Alumni Profiles
Alum: Scott Palmason ’00
Scott Palmason ’00 ’s paternal grandfather, Edward, was known as the “Singing Doctor” of Ballard. His mom, Ann, was the Lower School music teacher at The Bush School. His dad, Jon, had a semi-professional career as a singer.
“I came from a family of music teachers, opera singers, and musicians,” said Scott. “I loved theater. I loved performing, and my family gave me license to do just that.”
That innate passion for the arts has stayed with Scott for forty-plus years and counting. He is currently living in Los Angeles, California and involved in two up-and-coming shows: Supportive White Parents, a musical comedy, which is slated for an LA run later this year, and JJ and Ella’s Super Cool Eurovision Variety Show, an improvised musical variety show that made its debut in March at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.
“What’s kept the joy for me is that sense of quality in the pursuit of excellence that I got from Bush,” Scott said.
Music was never far from Scott growing up. At an early age he and his sister, Jennifer Palmason Kaiton ’97, were thrown into piano lessons. Glockenspiels, recorders, and xylophones were alway at an arm’s length for Scott. Music was a way of life in the Palmason household.
“We were indoctrinated at a young age into music,” Scott said reflecting on his mom’s role as the Lower School music teacher from 1980-2000. “Bush used to have a hootenanny, which was a jamboree in the Lower School gymnasium, and it was just a big ole celebration of music and fun. That is one of my earliest memories at Bush.”
It was just before Scott set off to the Upper School when he started to fully explore and express his talents. At the Eighth Grade Moving-Up Ceremony he belted out “Imagine” by John Lennon; it was his first time singing in public.
“I just remember my dad being like, ‘Finally!’ and some of my classmates were like, ‘Hey, you’re alright, kid.’ I was like, ‘Cool, performing elicits these cool reactions and amazing moments.’”
Scott’s artistic confidence only grew as he found a community within the walls of the Benaroya Theater. Under the guidance of former Upper School Drama Teacher Mark Gallagher who worked at Bush from 1992 to 2006 and the late Sally Pritchard, Bush allowed Scott to find his voice through high-level performances ranging from the classics like “Nicholas Nickleby,” to the musical “She Loves Me,” to far-out experimental productions.
“It felt like the theater program was pushing the envelope and challenging us to try new things,” Scott said. “To me, the Bush theater program was legendary. I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do.’”
At the University of Redlands in California, Scott majored in English and received a minor in Spanish while continuing to pursue theater, involving himself in six productions. He said it was a conversation at Redlands that propelled him to take the big leap and shoot his shot in LA.
“Chris Beach, one of my directors, said, ‘I think you should go to LA, and I think you should try it,’” Scott recalled. “He just said to go for it.”
So in the fall of 2004, Scott and Jennifer, whose career path has included signing on many video games including Halo, moved to LA together. He’s been there ever since. He got his foot in the door at a place called iOWest, where his first sketch and comedy show took place and where he found his niche in improv—an art form that allows comedic actors to make up the performance on the spot.
“Improv was the thing that gave me community, gave me family, gave me friends,” Scott said. “If you surround yourself with people who are trained to say yes, and to support you—which is kind of the rule of improv—you’ll do well.”
His journey has also been hard. Challenging. Scary. But it has also produced joy in many different facets. He’s performed and sung on Disney cartoons and has played a doctor with a speaking role on an episode of Scrubs, among other unique opportunities. He has been a part of Supportive White Parents since 2018. Scott said they have a full concept album out and have recently been involved in workshop readings with the program, which is about an Asian girl who wishes on a shooting star for supportive white parents and eventually learns to love her Filipino parents for who they are. Scott’s other main focus lately have been producing and performing in JJ and Ella’s Super Cool Eurovision Variety Show,” which is a completely improvised musical variety show in the style of Eurovision, an annual international song competition.
“When I was doing what I was meant to be doing and found joy in it, I got more opportunities,” Scott said. “Those little bits of joy, loving what I am doing, jumping into shows or exciting new projects, or having fun singing—that is what keeps me going.”
Scott also manages a number of properties across LA for additional steady income, which allows him the flexibility to pursue his art in ways that bring his life meaning and joy.
“I would say to my high school self that all the challenges over the rough roads are so, so worth it,” Scott said. “And that goes for anything: moving to a new city, pursuing your passions, your career, dating, growing pains, all of it. Those challenges will feed your art, make you stronger, and, I think, just keep you going.”
The Bush School is an independent, coeducational day school located in Seattle, WA enrolling 715 students in grades K–12. The mission of The Bush School is to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities.
3400 East Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98112 (206) 322-7978
The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment, recruitment, admissions, or administration of any of its programs on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. In addition, The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment on the basis of age or marital status.