Life & Work with Karis Brizendine of Valley Village

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karis Brizendine

Hi Karis , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in the Agoura Hills, just outside of Los Angeles. I was a nerdy theatre kid, through and through. There hasn’t been a single year of my life, after the age of five, where I haven’t been in at least one stage production. I know more Musical Theatre song lyrics than I do multiplication tables.

When it came time for college, I threw myself into the college audition circuit. It was brutal– 20 some applications, three cities, 17 auditions in a week, back to back dance calls, belting my highest notes at 8am, etc. I got three acceptances, only one of which I could even afford the tuition for. It was for an acting program, not a musical theatre program. Yikes. What was the self- proclaimed, next Idina Menzel to do??

This turned out to be a blessing in disguise. When I got to Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, I was lucky enough to meet some of the best friends and collaborators I could ask for. I also discovered a love for acting itself. I became fascinated with Shakespeare, devoured theatre works written by contemporary visionaries, and got in front of the camera for the first time. My whole trajectory shifted. New York City had always been the dream, but after graduating, Los Angeles became my home once again.

Of course, the struggle then became how to pursue an acting career in Los Angeles. Double yikes. I knew that I needed a job that didn’t make me—for lack of a better phrase—hate my life. The opportunity to act is a gift that strikes sparingly and infrequently. If I was to avoid burning out and giving up, I needed something else to fill my time that felt fulfilling, even when acting didn’t.

Teaching snuck up on me. I was lucky enough to receive a message from the owner of Lovebug and Me Music, looking for music teachers that could play guitar, sing, and work well with young children. Now, in 2024, I just celebrated my third year with the company. I’m also the music director for a middle school theatre program, where we just closed Finding Nemo Jr. I’ve even added private guitar lessons to my roster. I never expected working with children to become a passion of mine, but the kids I work with snagged my heart, and haven’t let go.

Now, I spend my time as an actor (on camera and on stage), singer, filmmaker, and teacher. Balancing the dual passion for teaching and performance isn’t easy, but i’m extremely proud of the life i’ve built for myself so far.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t know if anyone remembers, but 2020 was a great time to be an acting student! My classes were moved online, but acting and “online” are two words that do not mix well. I was faced with the real possibility that my expensive acting training was essentially at an end, a year and a half too early. I had no idea what my senior year would look like. Showcase plans, moving preparations, booked theatre work, all gone. With theatre work being placed indefinitely on hold, I was forced to adapt. I refocused all of my work towards on-camera acting. I practiced self tapes, filmed demo scenes with roommates, and booked my first few short films. I still wonder what my college experience would have been like if the pandemic hadn’t happened, but I can say that I learned the importance of making my own opportunities when they aren’t made available to me.

Of course, now that I have entered the “real world”, I do find myself battling the ultimate thief of joy, comparison. I can’t imagine choosing any other career path, but it is difficult to look at my peers and see them making strides in their lives that are just not possible for me right now. I wish I could afford to take time off work to travel, like some of my salaried friends can. I wish I had more time to explore new hobbies, or go on adventures. It’s difficult to balance a creative life with a personal one, but, that’s my next project.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have a few titles— actor, singer, teacher— but I would say that I specialize in performance. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to do a lot of it recently:

I’ve managed to scratch my theatre itch here in LA! I recently closed a production of “Cindy and the Discoball” at the Garry Marshall Theatre, directed by Joseph Leo Bwarie and Christine Lakin. It was a musical retelling of Cinderella, set in the 70’s, and I had the time of my life working on this show. It felt like coming home, coming back to musical theatre.

In May, I wrote, produced, and acted in my short film, “In Bad Faith”. I tried my hand at writing and producing, and I loved it. I’m working on my next film, set to shoot in October.

This Fall, I’m returning to the middle school theatre program to music direct “13 Jr”. The music for this show is funny, quirky, and surprisingly complex. I’m looking forward to seeing how my kiddos attack the score.

The nightmare that kept be up at night, pre-graduation, was that my post-grad life would be one of anxiety, disappointment, and unhappiness. I’m extremely proud to say that my post- grad life is the antithesis of my nightmare. I am quite happy with my life, even with moments of anxiety and disappointment. I believe that my ability to find contentment and fulfillment in whatever project i’m working on sets me apart, and it has contributed to my happiness immeasurably. I look forward to advancing in my performance career, but I am not in a rush to get there. I’m enjoying the journey.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I face rejection and failure quite frequently. Maybe a callback doesn’t go well, or I don’t book a role I may have thought that I had in the bag, etc. It’s very easy to let that get to my head, and let that tiny voice in the back of my head tell me that I’m going to suck forever.

I’ve worked hard to quiet that voice. Every failure is an opportunity for growth. I will do better next time. I will learn from that experience. Not every project I work on has to be perfect, because I’m only going to get better.

This doesn’t stop me from feeling my feelings about rejection. Sometimes, it really sucks. However, having this resilience keeps me excited for the potential of the future, rather than the failures of the present.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.karisbrizendine.com
• Instagram: @karis.briz

Image Credits
Dana Patrick
Jeff Lorch
Rob Aft
Russell Harris