From Shakespeare to the Christmas Spectacular, a Star in the Seventh Grade

Twelve-year-old Sasha Zitofsky considers himself your average middle schooler. He likes to go to the movies, hang out with his friends and surf the internet. It’s only when you Google his name that you realize that the rising seventh-grader at is anything but ordinary. Zitofsky already has his own Internet Movie Database entry and is also an accomplished singer and dancer, having toured with Radio City Christmas Spectacular last year, and acted this summer in the Trilogy Repertory Company's production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."  He also recently appeared in an off-off Broadway play of Medea, and has done several short films and commercials. 

“My friends treat me like a regular kid.  But sometimes, they Google me and tell me they found my accomplishments.  But for the most part, they treat me just like any other friend, and that's a good thing,” said Zitofsky. His best talent, he noted, may be his dancing.

“I've loved dance since I was really young. I've put in a lot of hard work and practice to get where I am.  I mostly focus on ballet, jazz, tap and modern styles of dance; but, I also do street jazz and other dance styles, too. I release my energy in a positive way through dance,” said Zitofsky, who particularly enjoyed his stint with the Radio City Christmas Show during the 2010 holiday season.

"With The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, I got to perform for Sheryl Crow, Scott Hamilton and Kimberly Williams Paisley, and their families, and that was really exciting.  It was fun meeting them afterward, too,” said Zitofsky, who joined The Rockettes on a tour at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn. He appeared in five scenes, both dancing and singing.

“Touring with The Rockettes was really fun,” he said. “Although it was hard work, it paid off when we got to hear the audience cheer night after night.”

For the past three years, Zitofsky has performed with the New Jersey Dance Theater Ensemble, and he trains at the Broadway Dance Center in Times Square and Dance Molinari, also in New York City. He takes vocal lessons in both Scotch Plains and New York, and has studied drama performance with a variety of acting coaches.

When he’s not on stage, in front of a camera, or practicing before a mirror, Zitosfsky is likely buried in a book or, perhaps appropriately, watching the TV show “Glee,” a popular musical comedy about a high school drama club.

His mother Susan, who keeps busy with all of Sasha’s activities, said that he has had enjoyed performing since his earliest years.

“He absolutely loves what he does," she said, "and it certainly shows when he's up on stage performing or behind the camera."