Zachary Noah Piser Performs From the Heart in New Musical Redwood at the La Jolla Playhouse

Mixed Asian Media - March 7, 2024

By Melissa Akiko Slaughter

I first spoke with Zachary Noah Piser back in 2018, when he was dancing on tables in an immersive Off-Broadway production of Sweeney Todd. Five years and one pandemic later, I caught up with Zach via zoom while he was getting ready to rehearse his latest role in Redwood at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego.

Redwood was co-conceived by theatre legends, writer/director Tina Landau (Floyd Collins; Spongebob Squarepants) and actor Idina Menzel (Rent; Wicked). Menzel plays Jesse, a heartbroken woman searching for a place to heal. She finds it in the Redwoods National Park. Walking into the unknown, as this is a new, original musical, I was met by lush melodies from first-time theatre composer Kate Diaz and an incredible, almost immersive, set. Breathtaking.

Piser plays Spencer. Since this is a new work, I can’t reveal more about his character. But I did ask him plenty about his thoughts on new works, his role in the Broadway show KPOP, and why original works are so special. 

*THIS INTERVIEW HAS BEEN EDITED FOR CLARITY AND LENGTH.

Redwood is in it’s out-of-town run, and will likely see changes after it leaves San Diego. What made you want to come out to California to do this piece?

Well, the creative team: Tina Landau, Idina Menzel, and then Kate Diaz, who is an L.A.-based, film score composer. I will tell you that listening to Kate's demo a year ago, it was one of the first times in a while that I was so deeply moved by just a demo. It's such an art, to make the audience feel something at the moment that you want to. And it so comes through in her music. It's really special.

I think one of the big reasons why I came out here is because doing completely original work is so rare these days. Especially post-pandemic theater. You see all these sequels and all these brand names that are coming back. Doing something completely original is such a gift, and that's something that I have to remind myself of. It's rare. When you get the opportunity, you got to really savor it. Being a part of that process — of seeing something original go literally from the page to the stage — is something that is really worthwhile. Someone came to the show last night, and was like, “How often do you come to a show and literally not know anything about it? How often?” 

I mean, Sweeney Todd is literally on Broadway right now. And I saw you in Sweeney in 2018.

And there's nothing wrong with that! There are reasons why they're being revived, or why those brands are becoming musicals. But when you do a show that is brand new, I would say it’s as rewarding as it is challenging. No one knows what this is about, which means that we are all going to figure it out together.

Speaking of original shows, you also did KPOP on Broadway. You were the replacement for Jason Tam's Off-Broadway role, so what was that like? Doing a show that is maybe not original to you, but is still original in concept and very original to Broadway?

My experience with KPOP was different from pretty much everyone else in that cast, because I would say 95% of the cast and crew had been a part of the show for anywhere between two to 10 years. I joined the company a few months before rehearsals began. I had done something with Jason Kim [the book writer], and he was like, “I think this role would be really right for you. I'm writing a specifically Hapa character. Are you interested?” And I was like, “Yeah, of course! I've never done that before.”

I had always been like the silly funny sidekick or very awkward, socially inept [like playing Evan Hansen on Broadway]. Originating the role of Brad, I was able to be a much cooler, hipper, hotter version of myself. I hate to say it, but Asian people are not usually relegated to tell those stories. Or if they are, it's highly objectified, right? Especially for female identifying bodies.

How was originating Brad different from what you’re doing now in Redwood?

It’s actually that this character from Redwood, Spencer, did not have a race. It's like, “We're looking for this fit, these attributes, be this vocal type, be this actor, find this person.” I had a conversation with Tina, “This is my identity and I’d love to be able to bring some of it to this piece.” And they were like, “Great! Let's find ways for us to bring in your heritage,” without it being an Asian character from the get-go.

This character is definitely the closest to me. Reading the lyrics and scenes, I remember feeling like, “Oh, this feels so natural coming out of my mouth. It feels so organic.” I can just come from the heart, which is my favorite work to do. Someone said to me one time that I'm a person who performs from their heart, and that's the biggest compliment to me. Yeah, there's technique, and you go to school for things, but as an observer of theatre, TV, and film, the thing that thrills me is when you know that someone is performing from their heart and soul. You can just feel that difference. It's tangible. And for Spencer, it's that I get to be that open heart.

Redwood runs through March 31st at the Tony-award winning La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, CA. Tickets are available here.