C A S T
RIZO
RIZO
The New York Times once referred to Rizo as “SENSATIONAL… A fierce but kindhearted fusion of comedy, burlesque, performance art, and rock ‘n’ roll.” Taking a cue from Piaf, Rizo (né Amelia Zirin-Brown) fully embraces the role of chanteuse. In recordings, she is a mysterious figure, a siren ushering you through tableaus of heartbreak, lust, and the murkiness in between. Live, she is an eyeful.
An international cult favorite, her stage shows bring her powerhouse vocals together with seductive storytelling and wild hilarious audience experiments. Rizo is a provocateur with an electric wit, and has been called a “diva par excellence” by The Guardian. In the studio she has collaborated with Moby, Reggie Watts, and Yo-Yo Ma; whose album Songs of Joy & Peace, which features Rizo, won a Grammy Award.
Rizo has also received a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, a Time Out London theater award, and a London Cabaret Award. Rizo recently starred in the role of Madame Zinzanni in the revival of the much beloved Teatro ZinZanni and is in development for a television project with Michael Carbonaro of the popular series “The Carbonaro Effect.”
JOEL BAKER
JOEL BAKER
As a much-loved theater clown and circus comedian performing worldwide, Joel Baker brings to the stage a unique style of physical comedy, acrobatics, and improvisation. He is a graduate of San Francisco’s Clown Conservatory and the San Francisco Circus Center, where he began incorporating acrobatics, handstands, and chair balancing into physical comedy.
Joel launched his career as an acrobatic clown in San Francisco’s legendary New Pickle Circus. For seven years, Joel was a key performer in the award-winning Cirque du Soleil show The Beatles’ LOVE on the Las Vegas Strip. Joel has also performed main clown roles in LOFT by The 7 Fingers (Les 7 Doigts de la Main) and SOAP (Chamaeleon Theatre Berlin).
Joel was in a main clown role with Cirque Bouffon in the new circus theater production LAFOLIA. Other recent engagements include five years with PALAZZO dinner theater show GLÜCKSJÄGER in Germany and Austria as well as the lead character role in CIRKOPOLIS by Cirque Eloize.
Joel has had the honor of teaming up with Clowns Without Borders Ireland and Belgium to bring laughter to children in Europe’s refugee camps. He has appeared on the national television shows “America’s Got Talent“, “The View“, and “The Night that Changed America: A Grammy Salute to The Beatles” and has performed under the direction of James Cameron in the film Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away.
Duo 19 is made up of Oliver Parkinson and Cassie Cutler, a dynamic trapeze duo taking over the world one theater at a time. Together they push the boundaries of aerial technique to create an act known for its eye-catching tricks and enthralling style.
Oliver is a former MMA champion with a PhD in medicinal chemistry. An overachiever to his core, he became a flying trapeze catcher, a duo trapeze porter and ever since, has toured the world upside down.
Cassie grew up doing gymnastics in Los Angeles, and realized early on that she never wanted to stop flipping. Since then, she’s toured with Pippin the Musical, worked with Circus Roncalli and Circus 1903, just to name a few.
Together, they have traveled the world performing with companies such as: Bacio Rosso, Circus Monti, Circus Sarasota and Palazzo. They are thrilled to be back at Teatro Zinzanni for their third season.
DANILA BIM
DANILA BIM
Danila Bim is an acclaimed circus artist from São Paulo, Brazil, renowned for her pioneering artistry in Hair Suspension and aerial hoop. Trained as a dancer with a distinct style and compelling stage presence, Danila has spent the past 15 years captivating audiences worldwide. She has collaborated with some of the world’s premier entertainment companies, including multiple Cirque du Soleil productions, where she has been celebrated as a featured artist.
EZRA WEILL
EZRA WEILL
Ezra Weill is from Seattle Washington, where he grew up street performing with his sister. Back then, his act was standing on 5 stacked-up skateboards and juggling knives. After many years of training at circus school in Seattle, he went on to perform with a Vermont-based youth circus, called Circus Smirkus. After graduating high school, Ezra attended l‘Ecole National de Cirque in Montreal, where he completed his studies in 2015 with a degree in aerial rope and hat juggling.
Since then Ezra has performed in North America, South America and all across Europe. Currently, he is based in Brussels, running a small circus company called Keeping Company. He enjoys playing music on and off the stage, as well as pursuing his hobby of Lindy Hop dancing, which he has recently taken onto the stage. Inspired by the likes of George Carl, Ezra juggles hats with a quick, surprising, and humorous style. On the rope, Ezra brings a unique twist to his act by juggling his hats up on the rope with him. Ezra is interested in everything: from pounding tent stakes to collaborating with others, to the last trick in his act. Best, Ezra
SPENCER ANDROLI
SPENCER ANDROLI
Spencer Androli is a 3-time World Juggling Federation Champion and a 8x World Record holding juggler. He was also ranked the Top Juggler of 2023 in the Top 40 Jugglers Chart hosted by Luke Burrage. He is currently based in Tyler, Texas and has been juggling for 15 years. Ever since he was 8 years old, he has been obsessed with juggling and has always dreamed of making it a career. Last summer, he toured Northern California and Oregon with the Flynn Creek Circus. This summer, he toured with Hideaway Circus’ production, Canvas Sky. He also has performed as part of Circus Evo in North Carolina, The Colorful Hat show in Georgia, and the Moisture Festival here in Seattle, WA. He has come to love performing and bringing joy to others with what he loves to do most. He is beyond grateful to be performing this year at Teatro Zinzanni and hopes you enjoy your time here.
CHARLEE SHAE
CHARLEE SHAE
Charlee Shae Davis is a world record holder and two-time world champion in pole dancing, known for her powerful mix of strength, flexibility, and grace. She has performed in 52 countries, inspiring audiences and helping to redefine the art form. Charlee is also a passionate advocate for inclusivity and empowerment through movement, fostering a supportive community that resonates with fans and performers around the world.
B A N D
Hans Teuber has been a top call saxophonist woodwind doubler composer, arranger and keyboardist in the Pacific Northwest for over 30 years. In 2021 he was inducted into the Earshot Jazz Hall of Fame.
Hans has recorded with many artists and toured extensively, traveling North America, Europe Japan and Brazil. He has performed with such jazz luminaries as George Cables, Julian Priester, Bill Frisell, Chano Domingues, Michael White and Wayne Horvitz. He toured and recorded with folk singer Ani DiFranco
and recorded with notable Seattle rock bands Brad and Mudhoney.
Hans also has been actively involved in the cirque world spending 18 years with Teatro Zinzanni and currently working with Montreal’s comedy duo “Monseigneures Tim et Joe”.
Hans’ albums as a leader:
“Lucky” Origin Records
“Looky” Jackson Street Records
“Oil” w/ Paul Rucker Jackson Street Records
“Deuce” w/Jeff Johnson Origin Records
During over three decades as busy sideman and session musician, guitarist Brian Monroney has performed or recorded with artists including Gloria Estefan, Natalie Cole, Barry Manilow and Tom Jones (Brian toured as Sir Tom’s guitarist and Musical Director for nearly 18 years). In addition to performing and session work, Brian works as an arranger, music copyist, and guitar teacher. Currently a resident of Tacoma, Brian has performed with a number of notable PNW artists and bands including Lee Oskar, Nearly Dan, Greta Matassa, Bill Anschell and Teatro Zinzanni.
Keith Lowe has over 40 years of performing experience on both electric and acoustic bass. He studied classically for 15 years and played in various orchestras before moving on to jazz and rock where he has backed and recorded with such artists as Fiona Apple, David Sylvian, Bill Frisell, Harold Budd, Duffy Bishop, Wayne Horvitz and has been a member of the band BRAD since 2008. Since 2016 he has been a member of the orchestra for the legendary Teatro ZinZanni cirque and cabaret dinner theater. His diverse background and wide ranging and comprehensive approach to music has resulted in a tuneful, solid, and eclectic style that has him in demand both as a performer and studio musician.
Drummer Eric Eagle was born in Nashville, but was quickly transplanted to a suburb of Seattle, WA where he grew up playing music in school and regional groups. He spent two years studying music at the University of Washington, and with encouragement drumming legend Billy Hart, moved to New Jersey to attend the Jazz Studies program at William Paterson College under the tutelage of Horacee Arnold and John Riley.
Not interested in limiting himself to any one particular style but rather finding the common elements that exist in all his favorite music, Eric has found himself equally at home in a wide range of musical outlets. He has honed his craft performing and recording around the world with artists ranging from jazz (Julian Priester, Wayne Horvitz, Bill Frisell, Kenny Kirkland) to songwriters (Brandi Carlile, Jesse Sykes, Amy Ray, Laura Veirs) to rock & roll legends (The Kinks’ Ray Davies, The Band’s Robbie Robertson, Crosby, Stills, & Nash, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons). He has performed at esteemed venues including Red Rocks Amphitheatre and The Fillmore, and many prestigious festivals in North America and Europe including “All Tomorrow’s Parties”, “Peace and Love Festival”, “Winnipeg Folk Festival”, “Sasquatch”, and “Vancouver International Jazz Festival”. Eric also records and mixes music operating out of Skoor Sound, his studio in West Seattle.
Alex Guy is a Seattle-based violinist, violist, singer and composer, and is the leader and principal songwriter of Led To Sea, a magnetic trio that fuses classical, pop and experimental music. Alex has also composed extensively for dance, film and theater, and has performed and collaborated with many notable bandleaders, composers, improvisers and musicians in the Pacific NW and beyond, including Angel Olsen, Wayne Horvitz, Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, Sera Cahoone, Ahamefule Oluo, Mirah, Jherek Bischoff, Lemolo and Laura Veirs.
FOLLOW US!
INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK