Performance Artists Staff | Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

Performing Arts Staff

NHM’s Performance Art program currently features Dinosaur Encounters, Ice Age Encounters, and the Hop, Slither, and Stalk series. Our educational theater program creates interactive experiences that inspire wonder and discovery in audiences of all ages. Since our seasonal programming complements the Museum's exhibits and public programs, families who visit several times a year will see a different set of characters. Our talented Performance Artist staff can be seen "flying" as butterflies on stilts, buzzing as bees, crawling as spiders, and roaring through the halls as young T. rex, Saber-toothed Cat, and Triceratops. We hope you enjoy our innovative cross-disciplinary programs the performance artists make it all possible!  Come say hello and get a behind-the-scenes peek of what happens backstage before or after a show in the "Puppet Pen" in the newly-renovated and transplanted Discovery Center. 

Jen Bloom: Creative Content & Curriculum Development 
Jen has been entertaining and educating all kinds of audiences in all kinds of environments for fifteen years. Co-founder of Santa Monica Rep, she has worked in Los Angeles, Providence and New York on site-specific, street theater, new plays, multi-media and classical theater projects. She has served as a director, actor, teacher, outdoor educator, teambuilding facilitator and cross-disciplinary collaborator with Chalk Rep, LA Playwrights Union, American Jewish University, WOLF, Trinity Repertory Summer Shakespeare, Perishable Theatre, Elemental Theatre, Second Story Theatre, The Gamm, Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital and a number of non-theater public venues, backyards, and holes-in-walls. Jen taught acting and improvisation on the theater faculty at Providence College and Rhode Island College. She has an MFA in Acting and Directing from Trinity Repertory Conservatory, and is a registered yoga teacher from the Nosara Yoga institute of Costa Rica. www.santamonicarep.org 

  Enrique Escajeda: Saber-Toothed Cat & Triceratops Puppeteer 
Enrique is a graduate of Cal State Long Beach where he attained his degree in Communication. Enrique has a background of a wide range in the physical field of Performing Arts, including stunts and aerial acrobatics. Some more recent venues that he has performed in is the Knott's Berry Farm's Wild West Stunt Show, Pirates Dinner Adventure, and Orange County Aerial. Enrique is always up for learning new fun and exciting things to try and bring to life. 

Jenny Gillett: Performer
Jenny received her B.A. in Theatre and English Literature from Occidental College in Los Angeles, and has since continued her studies at Second City Training Center in LA, where she graduated from the Conservatory Program. Jenny also spent a year in Paris working as a nanny, learning French, and attending acting classes at Bilingual Acting Workshop. She is an experienced actor, writer, and teacher (theatre and yoga), and a proud member of Moving Arts Theatre Company in Silver Lake.

 Brian Meredith: Puppeteer Lead & T. rex Puppeteer
Originally from New Jersey, Brian received his Liberal Arts Degree from the University of Richmond and his Masters in Fine Arts from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also performs in the Wild West Stunt Show at Knott's Berry Farm and is a member of the American Jousting Alliance, which is based in Lockwood Valley.

  Eli Presser: T. rex Puppeteer & Puppet Mechanic
Eli discovered puppetry in Chicago during the summer of 1996. Since that time, his pursuit of the art form has taken him on a great adventure. He has had the privilege of studying and performing alongside many artists, including Basil Twist, Janie Geiser, Michael Montenegro, and Blair Thomas. Under the mentorship of Janie Geiser, Eli became the first puppetry student accepted to the Cotsen Center for Puppetry Arts at CalArts in 1999. Notable work includes puppetry for Basil Twist's “Arias with a Twist” at RedCat, Norah Jones’ music video “Sinkin' Soon,” and Jessica Yu's Sundance-nominated documentary "Protagonist.” Eli worked for the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs in arts education and for Redmoon Theater, creating puppet theater for Chicago museums and parks. Through these experiences he has developed a deep respect for the transformative power of arts education and community centered art making. As a T. rex puppeteer and puppet mechanic for the NHM, Eli continues to work towards the creation of performances that fulfill the public’s need for artistry, education, and inspiration.

 Michael Serwich: T. rex Puppeteer
Michael is a graduate of the Chicago Academy for the Arts and De Paul University where he studied playwriting and performance. He's worked in many capacities with several puppet Companies both in Chicago and Los Angeles including "Redmoon Theater," "The Incurable Theater," and "The Bob Baker Marionette Theater." He now writes, builds and performs with the Los Angeles based puppet Troupe, "Unknown Hands."

 Jaquita Ta'le: Performer
 An L.A. native, Jaquita is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts (Experimental Theatre Wing), with a double major in Drama and Dramatic Writing. She also has studied poetry and performance in Johannesburg, South Africa at the University of Witwaterstrand, and modern dance with the Ludwig Foundation in Havana, Cuba. Credits include: ER, Criminal Minds, Roswell, Cagney and Lacey: The Movie, and Hanging with Mr. Cooper.

  Ilana Turner: Performer & Program Coordinator
Ilana is a Los Angeles-based performer, writer, and educator. She has toured her original work in the USA and Europe as both a solo artist and as a collaborator with such ensembles as ARTEL (founding member), City Garage, Theatre Revelation, and others.  She is one half of the female clown duo, Duckbits and a co-founder of commedia dell’Arte troupe, Studio Zanni. She has performed and taught educational theater for the last decade with organizations such as Bluepalm, East L.A. Classic Theater, and the Zoe Barnum Continuation High School, where she directed at-risk teens in the creation of theater performance. She has also taught professional development to teachers of at-risk youth.  She is endlessly fascinated by our world and grateful to blend her love of natural history and theater at NHM.

 Jonathan C. K. Williams: Saber-Toothed Cat & Triceratops Puppeteer
Jon has been part of the performing arts team at NHM since December 2010. He attended CSU Los Angeles for a degree in Theatre Arts & Dance and while there was introduced to ensemble/experimental/physical theater. During and since that time he worked with some outstanding artists at the forefront of the field including Anne Bogart/SITI Company and Mary Overlie the originator of Viewpoints improvisational technique. Also quite the daredevil, he spent some intensive time training with Diavolo Dance Theater and Catch Me Bird. When not at the museum you can find him performing with different theater groups like Son of Semele Ensemble and Opera Del Espacio or in the gym giving people a great workout! Then check the dance floor, local hiking trails, or a nice (comic) bookshop.

Peter Wylie: Manager, Performing Arts
With over twelve years as a professional actor and eleven years teaching and managing theater-related educational programs, Peter is extremely glad to have found a home here at the Natural History Museum. He received his M.F.A. from the University of California, San Diego, and B.F.A. from Carnegie Mellon University. Prior to his position here at NHM he has worked in educational programming at the La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla, California; Olney Theatre Center for the Arts, Olney Maryland; and the Shakespeare Theatre, Washington, D.C.   

Betsy Zajko, Saber-Toothed Cat & Triceratops Puppeteer
Betsy Zajko joined the part time staff in April 2010 as a host, puppeteer and content creator, and is known to visitors as “the lady inside the Triceratops and Saber Toothed Cat.”   Betsy’s specialty in voice and movement-based performance has led to a career in theater, film and television including roles for HBO (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Showtime (Proximity), Sony Pictures (Mothman Prophecies, Assassination Files), Columbia Pictures (Striking Distance, Money for Nothing) and BBC (The Journey).   Betsy’s stage work includes Steppenwolf, Geffen, Trap Door, Redmoon, Rogue Machine and The Cleveland Playhouse.  Also an award winning narrator, Betsy is the host and co-creator of A Change Of Season heard on National Public Radio.  Betsy is a vocalist with Breathing Room Yoga Music which has recorded two albums, and a company member of Rogue Machine Theatre in Los Angeles.  She serves on the advisory board of directors for Awassa Children’s Project, aiding children and fighting AIDS via social issues circus theater in Ethiopia.