Matt Zarley

Matt Zarley is an American singer-songwriter, musical theatre performer, and LGBTQ+ advocate. He began his professional career on Broadway before gaining recognition in the pop and dance music scenes. Zarley is known for his expressive tenor voice, LGBTQ-centered storytelling, and award-winning musical works such as Change Begins With Me and the short film hopefulROMANTIC. He was the first openly gay man featured in People magazine’s “Top 50 Bachelor” issue, and continues to use his platform to support queer youth and promote positive representation in media.

Early life

Zarley was born in Peoria, Illinois, and raised in the Midwest of New Jersey, before settling in Southern California at 11 years old. His early interest in dance and musical performance began at the age of 12, leading him to pursue a career in the performing arts. He started working professionally as a teenager and eventually transitioned to Broadway in his early 20s.

Stage and television career

Zarley made his television debut at 17 years old on the TV series, Fame, and his theatrical debut later that same year in the national tour of Cats. At the time, he was the youngest performer ever cast in the musical. He later appeared in the Broadway productions of A Chorus Line, Joseph ''and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat', The Who’s Tommy', and Chicago. His stage work includes roles on Broadway, off-Broadway, national tours, and regional theatre.
Zarley made his Broadway debut at 19 years old in A Chorus Line, cast in the role of Mark Anthony. Later, Zarley went on to play the role of Mike Costa for both the European tour and Paris premiere of the same show.
He also directed and starred in the 2012 music video “Change Begins With Me”, which featured fellow Broadway performers Hector Van Silva and Chuck Saculla. The video was spotlighted by Playbill in their "Screening Room" feature. In addition to stage roles, Zarley has appeared in TV commercials and special appearances on shows including The Rosie O’Donnell Show and The Drew Carey Show, as well as roles in TV movies including Disney's Cinderella, Geppetto, and Annie''.

Theatre

Performance History

Sources: Playbill Vault; Broadway World, IBDb Broadway Database

Year	Production	Venue	Acting Credit
Jul 1975 - Apr 1990	A Chorus Line	Broadway	Mark Anthony
Jul 1975 - Apr 1990	A Chorus Line	European Tour	Mike Costa
Sep 1986 - Sep 1988	Cats	Broadway	Pouncival Mistoffelees Mungojerrie
Jul 1990 - Aug 1990	The Life	Off-Broadway	Bull
Feb 1993 - Aug 1993 Nov 1993 - May 1994	Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat	Broadway Broadway Revival	Joseph Apache Dancer Zebulon
Jan 1995 - Dec 1996	Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat	Touring	Apache Dancer Zebulon
Apr 1993 - Jun 1995	The Who's Tommy	Broadway	1st Pinball Lad Allied Solder #1 Ensemble Local Lad Security Guard Tommy
Sept 2003	Chess	Broadway	The CHESS Choir
Dec 2003	Children of Eden	Off-Broadway	Ensemble
Mar 2004 - Jun 2004	Chicago	National	Fred Casely Billy Flynn

Filmography

Film, Television, and Shorts

Sources: IMDBb Database

Year	Title	Notes	Ref
1997	Cinderella	Television movie	Dancer
1999	Annie	Television movie	Male Dancer
2000	Geppetto	Television movie	Resident of Idyllia
2000	The Drew Carey Show	TV series – 1 episode S5.E25 "Drew and Kate Boink"	Dancer #19
2013 - 2015	Where the Bears Are	Web Series: S2.E24 "Thanksgiving Special" S4.E15–"Wedding Bears, Part 1" S4.E15–"Wedding Bears, Part 2"	Andrew Simms / Wedding Singer #1
2015	Hopeful Romantic	Short Film: Best Shorts Competition – Award of Excellence Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival – Best Short Film Cinema Diverse: Palm Springs LGBT Film Festival – Festival Favorite Chelsea Film Festival – Best Supporting Actor	Executive Producer / Writer / Lead
2018	Can You Take My Picture	Short Film: Best Drama – LAIFF November Award Best Drama Shorts – LAIFF November Award	Producer
2020	Stars in the House	TV series – 1 episode S1.E282 "With Love, Now And Forever! CATS4COVIDRELIEF"	Self
2020	Currents	Short Film	Producer
2023	11 o'Clock Number	TV series – 12 episodes	Executive Producer / Writer / Lead
2023	Studio One Forever	Documentary	Co-Executive Producer / Feature
2024	Viva Verdi!	Documentary	Executive Producer / Feature
2024	Worst Date, Best Date	Short Film	Executive Producer
2024	Literal Nightmare	Short Film	Sound Designer / Singer
2025	They Kiss	Short Film	Producer / Editor / Actor

Discography

Albums

2002: Debut
2008: Here I Am
2012: Change Begins With Me
2015: hopefulROMANTIC
2017: The Estrogen Sessions
2023: 11 o'Clock Number
Singles
2002: “You Always Want ”
2008: “Had I Known”
2008: “Here I Am”
2010: “Where Did You Come From”
2012: “WTF”
2012: “Perfect”
2012: “Trust Me”
2012: "One More Christmas With You”
2015: “I Look To You”
2015: “Miss You Most ”
2018: “I’ll Never Love Again”
2018: “I Don’t Wanna Love Somebody Else”
2018: “Your Song”
2019: “Dear Future Husband”
2019: ''“Don’t Save It All For Christmas Day”''
Other Releases
1994: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
1997: Cole Porter: A Musical Toast
1999: Annie
2000: Geppetto
2002: Being Out Rocks
2009: While You See A Chance
Visual albums and music videos

In 2015, Zarley wrote, produced, and starred in hopefulROMANTIC, an award-winning musical short film that chronicles the life of a romantic relationship. The nearly dialogue-free narrative is told almost entirely through music, and co-starred Chuck Saculla, Jolie Jenkins, and George Takei. The short film appeared in several film festivals around the globe, including the Cannes Short Film Festival, and won several festival awards.
In 2023, he launched 11 o’Clock Number, a 12-episode web series and visual album. The series, created during the COVID-19 pandemic, features Zarley's reinterpretations of iconic musical theatre songs, which were all originally sung by women. The narrative-driven series was inspired by his mother's death years prior–featuring appearances from Billy Porter, Jason Graae, Kathy Deitch, Marty Thomas, Jolie Jenkins, and Barbara Deutsch. Zarley described the project as a “cathartic quarantine project” that turned into a full-scale production highlighting "personal and collective resilience".

Recognition and awards

Zarley has received multiple awards and recognitions for his music and films:

2002 – "You Always Want ” named the #5 Top Club Play, under Billboard's Hot Dance Breakouts.
2008 – Zarley's single, “Had I Known”, made the Billboard Critics' Top 10 of the Year.
2008 – The single “Here I Am” was chosen by the producers of American Idol as a Top 10 finalist in the second ever American Idol Songwriter Contest.
2009 – "While You See A Chance ” made the Billboard Dance: Hot Dance Club Songs.
2012:
* April 2012 – Zarley was the first openly gay man featured in People magazine’s annual "Bachelor" issue in 2012; speaking frequently about the need for increased LGBTQ representation and visibility in media.
* June 2012 – "Trust Me” made the Billboard Dance: Dance Club Songs.
* December 2012 – "Change Begins With Me" received the 'OutMusic Awar'ds' Album and Single of the Year.
* December 2012 – Zarley was named in Billboard Readers’ Favorites Of 2012, #7–"Trust Me " and #39–"W T F”.
2014' – "Somebody 4 Everybody"'' named Best Electronic or Dance Song in the RightOutTV Music And Video Awards.
Charity and advocacy

Zarley has been a committed advocate for LGBTQ+ youth support, anti-bullying and broader social causes through community-centered fundraising, performance and collaboration:

Date	Event	Ref.
2002	Zarley took part with fellow LGBTQ+ artists in creating to the benefit compilation “Being Out Rocks.” Contributing “Say Goodbye” to the 21-track album, produced by and benefiting the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and Centaur Entertainment.
2011	Zarley released a cover of Pat Benatar’s “We Belong” as a charity single to benefit The Trevor Project, with all proceeds directed to the organization’s LGBTQ youth support and crisis intervention services.
2012	Paint the Town for Trevor : Zarley performed at the third annual Pride fundraiser in Washington, D.C., hosted at Town, raising funds for The Trevor Project.
2012	Broadway Bares Beach Burlesque : Zarley headlined at Fire Island with his single “We Belong” as part of fundraising performances tied to Broadway Bares, whose proceeds typically support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and allied LGBTQ+ causes.
2014	Broadway Bares Winter Burlesque : As part of the 24th season of the Broadway Bares series, Zarley performed his song “Somebody 4 Everybody” at XL Nightclub, benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
2015	Zarley joins the star studded cast of SPARKLE, an annual LA Holiday Concert based in Los Angeles benefitting the Actors Fund.
2017	S.T.A.G.E. Benefit Concert at Saban Theatre : Zarley appeared alongside other stars at a fundraising concert to support the Anaheim Performing Arts Center.
2017	Desert's Got Talent Charity Event : Performed at this special show benefiting Boo2Bullying.org, an anti-bullying organization.
2017	Hooray For Anaheim Gala 2017 : Benefit concert where Zarley performed alongside other stars, funds raised went towards the Anaheim Performing Arts Center Foundation.
2017	LA LA LAND In Concert Premiere : Zarley took part in the world-premiere concert event of LA LA LAND at the iconic Hollywood Bowl—a high-profile community and arts event.
2018	Zarley and Jeb Havens record the holiday single "I'm Your Angel," with all proceeds benefiting the Backpacks For The Street; an organization which offers aid and support for homeless LGBT youth.
2019	Zarley recorded a cover of Des’ree’s “You Gotta Be” along with Billy Porter, donating all proceeds to the Los Angeles LGBT Youth Center.
2020	Stars in the House - Labor Day Special: Zarley joined fellow Cats alumni JoAnn Hunter and Randy Slovacek on ‘‘Stars in the House’’, a live-streamed fundraising series supporting The Actors Fund during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zarley Family Foundation – As vice president of the family-founded private foundation, Zarley has helped direct charitable grants to numerous organizations, including The Trevor Project, Starkey Hearing Foundation, Casa Pacifica, Boys Town, Boys & Girls Club, and Broadway Cares.