Meet Zach Stolz | Artistic Director, Woodstock Arts

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zach Stolz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zach, what principle do you value most?
Sincerity – by far. I work in an industry that is full of folks who are constantly adapting and developing themselves, where we ask so much of people every day. To be able to operate in this world with sincerity – that is the primary key to taking care of ourselves and of each other. We can disagree, we can celebrate, we can always continue working and keep going with one another – as long as we bring our sincere and core selves into it with one another.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am the Artistic Director at Woodstock Arts, so my day job is essentially producing theatre! One of the most important things that I consider in my job is the artist/creative experience, which is something we strive to incorporate at every level. As a semi-professional theatre inside of an organization that is growing as an over-all arts center, I recognize some of our growing-pains and it is my sincere wish that we create a commitment to ensuring that anyone who comes into our space – artist, audience, or otherwise – finds themselves artistically and personally fulfilled. One of the major driving things for me and how I started out in producing theatre (which I talk about below!) is being able to help break-down the barriers of access that have gotten so firmly baked into the fibre of our industry. As a white man in this industry, I know that I have a lot of privileges, and I wanted to become an Artistic Director so that I could use my privileges to get into the room, knock down the walls, and bring everyone else in. A favorite folk-singer of mine, Willi Carlisle, sings about his heart being a big ole tent – you got to let everybody in. That’s the principle I try to live by in my career and in my life!

I started out as an actor and wound my way into directing and producing in college, when I was working in class with some really spectacular actors who weren’t getting the casting opportunities that they deserved – so some friends and I started a free-Shakespeare in the park company (No royalties! He’s dead!) and began producing theatre on a shoe-string budget. From there I went to graduate school at the University of Alabama and received my MFA in acting. My partner and I moved to Atlanta after graduating and we both ended up in the Horizon Theatre Apprentice Company, after that we created Happy Accident Theatre with some fellow apprentices! Like most theatre-folks, I had a wild freelance career where I bounced around from house-to-house and regional theatres/tours around the country. I started directing at Elm Street Cultural Arts Village on a chance of seeing a post hiring directors, and was thrilled to find an artistic home! The organization eventually became Woodstock Arts, and I was lucky enough to be hired as the Artistic Director, where I know want to help us be a jumping off point for early career artists – or artists who want to explore new sides of their careers – the way that it was for me!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh gosh! First of all – I am a tremendous coffee person. My side-hustle for 10 years was as a barista, so I will start by taking my guest to the fabulous Academy Coffee in Virginia Highlands. Connan and his team are coming up with some of the most consistent, and inventive, coffee that you can find. Follow that up with a stroll around the neighborhood, and maybe a visit to the Virginia Highlands bookstore! Obviously you have to go to the Aquarium, the High, hit some of the banner cultural institutions. And of course – see what’s playing at one of the many spectacular theatres we have here!

For food I’m definitely taking them to El Ponce, maybe Gu’s Dumplings, and probably a stroll around downtown Decatur. I love the big city side of Atlanta, but I will always have a deep love of the more walkable communities that are in and around Atlanta.

And of course, I’m going to show off Woodstock Arts!! Depending on the time of year we have an absolutely unlimited amount of offerings for anyone to come and check-out – the Lantern Series is our concert series that features a truly spectacular array of headliners (my favorites have been Sammy Rae and The Friends, Sub-Radio, and The Foxies), The Reeves House is our visual arts gallery (and coffee bar!) that has some really gorgeously curated exhibits – ranging from art and technology, “off-the wall,” and more (one coming up is called “Please Touch The Art” and I am so excited for that one), and hopefully they are here to see a show that I am either in somewhere around town or that I have directed or produced in my theatre as well!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I love this idea! I am a genuine believer that I wouldn’t be anywhere that I am in life without the support and love of the people in my world. From all of the mentors that I have had over the years (a tremendous shout-out to Mike Sablone in most recently), to my tremendously large “found-family” network that has helped me steer my ship – and of course my amazing wife Molly Penny and my best friend Britt Mahan, two souls who help me see myself the way I wish to.

Website: woodstockarts.org

Instagram: zachstolz

Image Credits
Libby Williams