participate by assisting Barbara and Warren until she becomes certified.