Night Auditor, Leading Man

While night work isn’t for everyone, it is for Zachary Thomas, night auditor at the Hampton Inn Joplin in Missouri. Starting his shift at 11 p.m. is perfect because it gives him free time earlier in the evening to pursue his avocation: acting in community theater.

Zachary has been active for a number of years in the Miami Little Theatre in nearby Miami, Oklahoma. “Between auditioning, rehearsing and performing, it’s become a big part of my life, all of which happens before I head to the hotel at night,” he said.

His efforts have paid off. Zachary’s acting credits at the theater include roles in widely known dramas and comedies. Two recent examples: He portrayed Atticus Finch, the lead in the stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and Oscar Madison, half of the mismatched pair at the heart of Neil Simon’s classic comedy “The Odd Couple.”

Asked what appeals to him about acting, Zachary said: “It’s the chance to get into the head of a character, to see what makes him tick, how he deals with his world.”

When asked to compare his experiences at Miami Little Theatre and the Hampton, he said: “They are very different, of course, which is a nice change for me. But when you think about it, they’re both communities that depend on teamwork to be successful. Everyone has their job.

“At the theater, it’s not just the actors, but the designers, the stage manager, and the director, pulling it all together. At the hotel, It’s Melissa (Hill, general manager) making it all work.”

Zachary Thomas, left, night auditor at the Hampton Inn Joplin in Missouri, performs the role of Oscar Madison in “The Odd Couple” at the Miami Little Theatre in Oklahoma.

Zachary Thomas, left, portrays Atticus Finch in a production of “To Kill a Mockingbird” at the Miami Little Theatre.

Zachary Thomas, who plays two roles – night auditor at the Hampton Inn Joplin and an actor at the Miami Little Theatre – meets with General Manager Melissa Hill, whose role he likens to that of a theater director.