Zachary James

Classical Post’s Most Innovative Artist, Verismo Magazine’s Breakout Artist of the Year and among Opera Wire’s 30 Most Influential LGBTQ+ Artists, Zachary James is “a true stage animal” (Opera News) known for his “huge, robust bass” which “resonates with force” (Bach Track) and “cavernous bass” with “oomph and range” (Opera News).

He created the role of Lurch on The Addams Family musical on Broadway, the role of Abraham Lincoln in the world premiere of Philip Glass’s opera The Perfect American at the Teatro Real in Madrid, a role he reprised for London’s English National Opera and Australia’s Opera Queensland, Oberon in the world premiere of Kristin Hevner’s Il Sogno at the Teatro Citta della Pieve in Umbria, the role of Terry in the world premiere of Breaking The Waves at Opera Philadelphia and Lucius Clarke in the world premiere of Edward Tulane at Minnesota Opera.

A winner of the Lotte Lenya Competition, Zach has been engaged by The Metropolitan Opera, London’s English National Opera, Spain’s Teatro Real and Australia’s Opera Queensland, LA Opera, Opera Omaha, Minnesota Opera, Dallas Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Opera Saratoga, On Site Opera, Virginia Opera, Nashville Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Arizona Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Opera Roanaoke, Florentine Opera, Opera Ithaca, Shreveport Opera, Anchorage Opera, Union Avenue Opera, Schlossoper Haldenstein, Switzerland, Teatro Citta della Pieve, Central City Opera, Ash Lawn Opera and Knoxville Opera, Phoenicia International Festival of Voice, Prototype Festival NYC, Metropolis Opera Project, Chutzpah Festival, American Lyric Theatre and Illuminarts Miami.

As a stage actor, Zach originated in three Broadway shows including creating the role of Lurch in the Original Broadway Cast of The Addams Family, Thomas Hassinger in the Tony Award winning Original Broadway Revival Cast of South Pacific at Lincoln Center, and made his Broadway debut in the 2007 National Theatre of London Broadway transfer, Coram Boy.

On screen Zach has appeared on HBO’s Succession, on the sitcoms 30 Rock and Murphy Brown, on the 2010 Tony Awards live from Radio City Music Hall, PBS Great Performances, Live from Lincoln Center, the Late Show with David Letterman, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and more.

Zach’s orchestral concert engagements include performances with The Philadelphia Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra Tokyo, The New York Philharmonic, NYC Ballet, American Symphony Orchestra, Symphony of the Mountains, MasterVoices NYC, Southern New Jersey Symphony, Cape Cod Symphony and Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

He has performed cabaret acts throughout the United States including at Carnegie Hall, Birdland, Don’t Tell Mama, Medicine Show, Joe’s Pub, Gorilla Tango, Noce Jazz Club and dozens of other venues around the United States.