Courtney Stollon

Review of ZACH Theatre

Full disclosure: I have worked closely with the ZA...

Full disclosure: I have worked closely with the ZACH staff for the past few years as a Theater Manager for the venue during the SXSW film festival. I have had nothing but a great experience with them, and have found them to be friendly, helpful, and level-headed even in stressful situations. However, I'll be reviewing the venue from my perspective as a theater-goer, having caught ZACH's production of "Les Miserables" back in October. Having worked with the theater before, I was curious about what a theatrical production there would be like, and both my boyfriend and I were impressed on all counts. First off, the ZACH's Topfer Theater is just a gorgeous venue. The building's facade, lobby, and lounge spaces are all sleek and modern without being imposing, as is the 420-seat theater. Inside, the acoustics are great, and the seats are plush, roomy, and comfortable. Any theatrical company can be hit-or-miss, and I'm writing this review based on only one production, but from that experience, I was very impressed. To be honest, local theater productions can sometimes seem a little amateurish, but the vocals, acting quality, set design, and direction on "Les Miserables" were all hugely impressive and very affecting. As I commented to my boyfriend afterwards, I felt that some of the performances I saw at ZACH were more impressive than the Hollywood A-listers in the film version! (Certainly some of the vocals were more on-key!) I know that ZACH produces a wide range of events, ranging from musicals like this one, to children's productions, to touring one-man (and -woman) shows. Tickets are quite affordable, ranging from $25-$70 for a seat. Unfortunately, I do not make it out to the theater as often as I would like, but with ZACH making the experience available and accessible to everyone, I have no excuse not to venture out for more shows. ZACH Theater is a fantastic resource for our community, and I will definitely be heading back.