Long Story Short
Rikki Ziegelman is an NYC based producer, performer and journalist. She graduated from Marymount Manhattan College in 2018 with degrees in Musical Theatre & Journalism, and has since then found her place in freelance work within both fields. Ziegelman is also a Social Media/Marketing Manager for BALLROOM BASIX USA. She strives to create work that is reflective of the social and political climate, and that induces and inspires change. Alongside, she works backstage at Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway and also acted as the Production Assistant for the West End transfer. Past theatrical credits include American Idiot & Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (JustArt Theatricals), Evelyn: A New Musical (Dixon Place), and the world premiere of The Sisters of Aerilon.
Long Story Long
Hi! I'm Rikki and I want to change the world.
Growing up, it was clear that I had a passion for creativity. When people asked what I wanted to be I said I wanted to be an "artist," and I meant it in every sense of the word. I just liked surrounding myself with art and people who like art as well. It wasn't long after that when I found my passion for theatre and writing, and so it began.
Eventually my enthusiasm for the arts led me to Marymount Manhattan College where I studied Musical Theatre & Journalism. On my journey throughout college, in light of the 2016 election and all of what was going on in the world, I vowed to always create art that will impact people and make them feel something. I don't want my work to just be there, I want my art to matter. While in school, I found myself finding it hard to choose between whether or not I wanted to go all in and live an "Audition-based" lifestyle, or if I wanted to take the more 'practical route' (except, not really) and pursue a career in Journalism. It wasn't until after graduation when I looked in the mirror and thought to myself, "Wait.. why can't I do both?" Shortly after I found myself doing just that: performing in Summer Stocks and any opportunity I could get my hands on and then writing articles for publications that would take a chance on a 22 year old recent college graduate.
Later that year, I had the opportunity to be a producer on a musical- which is something I had never done before. Finding producing was like putting on glasses for the first time (which is something I remember vividly from when I was 3 years old). Producing was the perfect combination between theatre and journalism. It was everything I loved about both of the things I was passionate about in one field. Being a producer has allowed me to bring important theatre and incredible voices to the surface, all while being creatively fulfilled. (And sometimes I get to perform in the works I produce as well!)
Since then, I have been fortunate enough to take on projects with incredibly important messages and have made an impact on some amazing communities. One of my closest friends and I even started a production company called HARP Theatricals where we produce new and original work that is reflective of the social and political climate. Some of our highlights include- The Lady Power Project: A Devised Song Cycle which premiered Off Broadway at Dixon Place and benefitted The Dwelling Place of NY (Lead Producer/Conceiver), Evelyn: A New Musical which premiered Off Broadway at Dixon Place and benefitted The Trevor Project (Co Producer/Lead), The Day the Sky Turned which premiered Off Off Broadway at The Tank and benefitted organizations connected to the Australian Bushfires (Co Producer/Social Media), Summer Stuck: A Virtual Cabaret which benefitted The Okra Project (Co Producer), Cooties by Alexandrew Recore which benefitted Planned Parenthood (Co Producer/Lead), and most recently The Tik Tok Cabaret which benefitted the United Stated Postal Service (Co Producer/Supporting).
Life is unpredictable, and I have no idea where I'll be in a year or two from now. But this is where I'm at now, and I couldn't be happier. At the end of the day, I'm a gay NYC artist who just wants to make a difference. And who loves Applebees.