Born to two musically talented parents, Nat Zegree’s earliest memories invariably involve music. In the Zegree home, music infused and informed almost everything the family did and was a priority for Nat, his older sister, and his parents. “Before I could even count my fingers,” recalls Nat, “My father had my fingers on the piano.”

Although just 28 years old, Nat Zegree is already well known to Flat Rock Playhouse audiences as an exceptionally talented and charismatic musical showman. He’s performed on the Leiman Main Stage several times during his relatively short career, including a role as Jerry Lee Lewis in a highly acclaimed production of Million Dollar Quartet and a dazzling performance as Mozart in Amadeus that showcased his virtuosity as both a musician and an actor. Other local performances include Mozart to Pop Chart and multiple sold-out concerts.

Fittingly, Nat has returned to The Rock this month to help relaunch the post-pandemic Playhouse with the current production of Autumn in the Opry, which runs through October 31st. True to his reputation, his musical skills and outsized personality have helped bring back the Playhouse with an infectious energy that has delighted audiences hungry to return to the theater.

As if spending three weeks on stage with Autumn in the Opry is not demanding enough, Nat has also created a special Halloween show called the Nat’O’Ween Spooktacular which will be offered as one show only on Halloween evening at 7:30. Ticket information is linked at the bottom of this article. Nat’s performance is a fund-raising event that will support the Playhouse’s ongoing Rock Solid Campaign which has thus far raised over $1,000,000 of its $1.5 million goal. He describes the show as a bit of fun for Halloween night that explores the history of the music of halloween from film to stage. “It's going to be everything you might expect from one of my shows, a little bit of learning and a whole lot of entertainment, that's for sure,” he says with a laugh.

Born in Kalamazoo, Nat is quick to credit his parents with nurturing and honing his impressive musical talents. “I was very blessed to be able to be born into a family of musicians - every single one of us,” he explains. “Both my mother and my father were music educators for their entire careers and both wonderful pianists in their own rights.” He laughs and continues, “To be honest, my sister and I didn't really have a choice in the matter once we came into the world. We were kind of thrust into this world of music and art.”

Although he claims to have had no choice, it is evident that Nat took to music with the passion of a born performer. He describes himself as an “energetically animated child to put it mildly” and remembers being enthralled, even as a young child, by the opportunity to entertain his family, friends, instructors, and classmates. The spotlight found Nat at a young age and he embraced the challenge of honing and sharing his skills as musician, singer, and as an actor.

Nat’s prodigious musical skills soon opened his eyes to the life of an entertainer. “I remember seeing and feeling the pride of both my parents. And, if you're making your parents happy when you're a young child, that is anything and everything that I could have asked for.” Nat soon started performing regularly outside the family home and realized that he had the ability to entertain “anyone, and maybe even everyone.”

Nat as Jerry Lee Lewis in *Million Dollar Quartet*

As much as he loves entertaining for the joy it brings him, Nat also feels some responsibility to share his gifts with others. He is quick to admit that he feels some responsibility to use his skills to bring joy and happiness to those who come to see him perform.

By middle school, Nat was performing on stage and his passion for live performances and theater really took hold of his life. By the time he reached high school, Nat faced a decision about his future. He also loved sports as a kid, but there wouldn’t be enough time to devote to sports and theater so something would have to give. Fortunately for those of us lucky enough to see him perform, he chose music and theater. “I chose to be a theater kid, and I've never regretted that decision.”

From there, Nat went on to Indiana University where he studied musical theater and availed himself of the renowned Jacobs School of Music to further his already considerable skills. Nat left IU after his junior year, anxious to start a professional career in New York City and put his skills to the ultimate test. Put another way, he left to find if he could “Frank Sinatra” his career and prove that if he could make it there, he could make it anywhere.

Nat developed a series of one-man shows that combined music and education for his audiences - a feature of many of his performances that he still strives to develop. “One of my favorite things to do is to have an audience realize after the show is done, that they just learned something at their night out at the theater.”

Nat also became involved with a very successful Broadway show called Dear Evan Hansen doing vocals for the production. He was then offered the chance to become part of a traveling production of Million Dollar Quartet - a moment that ultimately led Nat to Flat Rock Playhouse. In the Spring of 2016, Nat learned that the Playhouse would be staging Million Dollar Quartet and connected with the theater during the audition process. Based on recommendations and their prior knowledge of Nat’s skills, he was offered the part of Jerry Lee Lewis on the spot.

It was a match made in musical theater heaven. “I came and it's been history ever since. Once I found the Flat Rock Playhouse, I found a place that I truly can think of as a second home.” Both the Playhouse audiences and Playhouse staff loved him and Nat was soon invited back to Flat Rock to take on the role of Mozart in a production of Amadeus.

From his arrival, Flat Rock loved Nat, and the feeling has been reciprocated. When he speaks of the Playhouse today, Nat is effusive in his praise for the historic theater and the dedicated staff that consistently bring exceptional theater and music to western North Carolina:

“Anybody can build a theater and anybody can perform inside a theater. But when you meet the people who are running that theater and you meet the people who are bringing people into that theater, that's what keeps you coming back. It's that community and that atmosphere that is just unique at Flat Rock Playhouse.

When you are surrounded by people you love, doing what you love, it doesn't become work anymore. There's something about Flat Rock between the people that work here and the people that come see the shows that simply make it one of the greatest theaters in the country.”

More than just a performer, Nat has teamed with writing partner Eric Holmes to write three musicals. One of them, Fly More Than You Fall, was staged in 2019 and was just on the verge of being produced in Chicago in the Spring of 2020 when the pandemic essentially shut down theaters for the rest of the year. Despite the delays caused by the pandemic, Nat is confident that the musical will continue to succeed and is optimistic that his musical will find its way to Broadway one day.

Wherever Nat Zegree goes from here, it is clear that he will go there with a level of enthusiasm, energy, and a consummate talent that will amaze and entertain audiences for years to come. Let’s hope that the bright arc of his career will bring him back to Flat Rock often.

On All Hallows Eve, Flat Rock Playhouse will present the Nat-O-Ween Spooktacular starring the one and only Nat Zegree! You’ve seen Nat in the box office smash Million Dollar Quartet, Amadeus, Mozart to Pop Chart, and his multiple sell-out concerts!

Join us for this haunting concert as Nat takes the Playhouse on a spooky musical adventure. From “Monster Mash” to “Thriller” Nat will trick and treat with hair-raising songs and sing-a-longs.

Tickets for this fundraising event will go directly to support our Rock Solid Campaign. Tickets range from $50 - $100.

Learn More / Purchase Tickets