By D’Arcy Morrell –
Zacchaeus Kimbrell is no stranger to the Barter Theatre stage. He’s dazzled audiences by bringing 13 different characters to life in a single show in Murder for Two, taught us all what true courage really means as the Cowardly Lion, and made us laugh until our sides hurt time and time again. And somehow, between a full schedule of performances, he’s found time to nurture the next generation of performers as an Instructor at Emory & Henry University. This holiday season, he’s bringing that same infectious energy back to Gilliam Stage as he reprises his role as Buddy in Elf the Musical.
Of course, this isn’t Kimbrell’s first trip to the North Pole. In 2018, he first stepped into Buddy’s shoes for what would become a milestone in his career: his first leading role at Barter Theatre. Now, with a wealth of new experiences and almost a decade later, he’s returning to the character with a fresh perspective, a little more confidence, and an even greater appreciation for the joy Buddy brings to the stage. “At that point, I felt like I had a lot to prove,” Kimbrell recalls of his first production. “I was so worried about proving myself that I don’t think I fully trusted myself, and I think this time I’m trusting myself a lot more with my impulses.”
It’s a feeling many performers know well, particularly when taking on a role as recognizable and demanding as Buddy. But eight years and thousands of performances later, Kimbrell has discovered that some of the most meaningful growth happens when you stop worrying about proving yourself and start trusting what you bring to the table. “I’ve learned so much about myself as a human. I’ve learned so much about comedy. I’ve grown as a person,” he says. “I think I trust myself a lot more now than I did then.”
That confidence has opened the door to a different kind of creative freedom. Rather than trying to recreate the Buddy audiences met in 2018, Kimbrell is finding new opportunities to explore the character’s wonderfully unusual perspective on the world. After all, Buddy may have been raised among elves at the North Pole, but beneath his boundless enthusiasm is a very human desire to belong.
Helping him rediscover that balance is another familiar face, Ashley Campos, who choreographed Barter’s 2018 production and returns this season as both director and choreographer. Their years of working together have created a sense of trust that allows ideas to develop organically, often uncovering moments neither would have imagined the first time around. “We’re different artists now,” Kimbrell explains. “We’re having impulses that we didn’t even know to have eight years ago.”
It’s the kind of artistic relationship that only happens after years of shared experiences, and something Kimbrell considers one of the most meaningful parts of his 13 years at Barter.Unlike actors who may spend a few weeks together before moving on to their next production, Barter’s resident company has the opportunity to put down roots, becoming part of the community and the fabric of Southwest Virginia while growing together both professionally and personally. Over time, castmates become friends, collaborators become trusted creative partners, and the relationships built offstage find their way into the stories audiences see onstage. “We know each other as humans,” Kimbrell says. “We watch each other go through life, and we hold each other up as best we can as we go through.”
That same spirit of support has also shaped the way he approaches his responsibility as a leading actor. Where he once felt pressure to prove he could carry a production, he now sees leadership less as a spotlight and more as an opportunity to lift up those around him. “Being the lead is not about being the star of the show,” he explains. “It’s how you are gracious to the ensemble and how you set the tone for the room.”
It’s a philosophy he takes especially seriously when working with the younger performers in Elf. Knowing that an experience onstage can shape a child’s confidence and perhaps even inspire a lifelong love of theatre, Kimbrell hopes to make their time at Barter as meaningful as possible. “This experience for them could be the thing that makes them pursue performing,” he says. “We look back to our childhood, and we can still remember that one person that made us feel important.”
At its heart, Elf the Musical is about the extraordinary impact one person can have on the people around them. During an early rehearsal, director Ashley Campos reminded the cast that while many beloved Christmas stories follow a community coming together to change one person’s life, Elf tells the opposite story. Through Buddy’s unwavering optimism, kindness, and Christmas spirit, he brings out the best in everyone he meets. “It’s like this beautiful ripple effect,” Kimbrell says.
It’s a message that feels especially meaningful as Kimbrell returns to the role eight years later. With countless performances, friendships, and experiences at Barter behind him, he’s come to appreciate just how much the people around us shape who we become. And as audiences gather to experience the joy of Elf the Musical this holiday season, it’s a fitting reminder that sometimes the smallest acts of kindness can make the biggest difference.
Special thanks to Abingdon Therapy Services, Ballad Health Bristol Regional Medical Center, Eastman Credit Union, and The Martha Washington Inn & Spa for making this production possible. Elf the Musical runs November 14 through December 27 on Barter’s Gilliam Stage.
