Russian Performers Show a Western Side

There’s something funny about the Troyan Family. They juggle, tumble and do silly skits, and Mom wears a big, round nose.

The Troyans are Russian circus performers who immigrated to the United States two years ago. Mother Katy Troyan was born in Moscow and met Slav Troyan at the Moscow Academy of Performing Arts, where they were studying mime, clowning, special acting and other performing specialties. They’ve been married almost 22 years and have a 21-year-old son, Timothy, who performs with them.

In Moscow, Katy Troyan did cartoon voices and produced a children’s show with her husband. “We put soul and heart into this show,” she said. Frustration with government editing policies inspired the move to the United States. They went first to Florida, then came to Los Angeles, where they make their living doing the same circus acts they did in the former Soviet Union. “It’s our dream to discover a program for kids here,” Katy Troyan said of the family’s goals.

They’ll perform at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum, 4700 Western Heritage Way, at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the Heritage Court in conjunction with the museum’s “Russian America: The Forgotten Frontier” exhibit. The family will do 20-minute excerpts from their regular one hour performance. Performances are free with museum admission.