Reading Native Makes New York City Theater Debut

READING, MA — René Zara, a Reading native, is making her New York City theater debut in "The Importance of Being Earnest." The production of the Oscar Wilde play is Off-Off Broadway at the St. Marks Theater from Oct. 19 to 28.

Zara will be starring as Lady Augusta Bracknell in the play directed by Janani Sreenivasan.

"The Importance of Being Earnest" is a "madcap farce is populated by eccentric, over-the-top characters entwined in ridiculously precarious social situations," according to a press release. "Most formidable amongst these characters is Lady Bracknell, played in this production by Filipino-American Zara. Bracknell rules over the plot, imposing her Victorian upper-class beliefs on the young lovers in the play, standing solely in the way of their happiness."

While Bracknell is typically cast as a grandiose “gorgon” of a dowager, director Sreenivasan wanted to go in a different direction. She was thrilled to receive an audition from Zara, a 5'2" film and stage actress who in her demeanor and vivacity helped the director reimagine Lady Bracknell as "Napoleon with a parasol."

“Her audition was hilarious – and immediately I began seeing the role in a different light," Sreenivasan said in a statement. “She showed us this incredible energy, mastery of the language, and the power that is needed in the role – and it was so exciting that all of this came in the form of an actress with Asian heritage who shares certain key experiences with me."

Zara was thrilled to be cast as Lady Bracknell. “I’m incredibly grateful to Janani for the opportunity to play this iconic role,” Zara said in a statement. “This is not a case of my being asked to just portray a stock character, but to interpret this role through my own experiences as the daughter of an Asian mother and as someone who has lived with a dual cultural identity. That type of opportunity to bring my own truth to a role is truly unique.”

Raised in a supportive family of performers in Reading, Zara started her stage career at the early age of 8. Zara’s father, Gil Bergeron, was an exceptional pianist and her mother, Rebecca, always encouraged her daughter's talents for performing.

Zara said of her vocal talents, “I was always convinced that my pipes came from my mother's side of the family—” adding with a laugh, “we Filipinos know how to belt!”

A lifelong stage actor, Zara has appeared in productions of "Bye, Bye, Birdie," "Noises Off," "Peter Pan," "Nunsense!" and "Ruthless! The Musical." Zara’s film career began in 2017 when she was cast in her first leading role in the award-winning short Namaste. In 2020, René launched her own production company, Tiny Frog Productions, under which banner she wrote, scored, directed, and played the title role in the award-winning short film, "Mrs. Osbourne."

For tickets to "The Importance of Being Earnest" and more information, go here.