Close-ups

ZACHARY PODAIR

11, Smithtown

THE GIG He plays Les in "Newsies" at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport.

HIS STORY Zachary, who started performing at 6, has had roles in many Long Island productions, including Donkey in "Shrek." He was in a commercial for a local camp and appeared in re-enactment scenes for an ad about Irish immigrants. Playing Les, one of the youngest of the "Newsies," has been his favorite theatrical experience. An accomplished dancer, Zachary says his favorite moments are the number "Seize the Day" and his tap solo near the end of the show. "This show had tons of new choreography. It was very challenging," says Zachary.

WHAT'S NEXT Though Zachary plans to audition for more shows, he doesn't see himself acting professionally when he gets older. "I'll do it more as a hobby. I feel like there is tons of competition and it’s very hard to make a living as an actor."

CAROLYN MILLER

29, Massapequa

THE GIG The release party for her EP "Unbreakable" happens 8:30 p.m. Saturday at The Cutting Room in New York City.

HER STORY Miller started acting when she was 8 and has appeared in commercials, theater, film and television, including a 2004 episode of "Law & Order: SVU." "I was in a bar last month and someone actually recognized me from it," she says. Miller, who graduated from the Berklee College of Music, began doing YouTube music videos a few years ago, which developed a massive social-media following. She caught the attention of Russ DeSalvo, who has worked with Celine Dion and Lionel Richie, and is the producer of "Unbreakable." Miller describes the country-pop disc as "Kelly Clarkson meets Carrie Underwood." "For me, country music was a no-brainer because I love the storytelling and purity and the honesty of the genre," Miller says.

WHAT'S NEXT She's developing an Off-Broadway show and is writing songs.

GEORGE PAPADIMATOS

Mineola

THE GIG He played Elektra's chauffeur in Netflix's superhero series "Daredevil."

THE DEAL Papadimatos started acting after he finished college and studied with actor Chazz Palminteri. "Chazz makes you a better actor the minute you walk through the door," he says. Papadimatos put his career on hold for five years to care for his now-deceased parents while also working as a bartender. Through bartending, he met a casting director who was impressed with his personality and his mixology skills. When he returned to acting, he looked her up, which led to jobs including the Off-Broadway comedy "Bromance-aroni" and "Daredevil." "That was a big thrill. I really felt like I was in a comic book," he says. Papadimatos also appears in the web series "Wholly Broken" which was filmed on Long Island.

WHAT'S NEXT Papadimatos has a recurring role on an HBO series premiering in the fall, and he's working on "Cheers"-like pilot set at a Greek diner based on his father's experiences.