A Day in the Life with Jill Zygo, Child Wrangler at ONCE
by Tess Harkin, January 18, 2013
"Patience and stamina are two words I would use when describing any professional guardian (also known as a child wrangler), including Jill Zygo, a substitute guardian at Tony Award-winning musical Once, who was kind enough to let me follow her around for a day!"
Awards and Nominations
AriZoni Award Winner for Best Actress in Leading Role
as "Fanny Brice" in Funny Girl (2005/2006)
Goldy Award Winner for Best Supporting Actress-Musical
as "Maureen/Queenie" in HONK! (2004)
AriZoni Award Nominee for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
as "Ellie Mae Chiple" in Show Boat (2003/2004)
AriZoni Award Nominee for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
as
"Maureen/Queenie" in HONK! (2003/2004)
As "Julia" in THE WEDDING SINGER
"The casting could not have been more perfect. The lead characters seemed as though they were one with their on-stage character... Jillian adopted an innocent and sweet Julia."
- Jamie Grabert, Indiana City-County Observer
"I ate up the more intimate moments, particularly the sweet and soulful solos by lead Jillian Zygo as Julia Sullivan. ("Come Out of the Dumpster" was especially lovely)."
- Elizabeth Clark, Kalamazoo Gazette
"Jillian Zygo taps into heart warming charm with her singing, while portraying the pureness and disarming sweetness of her waitress character, Julia."
- Marsha Wagner, Center Stage
"The chemistry between Michael and Jillian Zygo could not have been more natural. In the song "If I Told You," the harmony of their voices made it evident that they were a perfect fit."
- Chad Meredith, Toledo Free Press
"Jillian Zygo, played Robbie Harts love interest Julia. Through out the entire show I kept thinking that she seemed so familiar. I finally figured it out, that she reminds me of a young Cheri Oteri. She has Oteri's brilliant mannerisms and perfect comedic timing. This change of approach brought a new life to the role of Julia."
- Karen Petzold, Saginaw, Michigan
As "Fanny Brice" in FUNNY GIRL
"Any time you do this show, the shadow of Streisand falls across it. You need a performer who can step out from under the shadow of Streisand's immense talent, and such people are rare indeed. But Director Seth Reines has found one - the prodigiously talented Jillian Zygo. In my last review, I noted that she has a winning, forthright earnestness that is impossible to dislike. She carries the show, and the day, and the audience away... For this show, you must have a girl who is not merely funny, but whose singing can blow the theater roof right off its rafters. And Jillian Zygo has a voice like Haydn's trumpets."
- Dan Hagen, Sullivan News Progress
"Jillian Zygo transported the role of the comedic Broadway performer from the 1920s to the stage in Sullivan with her powerful vocals and emotional showing that helped the audience forget their surroundings. Her voice resonated through the theater during "People" and "Don't Rain On My Parade," ...Still, the familiarity of the words and melodies couldn't take away from Zygo's voice as she held the goose-bump-raising notes. Zygo never left character as the funny ugly duckling who finds fame on Broadway because of her confidence that she can be a star. There was nothing funny about the lead actress's portrayal of Fanny Brice... Instead, she was transcendent."
- Ashley Rueff, Herald Review, Decatur IL
"With her fantastic performance and powerful voice Jillian Zygo belted out the wonderful songs... and kept the audience spellbound. Her portrayal of Fanny Brice... is powerful and yet emotional at the same time. Zygo carries the play as the funny ugly duckling who finds fame on the Broadway stage because of her confidence that she will become a star... With her powerful voice resonating throughout the theatre, Zygo sets the bar high for the rest of the performers. Zygo's wonderful voice and excellent acting brings Fanny Brice to life. As you leave the theatre you cannot help but care for Fanny as a real person and feel her heartache. Several times during the performance of "Funny Girl" you could close your eyes and swear the acclaimed actress Barbra Streisand had come to Sullivan to sing her signature songs from the movie that won her an Academy Award."
- Frank Mulholland, Shelby Daily Union, Sullivan IL
"Star vehicles by nature can survive on only one great performance: Zygo proves the greatest star. Jillian Nyhan Zygo is a highlight for the company. She has a lovely voice, pretty spiffy comedic timing, and aces Brice's character arc. Zygo has the accent, the pipes, and the grand facial expressions necessary to bring Fanny Brice to life. It's one of the best performances of the season."
- Mark S.P. Turvin, Goldfish Publishers
"Jillian Nyhan Zygo gives her all in a tirelessly energetic performance, (she) plays the part's broad humor best earning her share of genuine laughs."
- Chris Curcio, Arizona Republic
"Jillian Nyhan Zygo - singing the starring role of Fanny Brice, is everything the part calls for, and then some. Zygo's Brice lights up the stage, cavorting rambunctiously at times and at other times being vulnerable enough to let her character's insecurities show. Zygo fields just the right combo of pizazz, comic blase, a drive that approximates thoughtfulness, and a full measure of "gosh". She's believable as the woman who, falling in love with a gambler, has enough chutzpah to love him despite his obvious flaws. Zygo's amazing voice, delivering one of the most powerful love songs of the last century, "People", is textured with Streisand, especially in that songs most telling, sonorous moments."
- Roberta Burnett, Arizona Republic
"In Jillian Nyhan Zygo, we have discovered a dynamo talent. Jillian is a skilled comedienne with a powerhouse voice."
- M. Seth Reines, Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre
As "Nancy" in OLIVER!
"Jillian Nyhan Zygo's gutsy Nancy wraps her richly booming voice around 'As Long As He Needs Me' with staunch passion and she brings lusty zest to her more raucous songs... They also handle the tricky London cockney accents with understandable authenticity."
- Chris Curcio, Curtain Up Phoenix/KBAQ
As "Ado Annie" in OKLAHOMA!
"The clarion belt voice of Jillian Nyhan Zygo, is perfectly suited to Ado Annie's 'I Cain't Say No'."
- Julie York Coppens, Charlotte Observer
"Jillian Nyhan, in the role of Ado Annie, kicked up the energy a notch."
- Christine Howey, Cleveland Scene
"Ado Annie (Jillian Nyhan Zygo) portrays a lovely songstress bounding with vivacity. Will, Annie's boyfriend (J. Michael Zygo - yep, husband and wife in real life) stops the show with his rope twirling."
- Diane Sprung, Post and Courier
"J. Michael Zygo's Will Parker was a little thick-headed, but big-hearted. Zygo's moves were as fluid as water, and he did rope tricks that would have made Roy Rogers envious. His wife, Jilllian Nyhan Zygo, played Ado Annie to his Will, and the two were a hoot together."
- Kathleen Allen, Arizona Daily Star
"I remember she was like a burst of sunshine," Mary Pohl-Brazeau said of Nyhan. "She walked into the room with the energy of ten people. There was no one like her, and I know people say that about other people, but Jill was really unique. She was fearless, and she was one of the happiest kids I had ever seen."'
- Bill Buell, Daily Gazette Schnectady, NY
As "Ellie" in SHOW BOAT
"Equally a good couple in the comedic and performance sense is the very funny Jillian Nyhan and Danny Taylor as comic actress with aspirations of drama Ellie and bad guy-typecast Frank. The two do an excellent job with the showstopping 'I Might Fall Back on You.' It is here that Dottie Lester-White's choreography really shines."
- Mark S. P. Turvin, Gold Fish Publishers
As "Georgie" in THE FULL MONTY
"Jillian, one of two 'belters' dazzles in her duet. The show delivers a powerful emotional punch in the true-blue, best intentioned heroism of the women. The performance of Zygo makes that frustrated, determined heroism real, not merely ideal. Watching her reminds you of what good people can be like."
- Dan Hagen, Sullivan News Progress
"Jillian Nyhan Zygo is excellent."
- Carl Lebovitz, Journal Gazette
"Jillian Nyhan Zygo plays Dave's wife with effervescent charm and strong pipes."
- Kistler, Online Review
"Jillian Nyhan Zygo was so full of energy and life in "It's A Woman's World," but she was able to switch it up for her other half as a woman who missed her husband physically."
- Alicia Spates, Decatur Herald Review
"The women, particularly Jillian Nyhan Zygo who plays Georgie Bukatinsky, comes full circle from a "We'll show you, you bums" attitude to one that is tender and caring as they realize what their big tough guys are going through."
- Anne Bellew, Sanibel Captiva Islander
As "Maureen/Queenie" in HONK!
"Jillian Nyhan is cute both as Ida's best friend Maureen and as the domestic feline Queenie, where she is part of a funny pas de chat."
- Mark S. P. Turvin, Gold Fish Publishers
On the I LOVE A PIANO tour
"And last but certainly not least, the reliable redhead Jillian Nyhan Zygo leads the cast in a rendition of 'Let Yourself Go,' and stands out in the rapid-fire counterpoint of 'Old Fashioned Wedding'."
- Frankie Moran, San Diego Arts