From Switchboard to Stage, Kao Zhong Xiong Shines

You may have seen her in The Heart of Main Street and Agent IQ films from Acuity U. She has appeared in other Acuity video productions. And if you call our headquarters, there’s a good chance her friendly voice will answer the phone as one of our switchboard operators.

However, you probably aren’t aware of Receptionist Kao Zhong Xiong’s extensive performance resume. Born and raised in Sheboygan, Kao performed in choirs and musical productions throughout high school, then studied dance at UW-Milwaukee, graduating with a bachelor of fine arts degree. After college, she performed with the Milwaukee-based Danceworks company and choreographed several musical productions for the Shorewood Area School District.

“I guess you can say I’ve always been dramatic—just ask my family!” Kao laughs. “In a world where you have to follow many rules, I just love the opportunity to move and express myself freely on stage.”

Kao has also had a brush with Hollywood in her experience. “In high school, I auditioned for Grand Torino and got a callback,” she says. “I was offered a background part but, being age 17 with no money, I wasn’t able to spend three weeks on location out of state for filming.”

This February, she played one of the evil stepsisters in a performance of Into the Woods by the Sheboygan Theatre Company and hopes to return to the stage in the next production.

“I love it! It is a big-time commitment, but the company is an amazing group of people who understand you must balance the demands of preparing for a show with the need to take care of yourself.”

Kao joined Acuity in 2020. “I had always heard such great things about Acuity due to its strong outreach to the local Hmong community, so I applied,” she says. “I love what I do here in my role—I feel like I get a taste of everything across the company.”

She never expected to find an outlet for her artistry at Acuity. However, a few years ago, Kao jumped at the chance to be part of some B-roll
footage used in various Acutiy videos. Her performance got noticed, and she was soon recruited for Acuity U video productions.  

“It’s awesome! So far, the characters I’ve played have been me, but all the films have given me the opportunity to express myself and make people laugh. It’s very rewarding to have people come up and tell me how much they enjoy the videos,” Kao says.

“I’m so glad Acuity sees me for who I am—not just an employee, but an actor and entertainer,” Kao says. “I’m in a great spot in my life and am constantly thankful to Acuity for the opportunities I have here.”