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Betsy Zajko

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Betsy Zajko BIO

A former journalist, host and producer for CBS and NPR, Betsy has received awards from the Associated Press and the Society for Professional Journalists. While at NPR, she co-produced and hosted the national holiday program A Change Of Season and was producer/director of radio commentary working closely for several years with writers such as Harvey Pekar of American Splendor fame. Since moving to Los Angeles, Betsy has produced numerous shows for the acclaimed Rogue Machine Theatre Company including the monthly spoken-word show Rant & Rave along with her producing partner Sara Fenton, and the play Where The Great Ones Run which was written by Mike and Molly creator Mark Roberts. She also directed Felicia Michaels’ first comedy special on Amazon Prime: The Hole Story which was taped before a live audience in Los Angeles in 2018.

As an actor, Betsy Zajko is a recurring celebrity match voice on The Cartoon Network, and has appeared on stage, film and television. Her work in plays has taken her to many theaters including Steppenwolf, the Cleveland Playhouse, and Boston Court. Most recently she was directed by Jason Alexander in Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound at the Odyssey Theatre and appeared at the Rubicon Theatre to great acclaim in the West Coast premiere of Nick Payne’s Incognito and most recently, 4.48 Psychosis at Son of Semele.

On TV and film she has guest starred in Masters of Sex and co-starred in Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mike And Molly, Body of Proof, Striking Distance and The Colony. She has also appeared in numerous commercials including recent Super Bowl spots for Geico and Toyota Prius.

Betsy is Puppeteer and Technical Coordinator of Performing Arts at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County operating, fabricating and repairing animatronic creatures built by the Jim Henson shop.

Betsy Zajko News


Dennis Renard Officially Joins For FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE At The Carl Sagan And Ann Druyan Theater


Having just starred in the Emmy nominated Book of Queer on Max and in Rogue Machine Theatre's Come Get Maggie, DENNIS RENARD joins For the Love of a Glove's cast as Michael Jackson's glove Thrill-Lha on June 2, 3, 30 and July 1!

Parnell Damone Marcano Joins For FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE At The Carl Sagan And Ann Druyan Theater


Beloved Los Angeles theater legend Parnell Damone Marcano is joining the cult-hit musical FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE, now playing at the Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan Theater in Los Angeles.

FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE Offers WGA Members Pay What You Can Tickets


FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE has announced that in support of the WGA strike any WGA member is eligible for Pay What You Want Can Tickets!

Jackson Janowicz Joins For FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE At The Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan Theater


Bazalaam Beats Productions has announced that Jackson Janowicz is joining the cult-hit musical FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE, now playing at the Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan Theater in Los Angeles.

FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE Announces Extension And Cast Additions


Bazalaam Beats Productions has announced a second extension of the cult-hit musical FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE, now playing at the Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan Theater in Los Angeles. Having been previously shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic in March of 2020, the musical reopened in February of 2023 for a limited engagement of twelve performances.

FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE: An Unauthorized Musical Fable About The Life Of Michael Jackson Returns To Los Angeles


Bazalaam Beats Productions has announced the reopening of the cult-hit musical FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE: AN UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL FABLE ABOUT THE LIFE OF MICHAEL JACKSON AS TOLD BY HIS GLOVE.

Ucross and The Blank Theatre Announce Winner Of 2022 Future Of Playwriting Prize


Ucross, a prestigious artist residency program and creative laboratory for the arts in Wyoming, and The Blank Theatre, a Los Angeles institution celebrating 31 years of imaginative theatre, today announced the winner of the second annual Ucross + The Blank Theatre Future of Playwriting Prize, a one-of-a-kind award for early-career playwrights nationwide.

Ucross and The Blank Theatre Announce Finalists for 2022 Future of Playwriting Prize


Ucross and The Blank Theatre today announced the five finalists for the second annual Ucross + The Blank Theatre – Future of Playwriting Prize, a one-of-a-kind award for young playwrights nationwide.

Coeurage Ensemble Announces THE NOMAD PROJECT


Coeurage Ensemble, LA's Pay What You Want performance company, has announced the launch of its new initiative of immersive, location-specific storytelling experiences, The Nomad Project. The first endeavor under the new artistic leadership of Joseph V. Calarco and Amanda McRaven, The Nomad Project debuts with nine individual audio stories by 10 Los Angeles playwrights and screenwriters.

FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE Has Been Extended at the Carl Sagan & Ann Druyan Theater


Julien Nitzberg's FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE, AN UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL FABLE ABOUT MICHAEL JACKSON AS TOLD BY HIS GLOVE has extended its inaugural run through Sunday, March 22 at the Carl Sagan & Ann Druyan Theater on the ground floor of the Center For Inquiry (CFI-West) 2535 W. Temple Street at Rampart, adjacent to Hollywood and DTLA. Tickets: www.fortheloveofaglove.com

FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE Opens in Los Angeles


Award-winning playwright/filmmaker Julien Nitzberg's new stage musical FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE, AN UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL FABLE ABOUT MICHAEL JACKSON AS TOLD BY HIS GLOVE, opened last night in Los Angeles.

Choreographers Cris Judd, Bryan Anthony Join FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE Michael Jackson Musical


Award-winning playwright/filmmaker Julien Nitzberg today announced that choreographers Cris Judd and Bryan Anthony have joined the company of his new musical FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE, AN UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL FABLE ABOUT MICHAEL JACKSON AS TOLD BY HIS GLOVE. Cris Judd danced with Michael Jackson for many years, most notably at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards, on The Dangerous Tour and HIStory Tour, where he became one of Michael's main dancers. Bryan Anthony danced as an 11-year-old with Michael Jackson, Alfonso Ribeiro and the other Jackson brothers in an infamous 1984 Pepsi commercial.

Casting Announced For FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE, AN UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL FABLE ABOUT MICHAEL JACKSON AS TOLD BY HIS GLOVE


a??a??a??a??a??a??a??LA playwright/filmmaker Julien Nitzberg announced here today the complete cast of his new work for the theater, FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE, AN UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL FABLE ABOUT THE LIFE OF MICHAEL JACKSON AS TOLD BY HIS GLOVE. The 12 person cast and 20 original, life sized puppets will revisit the thrilling years of Motown and the rise of the Jackson 5, portraying the myriad of people who influenced young Michael and his brothers, including a stable of Motown artists, Dick Clark, Brooke Shields, and Donny Osmond.

Los Angeles Michael Jackson Musical To Blame Sex Abuse Allegations On Glove; Johnny Depp Will Not Produce


Another new musical about Michael Jackson is currently in the works - told from the point of view of his glove.

Julien Nitzberg Announces His New Musical FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE, An Unauthorized Musical Fable About The Life Of Michael Jackson As Told By His Glove


Local playwright/filmmaker Julien Nitzberg announced here today that his new work for the theater, FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE, AN UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL FABLE ABOUT THE LIFE OF MICHAEL JACKSON AS TOLD BY HIS GLOVE, will open Friday, January 25, 2020. FOR THE LOVE OF A GLOVE is the inaugural prodution of a new addition to the thriving DTLA/Hollywood adjacent cultural scene, the Carl Sagan-Ann Druyan Theater on the ground floor of the Center For Inquiry (CFI) at 2535 W. Temple Street where, offers Nitzberg: 'We are a perfect fit for this gorgeous new space especially because we share CFI's mission to critique how people misuse religion to promote homophobia and racism.'

Six United States Veterans Will Take the Stage at Rogue Machine Theatre in the Electric Lodge


Six United States Veterans will take the stage at Rogue Machine Theatre in the Electric Lodge on Monday, November 11th, in Venice, California in honor of Veteran's Day. This distinguished group will share their real stories and experiences, as part of the company's monthly RANT & RAVE series, now Chapter 101 'Raw.'

Son Of Semele Presents 4.48 PSYCHOSIS By Sarah Kane


Son of Semele presents 4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane October 12 - November 3, 2019. Performances are Fridays & Saturdays @ 8pm, Sundays @ 5pm and Tuesdays @ 7pm.

BWW Review: INCOGNITO at Rubicon Theatre Company


Nick Payne's acclaimed Off-Broadway smash 'Incognito' makes its West Coast debut with this thought-provoking production, staged at the Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura.

BWW Review: Rubicon Presents a Daring INCOGNITO


Upon entering the Rubicon opening night, I first remarked the bare stage with four chairs against a solid color background that would serve as a sort of screen for projections (Mike Billings-set, lighting, projection designer). This kind of setup usually indicates that there is no set for the play and that the actors will sit and move about to create the scenarios. This can be a good thing or bad depending on the content and framework of the play. In this case Incognito, a west coast premiere by British playwright Nick Payne presents on the surface quite a bit to swallow. The message beneath, however, is much more simplistic and the ensemble of actors under the supremely intelligent direction of Katharine Farmer make the play worth a trip to Ventura to the Rubicon Theatre now through October 1.

Photo Flash: Rubicon Hosts West Coast Premiere of INCOGNITO


Rubicon Theatre Company (RTC) is pleased to announce the cast for the West Coast premiere of NICK PAYNE'S profoundly moving play INCOGNITO, directed by Ovation nominee and Indy Award-winner KATHARINE FARMER. This dazzling new drama explores what it means to be human and how memory and imagination shape our identities. Four actors play 21 characters in interwoven stories (some based on true events) about our desire to know ourselves and our yearning to be known and understood by others.

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