Katie Zanca-Elon’s Budding Broadway Star

Her personality is vivacious, and her smile is contagious. She lights up the stage, and the entire Elon campus.
 
Her name is Katie Zanca. Remember it- you’ll probably see it in lights on Broadway one day.
 
Zanca, a sophomore musical theatre major from Connecticut, took time out of her busy schedule to chat with Her Campus.

 
HC: So you’re a musical theatre major, right? Have you been in any plays or musicals here at Elon?
 
KZ: Yes! So far I have been in “Children of Eden” and “She Loves Me,” and I am currently rehearsing “A Man Of No Importance,” which will go up in the Black Box Theatre soon. I’ve also performed in the 2014 Freshman Showcase and in two cabarets that the department does every year.
 
HC: Do people recognize you around campus after shows?
 
KZ: People don’t really recognize me after shows, but some of my close friends who have played leads in our productions definitely have that celeb factor! Maybe one day that will be me!
 
HC: Wow, you must be so busy! When did you first start singing? Did you always know you were talented?
 
KZ: I’ve loved to sing my entire life but really got into Musical Theatre specifically when I got involved in a children’s theatre company in second grade. I’m not sure if I ever really thought I was talented as much as I just loved the feeling of performing and the entire process of putting together a show. When it came time to apply to colleges, I knew I would never be happy doing anything else.
 
HC: So then you decided to come to Elon. What is the musical theatre department here like?
 
KZ: The Music Theatre department here at Elon is, in a word, incredible. I truly don’t believe the level of talent that some of my peers have. We are all getting a BFA in Musical Theatre, which is a Bachelor of Fine Arts. It’s an enormous time commitment and an extremely regimented major but we don’t mind doing the work because we are lucky enough to do what we love every single day!
 
HC: And Elon has a pretty impressive musical theatre program, right?
 
KZ: Oh yeah. Elon’s program is nationally recognized as one of the nation’s top Music Theatre programs. Our Alumni are on Broadway, TV, and on National Tours. Upwards of 500 people have auditioned for next years Freshman Class this year for an estimated class size of 16-18 people! I can’t imagine being in any other major at any other school.
 
HC: That’s amazing! Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What would your dream job be?
 
KZ: The dream job is definitely to be in a Broadway show, I think anyone in my department would say that, but I know I’ll be happy my whole life if I’m able to be consistently working as an actor. My ultimate goal is just to be happy!
 
HC: Well it seems like you’re on the right track! Ok one last question… What do you think of competitive performing reality TV shows, such as The Voice or American Idol?
 
KZ: I am all for shows like American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, Smash, Glee, and The Voice – in my opinion anything and everything that brings awareness to the arts is a good thing! Some of them are definitely a little cheesy or silly but I do enjoy them. My favorite is by far The Voice, because I think it’s really cool to hear those famous artists talking about singing in technical terms.
 
HC: Thanks so much for talking with us, Katie! We wish you the best of luck.