The fact that Zachary Stevenson refers to Chemainus as a second home should come as no surprise to the legion of fans who eagerly anticipate his next visit.
Raised in Parksville, Stevenson has been performing in Chemainus for more than a decade including several appearances at the Chemainus Theatre Festival, dating back to 2014.
Tomorrow, Saturday, August 8, the versatile musician will bring his rockabilly act to the Waterwheel Park stage as part of the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society’s summer program.
Stevenson, a graduate of the University of Victoria, has become an internationally recognized actor, musician and songwriter, with skills in several genres including rockabilly, 1950s Rock, British Invasion, and folk. He is well-known for his tributes to Buddy Holly, Hank Williams and Phil Ochs
The Victoria Times-Colonist called Stevenson a “dead ringer for dead singers” for his starring turns in plays about several legends of music such as Holly, Williams, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Ochs.
Next month Stevenson returns to the Chemainus Theatre Festival for an intimate solo cabaret concert series in the Playbill Dining Room from Sept. 9 to Sept. 13. Tickets are $93 and feature a full three-course plated dinner alongside the live performance.
A fan favourite who has performed at the Theatre many times over the years, Stevenson has starred in several major mainstage productions and cabaret runs.
His notable past performances and roles at the theatre include:
- The Buddy Holly Story (2014): Starred as Buddy Holly in two separate, highly successful runs of the hit production.
- Ring of Fire (2015): Served as the production’s Musical Director and performed on stage playing Luther Perkins, piano, and guitar.
- Million Dollar Quartet: Performed in this hit jukebox musical celebrating early rock ‘n’ roll icons.
- Dead Ringer (2022):
- Created and starred in the world premiere/Canadian debut of this tribute show to legendary character singers.
- Playbill Dining Room Solo Cabarets: Performed an intimate solo music series during the pandemic, followed by a popular return to the cabaret stage in September 2025.