zamberrubeSeamless transition from touring 6. Musical Played Lorraine Baines (Mother of Marty McFly) in the first national tour back to the future is a testament to her dedication and hard work as an actor.
I recently spoke with Zan about her role in the show and how she landed it, the technical wizardry that brings the production to life and how she maintains a routine while touring. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For the full interview, watch the video above or check out our YouTube page.
Did you get a chance to see the show before auditioning?
Zamberrube: I don’t. You know, I was on the road with him on tour 6. Musical In the two years it took me to submit the role, most of my auditions were by tape, so I sent… I think I sent maybe three times, and then I finally got the chance to go to New York and meet John Randalldirector, most of the creative team and some original creators back to the future themselves and then they flew me out again for a small work meeting and from there the rest is history and then when we started.
Then I continue on my way sixso I didn’t get a chance to see the show, but when we started rehearsing and I had nine days between contracts, I snuck into a performance of the Broadway production and was like a kid in a candy store. I just remember the magic of theater taking over me, like, “Oh my God. I can’t believe I get to be a part of this amazing story that brings so much joy and laughter to audiences every night. I really want to, “How do they do it? How do they create these iconic movie moments live on stage? It’s so exciting.
from the moment you left six It’s been nine days until you started the show?
Zamberrube: Yes. During that trip, I had nine days to pack up everything for the road and get everything home. Then I went home for about four days, repacked, said hello to my family, which is very important to me, and then headed to New York to live there for a month while rehearsing the show.
I love that it never stops. I think that’s the fun of it.
Zamberrube: It’s every actor’s dream, so I’m very grateful.
Is there anything completely different between movies and TV series?
Zamberrube: There are some differences. The main difference I like to point out is the original music. There’s a lot of original music that sometimes isn’t as well known as the iconic Huey Lewis song “The Power of Love” that we know and love, but yes, some of the original music on the show is really great.
I saw your picture and you look completely different. Like, if you would walk past me, I wouldn’t recognize you.
zamberrube: you will never know. I guess you could say I became incognito once I left the stage door.
I have three beautiful wigs, all based on the original design ThompsonLoraine Baines, everyone knows and obviously loves her because she is incredible. So, yeah, it’s a short dark wig styled in three different ways to represent my character traveling through time.
You see Lorraine in the show, she’s 47 years old at the time, she has three kids and a drinking problem, and the wig looks a little depressed, but it’s still gorgeous. Their styling was designed by Jack. He is our wig supervisor. He’s incredible. Then the iconic 50s wig is exactly the same as in the movie, and then she goes back in time and transforms into a new 47-year-old woman, which is amazing. Every time I wear them I feel like a million bucks.
Technically, the show seems to have a lot of moving parts. What do you think is the coolest part?
Zamberrube: Oh my gosh. The show has a lot of cool tech parts. The LED wall is incredible and state of the art. These projections and LED designs they prepared for the show are amazing. There’s a projection at the top of the second act that I thought was slapstick comedy and absolutely incredible. We also have a moving carousel that moves a lot of our scenes around, which is pretty cool at the end of the first act. We call it “chaos.” A lot of things are happening at the same time, and it takes a lot of faith in technology to make it all happen. And then there’s something, the cars, the car scenes that you see in the movies really come to life on stage. That’s all I have to say. But these are my favorite parts.
I once went to a show that had a turntable, and once a week that sucker would break and we’d just sit there waiting for it to turn back on.
Zamberrube: That’s the worst. Thankfully they have a really good system and I think because we do eight shows a week it has to be very reliable and it has to be able to drive so it has to be sturdy. But yeah, there are times when I’m like, “Oh my gosh, I cross my fingers.” But no, so far, it’s been really good.
You say you were called to a work meeting in New York. what does that mean? Working with other actors who might be co-starring with you?
Zamberrube: No, that’s a chemistry book. I’ve been a part of that and those are great too. But for this one, it was just me and the director, and basically, they gave me notes and I took those notes, but I think there was this hint of, “Let’s take her to work again.” Together. So, I worked with the director. There is a reader in the room. Amazing Casting Office Tara Rubin There. Everything I did that day was then recorded and sent to the UK team for final discussion until they approved it.
Are you in New York?
Zamberrube: Yes. I live in New York but am originally from Boston, MA. So, I can travel to and from home in close proximity.
you were there six. How are you doing with this? I love that show.
Zamberrube: OMG. marvelous. I mean, what a beautiful trampoline that started my whole career. I graduated from the University of Michigan in 2020 and spent a year in New York City before starting six marvelous. I mean, I had a great cast. These women have been with me ever since and I hope they will be with me for the rest of my life. This show is so great. I mean, 80 minutes of pure bliss, non-stop on your feet. Incredible songs, great story. It was like my dream to do my first show, so I was very lucky.
You graduated in 2020. six?
Zamberrube: Well, I’m sure you remember, but take us back. Actually, don’t take us back to 2020. I graduated into a field that barely existed, as I had for most of that year. I didn’t do a lot of what actors usually do after they graduate, they show, they go to New York, they meet with reps, they start auditioning.
But as soon as I got home, I prayed that the industry would open up again. Then I was lucky enough to get reps through my program. So, they would put me in TV and movies and we would do it all virtually until I eventually moved to the city and started struggling. I started auditioning, I started babysitting, I started catering. I did everything until I finally made it to the final round six. Someone was on my side because they gave this girl fresh out of college a chance to tell her story on a big stage.
When I do a show, it feels like it’s weeks later when I remember where everything is, where I need to go, what this is, what that is. How on earth do you know what’s going on backstage when you’re in a different theater almost every week?
Zamberrube: I mean, sometimes I don’t do that. Sometimes I forget what city I’m in, where the bathroom is backstage, how to get to the dressing room. When we do longer sit-downs, it’s great because you become very comfortable with it and you can develop a routine. The flow and blocking in the background are just as important as the flow and blocking on stage. Especially in a show like this back to the futurebecause there are so many moving parts and a lot of things happening in the background that can be dangerous if you don’t know where you’re going. So the orientation process of it all is very important.
On your first Tuesday in a new city, you can’t just close your eyes or just nod or slack off. In fact, you must pay attention. Our company manager will give a speech and then our stage manager will give a speech. That stage management speech was basically all about safety. What level the lights are at, where the live action is, what happens at the edge of the stage. “It’s only six inches deep, so be careful when you run up to…the orchestra in town. The orchestra in town doesn’t have internet. That kind of thing.
Sometimes our depth changes on stage. When our flies come in, maybe there will be more flies in front of the stage or off stage. They tell us what’s going on off stage. This week the call desk will be on stage left instead of stage right.
First Tuesday is all about figuring it out and trusting the process. So usually once you have a show, it just snowballs from there. But yes, you have to keep your eyes open.
You mentioned routine. If my routine is messed up and I’m talking about my routine, my day is a little messed up. How do you create a routine to maintain balance when you’re traveling from city to city in a hotel room?
Zamberrube: You have to stay flexible. You can’t cherish it too much because your space is constantly changing. Sometimes I have room for a yoga mat and sometimes I don’t. Know what’s important to you, know what you need to best prepare yourself, but know that sometimes you really need to change the way it looks. Sometimes you have to arrive at the theater early because there’s no room in your hotel room, or sometimes you need to move the humidifier because there’s no side table nearby. It’s really about breathing and knowing that everything is going to be okay, that we are all malleable, and that you can basically accomplish whatever you need to accomplish, even if it’s going to be a different space.
back to the future meCurrently performing at the San Diego Municipal Theater. For more information and tickets: Broadway San Diego
