He’s Sky-high about ‘Mamma Mia!’
For nearly two years, aspiring young actor Zak
Resnick says, “I grew a ton as a performer” working as a singing waiter at Ellen’s Stardust Diner. He had a full plate, between serving burgers and wowing the crowds with his rousing renditions of Michael Bublé and Broadway.
But as much as he enjoyed his job, the Carnegie Mellon grad, 24, dreaded the diner’s incessant singalong medley from “Mamma Mia!” He says, “Obviously, ABBA’s music is amazing, but when you hear it 17 times a day, you want to kill yourself.”
So guess where the award-winning actor just made his Broadway debut? Next-door to Ellen’s Stardust Diner: at the Winter Garden Theatre ... in “Mamma Mia!” He’s starring as Sky, the sexy and shirtless fiance to Sophie (played by the lovely Christy Altomare, also a Broadway debut).
“It’s a blast. I love the cast, and it’s such a feelgood show,” says the Middletown, N.Y., native, who’s appeared Off-Broadway in Seth Rudetsky’s musical “Disaster!” and sung at Carnegie Hall.
Resnick is part of a major changeover at “Mamma Mia!,” now celebrating its 10th year. Judy McLane, who played Tanya for more than seven years, is now Donna, the “Dancing Queen,” and all the other principals are new: Felicia Finley (as Tanya), Lauren Cohn (Rosie), Aaron Lazar (Sam), Daniel Cooney (Bill) and Graham Rowat (Harry).
Resnick has worked with many of them before, such as Lazar (“I’ve always looked up to Aaron; he’s like my big brother, and we poke fun at each other”).
Lazar, a Broadway veteran, first saw him on YouTube and thought, “‘Gee, this kid can sing his face off.’ Now we’re in the same musical. Zak’s like a young sapling, so I call him ‘Sprout.’ I’m a huge fan of his, and ‘Mamma Mia!’ is a great start for him.”
As for Resnick’s favorite part of the show, it’s now become the mega-medley finale. He says, “I’m
not a dancer, but it’s so full of energy and fun!”