'The Self-Isolated Artist' Series: Toronto/New York Profile of Zachary Martin
Interview compiled by Joe Szekeres, Chief Toronto Critic
In January of this year, I answered a publicity inquiry from Zack Martin on a common Toronto Facebook site about his original play ‘Hazing U’ which was to be performed in New York in February. When I learned that Zack is Canadian, I wished him the best for his opening and with the hope that ‘Hazing U’ might see a Canadian production sometime soon.
It was of good fortune that we have kept in touch over the last while. Zack’s explanation about his flight from New York was frightening to read especially since we can now see on the news the situation in the Big Apple.
I interviewed Zack via email:
What brought you to New York City from Canadian terra firma?
It was always my dream ever since I was a kid to live and work in NYC and to be an actor. I was fortunate enough to go to Sarah Lawrence College, and to study abroad for a semester my Junior year via Sarah Lawrence’s sister program at the British American Drama Academy in London. After graduating from Sarah Lawrence, I remained in NYC and have been there ever since working as an actor and now as a playwright as well.
2. Before the on set of Covid-19, describe what life was like for you in the Big Apple.
Before COVID-19, life in the Big Apple has always been crazy, but it has been a wild and incredibly fun ride. The chaos of audition season (usually January-April) is something I actually look forward to every year. This is when most things are cast in the Theatre world, and I average between 3-7 auditions, callbacks, and open calls on any given week; sometimes more than 4 a day. It can really burn a lot of people out, but I have a routine I follow and have been consistent and disciplined about keeping up the hard work and going to as many that are right for my “type” as possible.
Outside of the acting world, I keep a healthy work/life balance. I work full time in Marketing, and in my spare time I enjoy going out with friends, exercising almost every day, seeing NYC theatre, going to the movies, skiing, and traveling.
3. Over the last few months when there was talk on the news about this virus over seas with the threat and hint it would be on North American soil, could you sense that life was changing in NYC? How so?
I actually like to keep the news on when I work in the background more or less for white noise, but it was interesting to hear more and more coverage about COVID-19 as it rapidly progressed. I was like most people. I thought that there was a lot of fear mongering by the media, and that it would inevitably come to North American soil but that life wouldn’t change at all in NYC, let alone the entire country. I also think there was a lot of misinformation going around, which led myself and many others to think that it was just a bad case of the flu, and that it wasn’t deadly to 99.9% of people. Incredible how we were all proven wrong and how fast this horrible disease unravelled.
4. In an earlier conversation, you told me that you had an interesting story to tell about your last few days in New York (and your last night) before you left. Tell me about it.
Yes…so as I said I wasn’t too concerned about the virus the night before I left NYC. I have always been a germaphobe and my friends like to joke about how much I wash my hands and use hand sanitizer even before all of this began so it wasn’t like I was going to be doing anything differently. I noticed that 2 weeks before I left, all Broadway theatres had hand sanitizer in their lobbies. That was the first small sign. I attended an incredible play in two parts called ‘The Inheritance’ Part 1 & 2, and I am glad I was able to see these 2 performances because it was closing a week later.
On Wednesday March 11th I decided at the last minute that I would go “Rush” West Side Story (you can do things like that in NYC just go to the box office and say you are here for Rush or Student Rush-with ID and you can get incredible seats for $40 or less sometimes) and I picked up a ticket for that night’s show a couple hours before. By then, the news was reporting about COVID-19 nonstop, but I still wasn’t that concerned about it. It didn’t even cross my mind that I would be in danger if I went to see a Broadway show. I went inside, and I noticed an actor in the seat next to mine who I see at a lot of auditions. We talked briefly and he introduced himself officially and put out his hand for me to shake. I joked and said let me give you my elbow due to COVID-19, and he laughed and agreed.
I am glad we elbowed…
After the show was over, I headed home and got on the subway. It was pretty empty, but I still made a point of sitting multiple seats away from anyone. I was looking at my Twitter feed which I get for a lot of Breaking News and that’s when my opinion changed…the NBA Season was cancelled, and Tom Hanks who is like a father figure you grew up watching announced that he and his wife Rita Wilson had COVID-19…that was the trigger for me.
I said to myself, “Holy Shit! This is real, and this is serious now” and as I walked home from my subway stop I decided that this is going to be dangerous, and I need to rent a car and drive back to my childhood home in Toronto. I predicted that there would be chaos at grocery stores, there could be food delays or shortages, and mass hysteria, and I wouldn’t allow myself to, god forbid, get stranded in my apartment all alone, and even worse if they closed the border.
I packed as much as I could into two suitcases. I was going to take an Uber after work the next day to the car rental, and then drive home. The next day at work (luckily, I have always worked from home/remotely for Marketing) the news continued to get worse and I knew I needed to leave ASAP and that it possibly couldn’t wait.
My Canadian cousin and his girlfriend also live in NYC. I offered them a ride back to Toronto with me, and they both initially said no the night before. After getting inside information from a journalist about the potential of the NYC transit system and borders being shut down as a contingency plan, my cousin’s girlfriend texted me this and said we need to get out now and that she would pack in 20 minutes and meet me near the car rental.
I panicked and left 2 hours earlier in the middle of the workday, unplugged most of my appliances, locked all my doors, said goodbye to my home for god knows how long. I jumped in an Uber and headed to the car rental. I left at 4 PM from my apartment, and my cousin’s girlfriend and I drove home and only stopped 3 times for gas and for food. My cousin left NYC a few days later separately.
As we were driving, I got the news that Broadway had been shut down. I now knew that I saw the last performance of ‘West Side Story’ for the foreseeable future and attended the literal last night of Broadway being open. We crossed the border after midnight, and both got home around 2 AM. Each of us quarantined for 14 days, but this was at a time it wasn’t even mandatory or mentioned to us at the border.
A few days later, my family started to realize just how right I was in my last minute decision to pack up everything and come to Toronto for safety, and more space, but most of all to not be alone in NYC which was clearing out by the masses each passing day!
5. Given your personal experiences with what you saw in NYC, will Covid – 19 somehow impact the New York City performing arts scene of theatre, nightclubs, and music? At this time and in your opinion, do you think NYC will or can ever recover?
Absolutely it will. Unfortunately, I believe it will have a major trickle-down effect. For example, less people will be willing to pay money to go to the theatre, and to support the arts due to lost income, and other economic challenges. As a result, producers will be less likely to take a risk on a show, and this will ultimately impact the amount of productions being cast in NYC and elsewhere.
The entire audition process is up in the air right now for post COVID-19. Right now, it is entirely self tapes/video submissions, but when we return to normal, what will the new normal look like? I think this will change the way we audition in person. Gone are the days of packed rooms shoulder to shoulder for dance calls and waiting in lines in overfilled holding rooms. I don’t think we will return to that, but this could be for the better too. Also, in person auditions could potentially become less frequent which would worry me because I still believe that human to human interaction that happens in a room when you perform for casting and the creative team is essential, and that can be lost sometimes with self tapes/video submissions.
Ultimately, NYC definitely can and will recover. It may take a while, but this is arguably the most desired city on earth to be in, and to live in, so that will help expedite things. Hopefully the US government continues to support the economy so that everyone can recover sooner rather than later.
6. What has been most difficult and challenging for you at this time? How are you keeping yourself busy?
The most difficult and challenging things for me at this time are not being able to perform in front of audiences, not being able to audition frequently, and simple things like seeing your friends, and going out for dinner, movie, shows, etc.
I am keeping myself busy by continuing my Marketing job, but after work spending quality time with my family which I don’t get to do in person that often so that is a positive out of this. I am also working very hard at keeping my creative side flowing by practicing my monologues, songs, and practicing musical instruments for an hour a day. I also have started writing a new play, which will be my second one when finished.
7. Do you see anything positive coming out of this experience of Covid-19?
A positive I see coming out of this experience of COVID-19 is the amount of extra time I have to practice guitar, ukulele, my monologues/songs, and being able to really focus on writing my second play. In NYC, the way we audition with waking up at the crack of dawn to wait outside in the freezing cold before the audition building even opens is not healthy, and many actors feel the system is broken.
I feel that anther positive out of this experience will be many coming changes to how the in-person audition system works.
8. Some artists are turning to streaming or online performances to share their work. What are your thoughts on this?
I think this is amazing and goes to show how connected our world can be. Technology can be a gift, and when we use it for purposes like this, it brings joy to everyone, and allows us to continue sharing our work and not letting this disease prevent us from doing what we love to do.
9. What is it specifically about performing which you love?
That’s a tough question. I guess the short answer would be I love to explore what it is to be another person, and how I can bring my own life experiences and memories into the “character” I portray when making the character my own.
As a nod to ‘Inside the Actors’ Studio’ and the late James Lipton, here are the 10 questions he asked at the conclusion of his interview:
What is your favourite word? Proud
What is your least favourite word? Quit
What turns you on? Happiness
What turns you off? Negativity
What sound or noise do you love? The ocean
What sound or noise bothers you? Loud chewers
What is your favourite curse word? Shit
Other than being an actor, what other profession would you have liked to attempt? Pilot
What profession would you not like to do? Doctor
If Heaven exists, what do you hope God will say to you as you approach the Pearly Gates? “Welcome”
Head shot photo of Zack Martin by Ronnie Nelson.
To learn more about Zachary Martin, visit his webpage: www.zacharyhmartin.com.