Zachary Stevenson

Since graduating from the University of Victoria in 2003, Zachary Stevenson has made a name for himself as an actor and a musician – and as a dependable, acclaimed and uncanny interpreter of musical performers from days gone by.

At UVic, Zachary acted in the Phoenix Theatre productions of Samuel Beckett’s Endgame and Anthony Minghella’s Two Planks and a Passion as he earned his BFA in the Acting specialization. From there, he took on the role of musician Phil Ochs in The Ballad of Phil Ochs, a play written by fellow alumnus Ross Desprez (MFA ’96). Zachary drew positive notices for throwing himself into the role of the revolutionary protest singer; it was an early sign of bigger things to come for the young actor.

In 2004 and 2005, Zachary became a prominent figure in a variety of Victoria venues: he acted in two shows for Theatre SKAM, both directed by Phoenix graduate Amiel Gladstone (BFA ’94); he appeared in various roles in Kaleidoscope Theatre’s Adventures in the Rouge Trade, directed by UVic alumnus and sessional instructor Leslie Bland; and he collaborated with Desprez again as the titular Jim Pane in the Belfry Theatre / Other Guys production of The Ballad of Jim Pane.

2006 saw Zachary starring in Hair at the prestigious CanStage theatre in Toronto, and the formation of his folk/pop duo The Human Statues with friend Jeff Bryant. But his most lasting advancement that year may have been getting cast for the lead role in Drayton Entertainment’s production of The Buddy Holly Story. Just as he did with Phil Ochs, Zachary captured the look, spirit and sound of Buddy Holly with impressive clarity. In fact, his performance was so overwhelmingly successful that he’s reprised the role every summer since, including a tour to Calgary and, since 2010, a hugely successful annual staging at the Arts Club Theatre in Vancouver. His turn as Buddy has earned him a Jessie nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor, and an Ovation nomination for Outstanding Performance in a Musical.

But Zachary hasn’t left Victoria behind – he’s returned to perform for Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre in a pair of shows directed by Artistic Director and UVic Professor Brian Richmond. In 2010’s Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave, Zachary added the “Lovesick Blues Boy” to his performing repertoire of music legends, and in 2011’s Fire he scorched the ivories as a character loosely based on Jerry Lee Lewis.

Named one of the “Top Ten Talents to Watch” in The Vancouver Sun, Zachary continues to tune his craft and burn up the stage.