Zachary Florence

After years of development, Zachary is excited to be co-producing the world premiere of Paradise Square: A New Musical at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley, CA. It’s 1863 and in a 20-block area of Manhattan known as the Five Points, Black and Irish Americans live side by side, work together, marry, and for a brief period realize racial harmony. However, the intensifying Civil War soon results in the first-ever Federal draft, leading to riots as whites are called to enlist while blacks are barred from serving. Calling upon a variety of musical and dance traditions including Irish step-dancing and African traditional forms (Juba dancing), as well as new ones created from their fusion (tap dance), Paradise Square subverts and reframes some of the most popular music of the 19th century while honouring and celebrating this unique neighborhood’s diverse inhabitants.

The production is directed by Moisés Kaufman and choreographed by Bill T. Jones, and features a cast of 30 extraordinary performers. Paradise Square runs from December 27, 2018 to March 3, 2019 at Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre. Tickets and details are available here.

Zachary is directing the world premiere of Daniel Karasik’s new play, Little Death, in Toronto in Spring 2015. Daniel’s remarkable new play tells the story of Alex, who may or may not be dying. Confronted with his mortality, he searches for sex and connection in hotel bars — with his wife Brit’s conflicted blessing. Lyrical and spare, Little Death asks fundamental questions about marriage, fidelity, and the intimate needs of men and women. The production features an incredible cast: Shauna Black, Sarah Dodd, Kate Hennig, Christopher Stanton, Elizabeth Tanner and Nicole Underhay. Little Death runs from April 17 to May 3, 2015 in the BMO Incubator at the Theatre Centre as part of The RISER Project, a collaborative producing model presented by Why Not Theatre. Seating capacity is limited, so book your tickets here.

Sahar Fatima has written a great article about The Container in today’s Globe and Mail. She spoke to playwright Clare Bayley, producer Sabrina A. Bandali and some of the remarkable people at Romero House. Click here to read it.

The Container opened at SummerWorks on August 7 and we’re attracting some major attention. NOW Magazine calls the production a “gripping drama…an unforgettable and educational experience” and has awarded us a NNNN rating. Toronto Life advises “anyone scanning the schedule for that one memorable experience should avoid the traditional venues and try The Container”. Book your tickets here.

The Toronto Star has published their SummerWorks preview article, and The Container is one of a half-dozen shows recommended for “high-end theatrical nourishment”. Richard Ouzounian’s full article is here. Tickets are limited and some performances are already sold out, so click here to purchase your tickets before they’re all gone.

Zachary is directing the Canadian premiere of The Container at this year’s SummerWorks Festival in Toronto. Clare Bayley’s award-winning play tells the story of five migrants thrown together by circumstance and necessity, traveling across Europe in a shipping container. A remarkable cast brings this immersive production to life inside an actual shipping container. The SummerWorks Festival runs from August 7-17 (performances on selected dates). Seating capacity is extremely limited, so book your tickets here. An experience most never think about becomes a production you will never forget.

The Shaw Festival: Behind the Curtain is a one-hour documentary that takes viewers backstage at one of North America’s leading theatre companies during their 2012 season. Much of the program focuses the Shaw’s production of Come Back, Little Sheba, for which I wrote original music. Although very little of my music can be heard in the film, it’s a fascinating trip through planning, rehearsals and production of a play that was very dear to all of us who worked on it. The  Shaw Festival: Behind the Curtain premieres on July 19th at 9 p.m. on PBS (check your local listings for the exact schedule as well as repeat broadcasts). Click here for complete program details.

Zachary is composing original music for Enchanted April at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Matthew Barber’s adaptation of Elizabeth von Arnim’s novel is the funny and tender story of four women who rediscover themselves while on holiday in Italy. Jackie Maxwell directs a cast of Shaw Festival veterans in this utterly charming production. Previews begin on June 25 at the Festival Theatre and the production runs in repertory until October 26. Click here to learn more about the production and purchase tickets.

Zachary is composing original music for Peace in Our Time: A Comedy at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. John Murrell’s remix of Shaw’s play Geneva is a funny and fascinating look at international diplomacy run amok. Blair Williams directs an incredible cast in this world premiere production. Previews begin on May 19 at the Court House Theatre and the production runs in repertory until October 12. Click here to learn more about the production and purchase tickets.