all about joe

roots

Joseph’s introduction to the circus world was at the age of 11, when he saw Cirque du Soleil’s Nouvelle Expérience on television. Being an academically driven child, he was not physcially adept, nor did he have access to resources to develop those skills. So, he began to quietly train in his bedroom.

To avoid annoying his family further, he chose to direct his desire to perform towards musical theater, an art form in which he was inexplicably skilled since no one else in his family can sing. He pursued this genre through high school into university. It was at UCLA where he discovered free recreational gymnastics classes as well as courses in dances from various cultures, which helped boost his GPA. He took these every single quarter.

After his 4 university years, he decided to put his Psychology career aside to follow his childhood dream of being in the circus. Through the encouragement of his friends, he flew to Montréal to try for a spot in the internationally reknowned École Nationale de Cirque. Having auditioned alongside nationally ranked athletes, circus family offspring, and the future original cast of Traces, his chances seemed slim. Nevertheless, he used every single one of his previously acquired skills to pass through all parts of the rigorous process.

A month later, he received a package in the mail saying, “Félicitations!”

 

quotes

“The best in the world.”

-Isabelle Chassé, co-founder, Les 7 Doigts de la Main

“…Joseph Pinzon…wraps himself in two long bolts of cloth hanging from the ceiling, defying gravity as he climbs, twists and drops. Variations of this act are familiar to Cirque du Soleil fans, but Pinzon pushes the envelope."

-Pat Donnelly, The Gazette (Montréal)

“[T]he craziest of the group, Joseph Pinzon, graduate of l’École in 2005, is the one who steals the spotlight with an aerial silk number, singing Tina Turner’s ‘Private Dancer’ without missing a single note.”

-Mario Cloutier, La Presse (Montréal) 

“One of my favourite acts is Joe Pinzon's aerial silks number. I've seen dozens of aerial silk numbers in different shows over the years and rarely do I come across one performed with the astonishing grace and performance quality of this act.”

-cirquetribune.com

“There was one scene in the first act, however, that got most of the gasps and applause from the audience. Artist, Joseph Pinzon, flipped and spiraled through beautiful golden fabric with no strings attached (at least any that could be scene by the audience).”

-denver.metromix.com

“It is enough, amongst all examples, to hear Joseph Pinzon sing to be convinced. [He] toils constantly on the job, lives days of rehearsals and endless exercises. From all the pain, facing the audience, he stands alone on an empty stage.  That is the magic of the show.”

-Le Matin (Geneva)

“Joseph Pinzon, graceful on his aerial silks, comedic martial arts master, fragile contralto, alone in front of the curtain.”

-Elisabeth Chardon, Le Temps (Geneva)

“Joseph Pinzon links together difficult figures on trapeze. Knowing his opponent must replicate his routine in reverse…he takes it to the next level and, in seconds, hangs only by his heels and the audiences’ gasps. Naturally balanced, he then uses only his head to provide support.

…Next up, lipsync and aerial silks, one of Pinzon’s specialites. The aerial dance he improvises with his partner in the intimate setting feels more like a grand, floating, red cotillion. Magical.”

-Estelle Caillon, pieuvre.ca


production experience

CASTING DIRECTOR (2025-2026)

  • Here Lies Love, Center Theatre Group

    • Los Angeles, California

artistic director (2024-2025)

  • Bazzar, Cirque du Soleil

    • Canary Islands, Spain

Casing Director (2024)

  • Santa’s North Pole Adventure, Vance Garrett Productions

    • Century City, CA

artistic associate, casting director, & movement coordinator (2022-2024)

  • American Prophet, Holiday, My Body No Choice, Sanctuary City, Ride the Cyclone, The High Ground, Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches, Exclusion, Cambodian Rock Band, POTUS, Swept Away, Mindplay, Tempestuous Elements, Unknown Soldier; Arena Stage

    • Washington, DC

    • Helen Hayes 2024 Awards

      • Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches - Outstanding Ensemble in a Play

      • Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches - Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Play: Justin Weaks

      • Cambodian Rock Band - Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play: Joe Ngo

Director (2021)

  • The St. Lou Revue, Circus Flora

    • St. Louis, MO

resident director, casting director & assistant director (2020-2022)

  • The DiscOasis and The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey, Constellation Immersive

    • Southern California

Director (2020)

  • Aloft Circus Arts Graduate Show (canceled due to pandemic), Aloft Circus Arts

  • Chicago, IL

writer, director, & producer (2015-2019)

  • Filament, Short Round Productions

    • Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Cirk-UFF Festival (Trutnov), European Tour

resident director & production manager (2013-2018)

  • Air, Earth, Fire, Water, Body Poems, & Love Affairs; MS Europa 2

    • International Waters

Performance history

Arena stage spring gala/molly smith farewell (2023)

  • Silks solo

    • Arena Stage (Washington, DC)

Les 7 doigts de la main 20th anniversary (2022)

  • Silks solo

    • dir. Shana Carroll

    • Les 7 Doigts de la Main Headquarters (Montreal)

St. John’s circus festival (2021)

  • Silks solo

    • dir. Olaf Triebel

    • The Rooms (St. John’s)

Nailed it! (2020)

  • Contestant

    • Netflix

    • Burbank, CA

Sanctuary Cabaret (2019)

  • Silks solo

    • Aloft, dir. Shayna Swanson

    • The iO Theater (Chicago)

Le Monastère, Cabaret de Cirque (2018)

  • Silks solo

    • Theatre St-Hubert (Montreal)

LOVE AFFAIRs (2018)

  • Dance Trapeze solo

    • Brix Productions

    • Main Theater on the MS Europa 2 by Hapag Lloyd (International Waters)

New Year’s Eve Celebration (2017)

  • Silks duo

    • dir. Brett Womack

    • Pechanga Resort and Casino (Temecula)

Chill (2017)

  • Dance Trapeze solos

    • Epic Entertainment, dir. David Wally

    • The Queen Mary (Long Beach)

Dark Harbor (2017-2019)

  • Silks solos

    • Epic Entertainment, dir. David Wally

    • The Queen Mary (Long Beach)

DRIVE: Release the Power Within (2017)

  • Business Athlete (Main Character): Dance Trapeze solo and Dancer

    • Freeman XP and BMW Asia, dir. Megan Carter-Yoshida

    • MES Theater at Mediacorp (Singapore)

Body Poems (2016-2018)

  • Static Trapeze solo

    • Brix Productions, dir. Michael Klich

    • Main Theater on the MS Europa 2 by Hapag Lloyd (International Waters)

Seifen Oper (2015)

  • Dance Trapeze solo, Singer

    • base Berlin, dirs. Markus Pabst and Maximilian Rambaek

    • Wintergarten Varieté (Berlin)

Water, Air, Earth, and Fire (2013-2014, 4 distinct productions)

  • Director of Restaging, Production Manager, Stage Manager, Dance Captain, and Swing Performer 

    • Chamåleon Productions and Brix Productions, dirs. Gabriel Castillo, Maximilian Rambaek, and Michael Klich

    • Main Theater on the MS Europa 2 by Hapag Lloyd (International Waters)

pippin workshop (2012)

  • Ensemble, Circus Specialist

    • dir. Diane Paulus

    • A.R.T. (Cambridge)

Quebec: 2ème Avenue (2012)

  • Trapeze duo, Clown, Silks solo, Dance Trapeze solo

    • GOP, dir. Julie Lavergne

    • GOP Essen (Essen)

Carmina Burana (2011)

  • Aerial Hoop duo, Silks duo, Dancer

    • Michigan Opera Theatre, cho. Bianca Sapetto

    • Detroit Opera House (Detroit)

Versus (2010, original cast)

  • Silks solo, Chinese Pole group, Dancer

    • Circle of Eleven, dir. Markus Pabst

    • Chamäleon Theatre (Berlin)

Special Event for l’Organisation Internationale des Commissions de Valeurs (2010)

  • Silks group, Character

    • Cirque du Soleil, dir. Gypsy Snider

    • Palais de Congrès (Montréal)

Charlottetown Summerfest (2010)

  • -Silks solo

    • Cirque du Soleil, dir. Jean-Sébastien Piquette

    • Confederation Landing Park (Charlottetown)

Soap, the Show (2009-2015)

  • Dance Trapeze solo, Dance Captain

    • Circle of Eleven and more promotions, dirs. Markus Pabst and Maximilian Rambaek

    • Sydney Opera House (Sydney), Adelaide Fringe Festival (Adelaide), Israeli Opera (Tel Aviv), Chamäleon Theatre (Berlin), Teatro Telmex 2 (Mexico City), Showzam Festival (Blackpool).

7th Anniversary Cabaret Shows (2009)

  • Karaoke on Silks, Drag Queen, Singer

    • Les 7 Doigts de la Main, dirs. Isabelle Chassé and Patrick Leonard

    • Scena (Montréal)

Miss Behave’s Variety Nighty (2008)

  • Dance Trapeze solo

    • dir. Amy Saunders

    • Roundhouse (London)

Broadway Bares XVII: Myth Behavior (2007)

  • Silks duo

    • Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, dir. Jerry Mitchell

    • Roseland Ballroom (New York City)

Grand Opening of TGV Est-Européen (2007)

  • Silks group, Aerial Hoop group, Dancer

    • Cirque Éloize, dir. Paula de Vasconcelos

    • (Strasbourg)

Nebbia (2006-2009, original cast)

  • Silks solo, Bolas, Aerial Star, Martial Arts, Singer

    • Cirque Éloize and Compagnia Finzi Pasca, dir. Daniele Finzi Pasca

    • International Tour (Spain, Switzerland, Slovenia, Italy, Mexico, Colombia, South Korea, Canada, United States, Germany, Russia)

La Clique: a Sideshow Burlesque (2006-2007)

  • Silks solo (2006), Dance Trapeze solo (2007)

    • The Famous Spiegeltent, dir. Brett Haylock

    • Musée Juste pour Rire (Montréal)

Absinthe: the Artists of La Clique (2006)

  • Silks solo

    • The Famous Spiegeltent, dir. Brett Haylock

    • South Street Seaport (New York City)

Honolulu Punch (2006)

  • -Dance Trapeze duet, Singer, Character

    • École Nationale de Cirque, dir. Nicolas Cantin

    • TOHU (Montréal)

A Taste of Cirque du Soleil (2006)

  • Silks solo, Character

    • Cirque du Soleil and Celebrity Cruises

    • Celebrity Theater (International Waters)

La Retardataire (2005)

  • Silks solo, Dancer

    • École Nationale de Cirque, dir. Howard Richard

    • TOHU (Montréal)

The Dresden Dolls in Concert (2005)

  • Silks solo

    • Opening Act

    • Henry Fonda Theater (Los Angeles)

Black & Blue Festival (2004)

  • Silks group, Dancer

    • BBCM Foundation, dir. Michel Laprise

    • Palais de Congrès (Montréal)

3: Seuils (2004)

  • Acrobat, Dancer

    • École Nationale de Cirque, dir. Renald Laurin

    • ENC (Montréal)

Animazement - the Musical (2001)

  • Acrobat, Dancer

    • Disneyland

    • Fantasyland Theater (Anaheim)

bare: a Pop Opera (2000-2001, original cast)

  • Mark (Lucas understudy)

    • God Help Productions, dir. Kristin Hanggi

    • The Hudson (Los Angeles)