WHAT PEOPLE SAY
about Pretty Beast
“Kazu Kusano gives a dynamite performance that is both funny and deeply moving. Tracking her evolution as a comedian, she weaves in the story of her mentally ill mother and sometimes-present father, and impersonates dozens of the people who have shaped her vision. At its heart, though, this is a story of resilience and perseverance, the noble journey each of us must take if we are going to be truly ourselves.“
“Kazu’s energy and humor were the perfect way to start today. Her use of physical comedy and dry wit were fantastic. The story has many layers, and her vulnerability was inspiring. Grateful I made it!“
“I am a Japanese Canadian and really identified w/her upbringing. LOVE LOVED her show!! Go see it. People!”
“All the rave reviews from LA, Canadian and US fringes and festivals are true. This is an amazingly moving story told with physical exuberance, indestructible spirit and even passion for the power of joke. By the end, I was so touched by the material of this comedic performance I had to wipe my tears and pull myself together before I could get up out of my chair.
Kazu Kusano’s strength as a performer and human being, her ability to physically describe, characterize, sprint, spiritfully dance and passionately joke her way through her life’s story – with no trace of fake “cues” to let audience know they are suppose to feel something – is an inspiring gift to fellow travelers.
Let her personal strength and humor inspire you to overcome tragedy, to live your life as your own truth, to engage in what you love, and alongside all of that to heartily enjoy even a good liberating dick joke once in a while. “
“Kazu has followed her passions, walking a unique path. Her story is both funny and inspiring.“
“Pretty Beast is stellar comedic memoir. Kazu’s performance brought us to speaks to laughter before plunging us into sobering understandings of life shaped by another’s mental illness. And yet Kazu tells her truth from a place of love. These complex layers might seem impossible to portray in an hour’s performance, but Kazu’s art is seamless and the effect intense.“
“Amazing heartfelt show with great jokes and timing. Kazu’s story is inspiring for all comedy-writing women…through pushing boundaries on what’s considered “normal for a woman” in multiple cultures.“
“Funny and insightful view into the performer’s experience growing up in Japan in a family with mental illness/addictions. Deft characterization and use of lighting.”
“Pretty Beast surprised me for its psychological depth, greatly balanced with clever humor and wonderful notes of nonsense. Kazu Kusano performance was terrific, as she navigated themes like the search for true identity, the overcome of impostor syndrome, and the (always delicate) exam of the residues from the relationship with our parents. Oh, and all of that in a vibrant bilingual presentation. Great text and acting. Strongly recommended.”
“Pretty Beast was a mega energetic and deeply thoughtful, vulnerable work performed magnificently by Kazu Kusano. The use of lights, colors and voices seamlessly invited me in to her experience of living her life.
The music she integrated into the show fit perfectly into the narrative of the show.
The thing I respected and loved the most (other than Kazu’s performance!) was the unapologetic, courageous journey into how mental illness affects most notably innocent children of untreated, mentally ill parents.
That kind of authentic writing and performing attracts me to live shows, even TV shows like The Bear and Ted Lasso.
Pretty Beast is the pinnacle of art.“
“This is SO FANTASTIC! Kazu’s story is the darkest of comedies and she tells it SO WELL! She is captivating and fun and honestly I could watch her for hours. Pretty Beast is pretty much a must see!!”
“Kazu Kusano is vibrant and charming and we are easily drawn to her performance, which runs the entire range of emotions, told with humor, poignance and searing sadness. Recommended!“
“Kazu is a thoroughly engaging performer with tremendous physicality as she gives form to the inner demons of her psyche and the outer demonic personages and beliefs of society. She battles them all with humor and a fearless, vulnerable honesty that had me feeling her joy at a long awaited moment of connection and the sadness of so much time alone. So unique, yet so relatable.”
“Just saw Pretty Beast and totally loved it! Do check it out!“
“Kazu is a thoroughly engaging performer with tremendous physicality as she gives form to the inner demons of her psyche and the outer demonic personages and beliefs of society. She battles them all with humor and a fearless, vulnerable honesty that had me feeling her joy at a long awaited moment of connection and the sadness of so much time alone. So unique, yet so relatable.”
“Kazu Kusano is vibrant and charming and we are easily drawn to her performance, which runs the entire range of emotions, told with humor, poignance and searing sadness. Recommended!“
“You many not feel like you “fit in.” But so what. You never know where you end up if you follow your passion. Her show was very inspiring and funny.“
“I found my new favorite clowning comic queen! Kazu breaks the mold with her courageous and outrageous storytelling about her unconventional pathway that brought her to the stage. I’ve witnessed people I care about experience mental helath challenges from a young age, and seeing Pretty Beat is assurance I’m not alone in that. Maybe I cried, but I laughed even harder. Even if that’s not you, how KAZU navigates stigma, sexism and some dance moves, especially from an enthnocultural lends, is worth the ticket. Expect elents of physical humor that lightheartedly steps with charm, curiosity and wisdom– rolled up into many belly laughs. I kind of wish I asked for a dance lesson now.“
“Join Kazu as she paints a picture with satire humor and beautiful storytelling in Japanese & English. This show will bring you along for the ride-of growing up with mental illness while being a Japanese woman pursuing comedy. Heartfelt, dark, and just the right amount of innuendos bring alight hearted approach to tell us her story.“
“Three words: GO SEE KAZU!! All the positive reviews I co-sign!! Beautiful. Delightful. Funny!“