Susan Zelinsky is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, musical theater director, and humanitarian born to parents Michael and Linda (née Anderson) Zelinsky in San Francisco, California. She has performed and recorded with such recording artists as Eric Martin, Eddie Money, Pablo Cruise, Jeff Watson, The Doobie Brothers, Vicki Randle, Joel Jaffe, Penny Framstad, Noelle Hampton, The Rowans, and more.
Early life
Zelinsky split her time growing up with her father in San Francisco, California and with her mother in Carpinteria, California. She began playing the piano and writing songs at the age of nine. Her father gave her a guitar when she was thirteen and she taught herself to play. She attended The American Conservatory Theater, (ACT) Young Conservatory in San Francisco, California as well as studying acting at Jean Shelton Actor's Lab at Shelton Studios.
She studied Shakespeare and theater at The College of Marin and was a recipient of The Robin Williams Scholarship Award.
Acting career
Zelinsky began acting professionally since 1987 and has been featured in national television commercials, TV series, and films. She is also an award-winning musical theater actress and singer.
Film and television
2015 - Mermaids on Mars (Short) Mother
2010 - Background (Short) Cafe Owner
2001 - Sweet November (2001 film) Waitress
1997 - Nash Bridges Waitress
1977 - Moving Target (1997) ... Waitress
1988 - Chivalrous Deeds of a Nincompoop
Musical Theater
Zelinksy has performed in lead roles as a singer and actress in such musical productions as Hairspray, The Sound Of Music, Steel Magnolias, and West Side Story amongst others in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. She has performed in ten musicals at The Mountain Play Theater, an outdoor amphitheater on Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, playing the lead role of Tanya in 2018 to a sold-out audience (seating 4,000) for four consecutive nights.
Theater Credits
2019 - Spamalot - Lady of the Lake - Marin Shakespeare Company
2018 - Mamma Mia (musical) - Tanya - Mountain Play Association - Marin County
2015 - Into The Woods - as Wicked Step Mother and Cinderella's Mother - Theater at Large Novato 2015 - Peter Pan (musical) - as Mrs. Darling - Ruby daughter/lost boy - Mountain Play Association - Marin County 2013 - Steel Magnolias (play) - as M'Lynn - Novato Theater Company 2013 - The Sound of Music - Elsa von Schraeder - Mountain Play Association - Marin County 2012 - The Music Man (musical) - Marian - Mountain Play Association - Marin County 2011 - Hairspray (musical) - Velma Von Tussle - Mountain Play Association - Marin County 2010 - Guys and Dolls (musical) - Sarah - Mountain Play Association - Marin County 2007 - Beauty and the Beast (musical) - as Belle - Independent Artists of Marin (IAM) - San Alselmo Playhouse 2007 - Hair (musical) - Sheila - Mountain Play Association - Marin County 2004 - My Fair Lady (musical) - Eliza Doolittle - Mountain Play Association - Marin County 2000 - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - as Philia - Mountain Play Association - Marin County 1999 - West Side Story (musical) - Maria - Mountain Play Association, Marin County 1997 - 1998 The Birds (play) - as Prokne - and band member for the birds - Berkeley repertory theater and south coast repertory orange county (5 month tour) Oct. - 2 1989 - Brigadoon (musical)- Ensemble - Mountain Play Association - Marin County 1985 - A Christmas Carol (play) - as Mrs. Christmas Past - American Conservatory theater (ACG) San Francisco - The Geary Theater
Musical Theater Awards
2013 - SFBATCC Award - Best Actress in a Play (M’lynn/Steel Magnolias/Novato Theater Company) 2004 - San Francisco Bay Area Theater Critics Circle Award (SFBATCC) - Best Actress in a Musical (Eliza/My Fair Lady/The Mountain Play) 1998 - SFBATCC Nominee - Best Actress in a Musical (Maria/West Side Story/The Mountain Play) 1998 - Dean Goodman Choice Award (Bay Area) - Best Actress in a Musical (Maria/West Side Story/The Mountain Play)
Music career
Zelinksy began performing professionally in 1994 under the band name, Susan Z. She performed regionally from the Marin Bay Area to Southern California and has released two albums, Believe in 1999 and Cautionary Tales in 2004. Her music, Justin Jones was featured in Hi Line in 1997 and California was featured in Nash Bridges in 1999.