Rising Stars: Meet Jenn Zuko of Greenwood Village

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenn Zuko.

Hi Jenn, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Boulder and always wanted to be a writer. I got an excellent education specializing in the humanities, and was a dancer since I was very small. I got into theatre in junior high, and was hooked ever since! And when I took an ‘extra’ course at the end of my Acting BFA as a credit-filling elective called Stage Combat, I completely fell in love with the art. And the rest is history: I learned the arts of theatrical combat and also how to teach it, and I’ve been a fight choreographer and performer ever since.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My financial situation has been the main obstacle I’ve struggled against as I matured into my art and then into expertise. College, graduate school, conventions and workshops, tuition for martial arts, travel to other credential and educational opportunities, equipment… it all adds up, and as I didn’t come from family money, I had to create and collect resources as and where I could.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I do love to share and talk about my Substack, called Zuko’s Musings. That newsletter always has something fresh going on, and I even write frequently about my stage combat career there, along with many unhinged personal essays, including my memoir.

My fight choreography specialty is something I’m very proud of, it (and the martial arts I learned later) is a very male-dominated field, and so I like to think that my accomplishments there set me apart.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
My pirate adventure book, Crowns of Gold, is available now from Alien Buddha Press in their Amazon store. I finished writing this book in 2000, and so it’s been a long time fermenting till it came out on Dec. 10th (2025). I’m excited about this project, as it combines my love of writing with my stage combat expertise, in what I think is a super fun way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jennzuko.wordpress.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennzuko/
• Facebook: Jenn Zuko
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenn-zukowski-mfa-8aa75314
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JennZuko/featured
• Other: https://jenn5c3s4.substack.com/

Image Credits
Photographers for the 4 photos include: Virginia Lee photography, Anthony Earl, and Paul Bradley.