Actress | Singer | Dancer | Writer | Teacher
Victoria Gabrielle Zacharski
Originally from Glastonbury, CT, Victoria moved to New York City in 2019 to pursue her B.F.A. at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. A music theory enthusiast and passionate patron of all things pink, she graduated with honors from the New Studio on Broadway for Musical Theater in 2023 and currently resides in Manhattan.
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About Me! The art I love, how I got started, & what I'm up to now...
PIANO
When I was three my favorite toy was a mini keyboard, and my parents began to notice I was using it to learn songs by ear. By age four I was in front of all 88 keys and felt right at home. Playing continues to be my go-to stress reliever and I am passionate about the therapeutic benefits of musicianship for people of all ages.
EDUCATION
My four years at the New Studio on Broadway for Musical Theater at NYU Tisch School of the Arts were simply magical. I had a gut feeling about the program for years and applied Early Decision without one college tour. I
am a firm believer in signs, and when I finally did visit Tisch on the day of my audition I noticed the address: 721 Broadway. My Birthday is July 21st. I felt great things must be in store for me there, and they certainly were.
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Through the New Studio on Broadway I was able to study with studio head Kent Gash and so many other wonderful artists, including Nathan Brewer, Karen Dryer, Barry McNabb, and Devin Shacket. I was equally fortunate to learn from my classmates, an exceptional group of young performers whose artistry and friendship continue to be lights in my life.
THEATER
The same week I began piano lessons, my parents took me (in my favorite pink dress) to see Wicked. As we entered the theater, the actor playing The Wizard arrived at the stage door and asked me if I was “a good witch or a bad witch”, but I didn’t answer. I was extremely shy and would remain so for several years, but the performance about to take place was the impetus for my eventual extroversion.
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From the moment the show began I was mesmerized, and as the curtain closed on Act 1 I had a thought that has stayed with me ever since: I need to be a part of that! Now! I imagined returning the next day with my CD player and climbing onstage to perform myself (the CD player was crucial, I knew the orchestra likely wouldn't support a pre-schooler interrupting the show so I needed to prepare my own accompaniment).
We ended up seeing the show again the following day, but of course I remained in my seat, still in awe of everything onstage. Seven more years would pass before braving my first theatrical audition, but I will always credit Wicked as the gateway to the greatest love of my life.
Dressing up as Glinda in her Bubble Dress... I was confused when everyone assumed I was Cinderella
(October 2005)
Our final days together at NYU Tisch Drama's New Studio on Broadway (May 2023)
WRITING
My collegiate work included “Marian Paroo and Broadway’s Dissolution of the Legit Soprano” and “Defining Wickedness Across Art and History: Humanity Through the Lens of Wicked”, but after graduation I switched compositional directions and found myself writing a memoir!
I disagree with the frequently unspoken, yet undeniably perpetuated, convention that equates one’s age or celebrity with their justification for autobiographical work, and have found extreme gratification through this genre. Inspired by themes in my academic papers and the quest for identity in emerging adulthood, my book centers on the complexities of navigating grief while adorned with pink and glitter.
TEACHING
I was one of those kids who truly enjoyed school, and I still look for ways to be a student even after completing my undergraduate education. I continue to learn and find great satisfaction in teaching and assisting other artists.
During my freshman year at Tisch I joined the music direction team of NYU CAST's production of Next to Normal, and continued this role at French Woods Festival in the summer of 2021. While at French Woods, I also worked as a private voice & piano teacher for children ages 6-16 and continue to offer coaching for all levels. I delight in putting my love for music theory to good use and passing it on to other artists!
Music directing during an ensemble rehearsal at French Woods (July 2021)