Today we’d like to introduce you to Zakiya Young.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Zakiya. So, let’s start at the beginning, and we can move on from there.
I grew up in a household that was filled with art. My dad sings, and my mom was an actress in college and made sure to expose us to all different art forms. They put us in dance class, piano lessons, we were in the children’s choir at church, elementary school band, and choir.
And of course, our house was full of music, dancing, and laughter. My big sister never let me sing the melody when we sang duets, so without realizing it, she developed my ear for harmony. Despite my artistic upbringing, I had a love for science that I thought would carry me through college, med school and launch me into a successful career as a pediatrician.
I landed the role of Anita in West Side Story in high school, and that awoke in me a passion for musical theater. I thought the theater would be a hobby, but after two semesters of pre-med courses, I realized I wasn’t passionate enough about science to get me through 4-hour chemistry labs. But I would gladly wake up early for rehearsal for a show.
So I called my parents in tears and told them I wanted to change majors. They supported me, but with one exception, I couldn’t major in performing arts. They said they already knew I was talented and would pay for private lessons if I needed them, but I was to graduate from college with a degree in something I could fall back on. So I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Communication.
Every summer during college, I would sing or act at Paramount’s King’s Dominion or Paramount’s King’s Island for my summer job. Shortly before graduation, I auditioned for Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera’s summer season and got my union card.
After that season ended, I moved to New York and hit the audition circuit. I had some ups and downs – as everyone does. I actually left the business for two years because I was burnt out. When I returned to auditioning, the second open call I went to was for the Original Broadway Company of The Little Mermaid. Several callbacks later, I booked the job!
That changed my life – completely. I stayed with that show for the duration of its Broadway run. Then I booked my first leading role – playing Lois Lane opposite some Broadway heavy hitters in a reboot of the musical “It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman” in Dallas, Texas. That role put me on the radar of different casting offices. One office started calling me in for plays – which was new for me.
I booked my first Broadway play as a standby for two of the lead female roles in the play “Stick Fly.” It was such a new world for me – I didn’t have an MFA or a BFA – I just had the gift that God gave me and the miracle of insight that allowed me to inhabit these characters. I learned a lot during that show and took the time to learn from the accomplished director and actors I was working with.
I always tell people my story doesn’t make sense on paper. It’s literally a walk of faith, courage, preparation, and alignment. I am so grateful for the casting offices and creative teams that took a chance on me – and for Actor’s Equity Association for having open calls for when I was without representation.
After a successful theater career in NYC, I felt like it was time to explore LA. By this time, I had started doing tv and film work and joined SAG-AFTRA. I had also done plays with notable television and film actors, and I felt ready for this new adventure. I packed my bags, gave away a lot of stuff, got rid of my apartment and booked a one-way ticket to LA. February 6th, 2019 marks my two year anniversary of moving here.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Hahaha – smooth? Nope. But it keeps me humble and prayed up. When I moved to LA, my manager in NYC and I had to part ways. I loved working with them, but they told me up front they weren’t bi-coastal. I didn’t understand how important that was when I moved to LA.
My Broadway credits had opened so many doors in NYC – I didn’t realize that wasn’t the same in LA. I had been working exclusively with my manager, so when that relationship ended, I was without representation for the first time in years. I was also without a car. I didn’t believe people when they said you needed a car in LA. I’m a New Yorker – I am not afraid to walk. But these walks in LA tho… it’s a whole new game. A game that I didn’t want to play. Can you live without a car? Yes. But after two months I was over it and scraped together enough money to buy my own ride. Career-wise, I was basically starting over.
This was super humbling – and I won’t lie – I was tempted to move back to NYC where people knew me, and I wouldn’t have a problem getting representation. I had to humble myself and get back to basics. New headshots. Business cards. Networking. Even getting a meeting was proving to be impossible. I booked a role in an independent film because a friend got me the audition. I booked my first on-camera hosting gig bc a friend of mine connected me with the film festival she worked with. I was slowly but surely learning that LA is a city of connections – and you have to put effort and time into making them.
I met with a former colleague who has an enviable television career and asked his advice. He said to do the thing that sets me apart – musical theater. I looked at him like I was crazy – umm – I didn’t move to LA to do musicals. But he broke it down for me – there are thousands of girls who look just like me that want to be an actress. I need to give casting directors a reason to see me – I need to show them what sets me apart. So I went to an Equity open call for Center Theater Group. I booked the female role in their production of Spamilton – which led to me getting an Equity agent and freelancing with a voiceover agent.
I had three jobs that paid my bills – I was a server/host at a restaurant, I taught private voice lessons, and I’m an adjunct professor in the commercial musical theater department at a college. One of my colleagues at the college introduced me to her agent, and they signed me theatrically. At the same time, a commercial and print agent came across my profile on LA Casting, called me in and signed me for both commercial and print work. It took me about a year and a half to get representation again. I am happy to now be working with Hanlon Talent Agency for theatrical, Saint Agency for commercials and print, and KMR for Equity and voiceover.
We’d love to hear more about what you do.
What am I known for?
Hmmm… My smile. I was trained in classical voice, so that tends to set me apart in the musical theater world. I regularly work in both plays and musicals, which sets me apart in NYC.
I’m 5’10. My height and my dry sense of humor usually get me cast as the lawyer, doctor, professor, scientist, etc. I was raised in the suburbs, so I usually play the upper middle class or wealthy professional women. I’m a prissy tomboy. I love getting my nails and hair done, but I also love watching sports.
I strive to be a light – to bring positive energy and encouragement to whatever project I’m working on, to lead by example, to honor my colleagues as we collaborate, and to bring truth and integrity to every character I have the honor of inhabiting.
What am I most proud of?
The fact that my career is a series of Divine appointments and it’s truly unique. I just have to remember why I’m here, follow my gut, do the work and not engage in comparison or negative self-talk. What’s for you truly is for you.
I’ve never booked a role where I’ve gone into the audition being less than 100% authentic – trying to be like everyone else – trying to be what I think the director wants – or apologizing for simply being me. I’ve been so blessed to have had the opportunities I’ve had. Super excited to see what’s next!
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I just opened the play “Familiar” by Danai Gurira at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. It is such an incredible piece, and I remember auditioning for its off-Broadway run a few years ago.
So grateful to have the opportunity to tell this story. I wasn’t planning on going out of town – especially during pilot season – but this opportunity was too great to pass up. And San Diego isn’t too far from LA in case I need to get back for an audition.
We opened on January 31 and run until March 3rd. After that – I’m back to nurturing my relationships with my new reps and continuing to audition. This play is helping me build new acting muscles, and I can’t wait to apply what I’m learning here to my auditions for film and television.
I also just moved into a new apartment – but haven’t spent much time there since I’ll be in San Diego until March. Super excited to relax in my new space.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @officialzakiyayoung
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZakiyaYoung/
- Twitter: @zakiyayoung
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEitFW8YGA3vOHXOVSCIJeA
Image Credit:
David Mueller, Kevin Alvey, JCav Photography
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