Alumna Ms. Zöe Young ’22, who goes by the stage name Zoe Sage, made her Broadway debut in Stranger Things: The First Shadow at the Marquis Theatre March 31. Following her time at Sacred Heart Greenwich, Ms. Young pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) at the New York University (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts, according to shgreenwich.org. Four years ago, the Class of 2022 selected her “most likely to become a famous entertainer” for their senior superlatives. Now, Ms. Young brings her talents to the Broadway stage.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow serves as a prequel to the Netflix series, Strange Things, set 30 years prior, telling the story of supernatural events unfolding in Hawkins, Indiana, according to newyorktheatreguide.com. Ms. Trefry, the Duffer Brothers, and Mr. Jack Thorne crafted the story, Ms. Kate Trefry wrote the play, and Mr. Stephen Daldry directed it. The play debuted in 2023 at London’s Phoenix Theatre and opened in New York in 2025, according to strangerthingsfandom.com.
Ms. Young joined the second-year cast cast of the production on Broadway, making her debut as Sue Anderson, a pivotal character who introduces protagonist Henry Creel and the audience to the Hawkins High School student body, according to newyorktheatreguide.com. Looking back on her time at Sacred Heart, Ms. Young reflected on how the school prepared her for NYU and beyond.
“At Sacred Heart Greenwich, I learned that working in theatre requires trust, curiosity, and a willingness to take bold, creative risks,” Ms. Young said, according to shgreenwich.org. “I also gained a strong foundation in discipline, preparation, and teamwork—qualities that continue to serve me in my training at NYU.”
Throughout her years at Sacred Heart, Ms. Young participated in numerous theatre productions. In Middle School, she performed in the Upper School production of Les Misérables, and in Upper School, she performed in The Phantom of the Opera, Matilda, Annie, The Eumenides, and Into the Woods. Ms. Young also performed in productions in Middle School and Lower School, including Shrek Jr., The Little Mermaid Jr., Beauty and the Beast Jr., and The Lion King Jr. Miss Michaela Gorman ’05, Upper School Theatre Teacher and Director of Productions, commented on the significance of seeing a former student make her Broadway debut.
“A Broadway debut for any actor is a monumental achievement, reflecting years of dedication, effort, and tenacity,” Miss Gorman said. “This is such a well-deserved accomplishment for Zoe, who has always been so incredibly hard-working, positive, and community-focused. It has been such a gift to watch her growth as a theatre artist through her time in our Sacred Heart Greenwich program into her studies at Tisch and beyond. It means the world to me to know that theatre has remained such an important part of Zoe’s academic and professional life now. I feel truly honored to have had the opportunity to be a part of Zoe’s journey, and I am overjoyed for her as she makes her Broadway debut. I cannot wait to continue cheering her on through all of the amazing successes that are sure to come for Zoe.”
Following in Ms. Young’s footsteps, alumnae Ms. Molly Kriskey ’23 and Ms. Ila David ’24 are also pursuing their artistic studies at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, according to shgreenwich.org. Ms. Young shared the example she hopes to set for current and future Sacred Heart students, demonstrating the possibilities of pursuing a career in theatre.
“Coming from Sacred Heart, I’m incredibly proud to represent my school in this field, and to show what is possible in the arts,” Ms. Young said, according to shgreenwich.org. “Sacred Heart Greenwich’s Theatre Program played a significant role in shaping me, and as I continue my journey studying theatre at NYU, I carry those lessons with me. It’s an honor to hopefully set an example for future students who dream of following their artistic passion.”
Ms. Young’s Broadway debut inspires current Sacred Heart students to become thoughtful, engaged, and impassioned artists, dedicated to shaping the future of theatre. Miss Gorman discussed what she hopes her students take away from Ms. Young’s success.
“Zoe truly embodies the spirit at the core of the Sacred Heart Greenwich theatre program in a powerful way,” Miss Gorman said. “She sets such an amazing example for our current students. She is a thoughtful, dedicated, enthusiastic leader, who deeply understands the collaborative nature of her art form. Zoe was and is so beloved within our program at Sacred Heart and continues to be beloved by all who know her for who she is both onstage and offstage. I hope that our theatre students will see that, with hard work and determination, they can follow in Zoe’s footsteps, not only pursuing a career at the highest level of professional theatre and becoming such an accomplished, celebrated, skilled actor but also doing so while leading with integrity, empathy, and heart.”
Featured Image by Brianna Timlin ’26
