About
Theatrical styles must keep up with the changes in culture in order to maintain relevance. A Muse Zoo, a company specializing in mime, clowning, and vaudevillian humor, believes this whole-heartedly. Clowning and physical comedy have become antiquated, causing the mere mention of “clown” to send some running for the hills. A Muse Zoo looks to revitalize these styles, taking them back to their origins but with a contemporary twist. The five members of AMZ met in a physical theatre master class at James Donlon's Flying Actor Studio in the mountains of Ashland, OR where they honed their craft. In AMZ’s first meeting, they decided that no one wants to see a clown show. In that same meeting, they all agreed to put on a clown show.
The result was a stylistic explosion of old and new. An original comedy emerged paying homage to old, classic forms of physical comedy melded with new, modern sensibilities. A Muse Zoo’s show The Truth* is an over-the-top comedy about political power and the winners of war. Hilarity and heartbreak ensue when four dictators fight to conquer new land. The Truth* debuted in Ashland, OR in October 2017, and after rave reviews, AMZ decided to take the show on the road. With performances booked at the Capital Fringe Festival in Washington, DC, Toronto Fringe Festival and Indianapolis Fringe, they will also be performing in Portland, Los Angeles, Austin, Nashville, New York, and Chicago on their three-month tour. They are incredible proud to present their show and hope to bring laughter and joy, provoke thought and make physical comedy relevant again.
The result was a stylistic explosion of old and new. An original comedy emerged paying homage to old, classic forms of physical comedy melded with new, modern sensibilities. A Muse Zoo’s show The Truth* is an over-the-top comedy about political power and the winners of war. Hilarity and heartbreak ensue when four dictators fight to conquer new land. The Truth* debuted in Ashland, OR in October 2017, and after rave reviews, AMZ decided to take the show on the road. With performances booked at the Capital Fringe Festival in Washington, DC, Toronto Fringe Festival and Indianapolis Fringe, they will also be performing in Portland, Los Angeles, Austin, Nashville, New York, and Chicago on their three-month tour. They are incredible proud to present their show and hope to bring laughter and joy, provoke thought and make physical comedy relevant again.
Company
Kenzie Bizon (Co-founder/Actor)
Kenzie serves as an actor, director, writer and co-founder of A Muse Zoo. She is a graduate of Southern Oregon University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Theatre Arts. Born and raised in the formally small city of Wilsonville, Oregon, she fell in love with theatre at a very young age and has spent most of her life performing. After graduating SOU in 2015 she began studying with James Donlon at Flying Actor’s Studio, delving into the world of clown, mask, mime and physical theatre. This is where she united with the other artists of A Muse Zoo to create a traveling physical theatre company. In her spare time Kenzie enjoys binge watching Law and Order: SVU, ordering unnecessary things on Amazon, and talking about how much Fleetwood Mac has changed her life.
Kenzie serves as an actor, director, writer and co-founder of A Muse Zoo. She is a graduate of Southern Oregon University where she received her Bachelor of Science in Theatre Arts. Born and raised in the formally small city of Wilsonville, Oregon, she fell in love with theatre at a very young age and has spent most of her life performing. After graduating SOU in 2015 she began studying with James Donlon at Flying Actor’s Studio, delving into the world of clown, mask, mime and physical theatre. This is where she united with the other artists of A Muse Zoo to create a traveling physical theatre company. In her spare time Kenzie enjoys binge watching Law and Order: SVU, ordering unnecessary things on Amazon, and talking about how much Fleetwood Mac has changed her life.
Sarah Brizek (Co-founder/Actor)
Sarah comes from the small-town side of Camas, Washington, where she spent most of her childhood training horses and preparing for a career in mechanical engineering. Finding a love for theatre late in high school, she decided to continue her studies in acting and graduated with a BFA from Southern Oregon University. After graduation, Sarah performed at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Timon of Athens and Twelfth Night during their 2016 Season. Sarah continued to develop her craft in physical theatre with James Donlon at the Flying Actor Studio, where she connected with the other A Muse Zoo founders. A Muse Zoo is Sarah’s first experience building a theatre company, and she couldn’t have asked to create with a better group of people. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys drinking too much wine and having existential crises.
Sarah comes from the small-town side of Camas, Washington, where she spent most of her childhood training horses and preparing for a career in mechanical engineering. Finding a love for theatre late in high school, she decided to continue her studies in acting and graduated with a BFA from Southern Oregon University. After graduation, Sarah performed at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Timon of Athens and Twelfth Night during their 2016 Season. Sarah continued to develop her craft in physical theatre with James Donlon at the Flying Actor Studio, where she connected with the other A Muse Zoo founders. A Muse Zoo is Sarah’s first experience building a theatre company, and she couldn’t have asked to create with a better group of people. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys drinking too much wine and having existential crises.
Michael Dias (Co-founder/Actor)
Michael grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where he was introduced to performing in Junior High School. While earning his BFA from UC Santa Barbara’s actor training program, he discovered his love for physical theatre and comedy. He then moved to Los Angeles where he was a founding member of two devised performance companies: Qualia Productions and Nose Tales. Michael also performed with Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theatre for nine years, where he toured plays throughout Southern California performing for over ¼ million students. He was a founding member of the award-winning sketch comedy troupe Monster Party. In early 2017, Michael moved to Ashland, OR to train intensively with James Donlon and the Flying Actor Studio, where he has been honing his craft and learning to teach the Donlon pedagogy. Among the many artists in Ashland, Michael found the other members of A Muse Zoo, and they have been creating exciting new work ever since. Michael enjoys writing bios in 3rd through 5th person.
Michael grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area where he was introduced to performing in Junior High School. While earning his BFA from UC Santa Barbara’s actor training program, he discovered his love for physical theatre and comedy. He then moved to Los Angeles where he was a founding member of two devised performance companies: Qualia Productions and Nose Tales. Michael also performed with Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theatre for nine years, where he toured plays throughout Southern California performing for over ¼ million students. He was a founding member of the award-winning sketch comedy troupe Monster Party. In early 2017, Michael moved to Ashland, OR to train intensively with James Donlon and the Flying Actor Studio, where he has been honing his craft and learning to teach the Donlon pedagogy. Among the many artists in Ashland, Michael found the other members of A Muse Zoo, and they have been creating exciting new work ever since. Michael enjoys writing bios in 3rd through 5th person.
Alice Glass (Co-founder/Actor)
Alice hails from the quaint town of Sebastopol, CA. After high school, she spent two years at UC Santa Cruz as an art and sociology major, but after attending a theatre class out of sheer curiosity, she was hooked. Alice left UC Santa Cruz to attend the Santa Rosa Junior College to explore her new interest, where, at 21, she took her first acting class and landed her first role as Emily Webb in Our Town. Three years later, she was accepted into the BFA actor training program at Southern Oregon University where she cultivated a love for physical theatre, clowning, mime and devising her own work. Since graduating, Alice has been training extensively at the Flying Actor Studio with James Donlon, along with the other founding members of A Muse Zoo. This is Alice’s first experience starting a business and theatre company, self directing, producing, writing, creating, designing, and acting and she couldn’t be more thrilled or proud of the work A Muse Zoo has accomplished!
Alice hails from the quaint town of Sebastopol, CA. After high school, she spent two years at UC Santa Cruz as an art and sociology major, but after attending a theatre class out of sheer curiosity, she was hooked. Alice left UC Santa Cruz to attend the Santa Rosa Junior College to explore her new interest, where, at 21, she took her first acting class and landed her first role as Emily Webb in Our Town. Three years later, she was accepted into the BFA actor training program at Southern Oregon University where she cultivated a love for physical theatre, clowning, mime and devising her own work. Since graduating, Alice has been training extensively at the Flying Actor Studio with James Donlon, along with the other founding members of A Muse Zoo. This is Alice’s first experience starting a business and theatre company, self directing, producing, writing, creating, designing, and acting and she couldn’t be more thrilled or proud of the work A Muse Zoo has accomplished!
Mikey Hays (Co-founder/Actor)
Mikey Hays grew up in Northeast Portland, OR where he began taking acting classes in middle school. It wasn’t until high school, when he watched the Marx Brothers’ movie, A Night at the Opera, that he found his true love: physical theatre. He decided to pursue his new interest in physical comedy and pantomime at Southern Oregon University, where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance. Outside of the conservatory-type training in the BFA, Mikey also took dance, clown, mime, devised theatre classes to round out his abilities as a mime and clown. Since graduating, Mikey has worked closely with master teacher James Donlon, a pioneer in the modern, neo-classic clown and mime movement. Mikey is excited to debut A Muse Zoo's The Truth* around the country and highlight the relevance of this antiquated form of theatre.
Mikey Hays grew up in Northeast Portland, OR where he began taking acting classes in middle school. It wasn’t until high school, when he watched the Marx Brothers’ movie, A Night at the Opera, that he found his true love: physical theatre. He decided to pursue his new interest in physical comedy and pantomime at Southern Oregon University, where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance. Outside of the conservatory-type training in the BFA, Mikey also took dance, clown, mime, devised theatre classes to round out his abilities as a mime and clown. Since graduating, Mikey has worked closely with master teacher James Donlon, a pioneer in the modern, neo-classic clown and mime movement. Mikey is excited to debut A Muse Zoo's The Truth* around the country and highlight the relevance of this antiquated form of theatre.