198: The Business of Projection with Zak Borovay

A conversation about the business side of being a projection designer with Zak Borovay, who on Broadway has designed Elf, Xanadu, and Rock of Ages. He has also done work for Disney and Universal theme parks, lots of cruise lines, and the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular.

Topics:

⭐️ Protections of a union

⭐️ Keeping your investments

⭐️ History of projection designers joining USA 829

⭐️ Freelancing versus being employed at a production company

⭐️ Recommending projects to the people you’re working with (because when you don’t, it is very noticeable)

Video Version

https://youtu.be/tFfdw6gcd00

Zak Borovay

https://borovaydesign.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/borovayz/

https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/zak-borovay-391728

Wendal Harrington

http://www.wendallharrington.com/

Driscoll Otto

https://www.driscollotto.com/

Light Talk

https://lighttalk.libsyn.com/

Rock of Ages

https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/rock-of-ages-482291

Zachary Borovay is an award-winning creative director and media /projection designer whose leadership shapes some of the most ambitious live and immersive entertainment experiences in the world. Known for uniting creative vision, storytelling, and emerging technology, he leads multidisciplinary teams to deliver media-driven experiences that captivate audiences across Broadway, global touring productions, themed entertainment, museums, and large-scale architectural environments.

His creative direction and media leadership span landmark projects including the international phenomenon Rock of Ages, alongside Evita, Elf, Xanadu, Ann, Lombardi, A Catered Affair, and Waiting for Godot & No Man’s Land starring Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen. Beyond the theater, he has driven large-scale spectacles such as the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, Voyage de la Vie in Singapore, and Peepshow in Las Vegas, as well as major experiential work for Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, as well as many major cruise lines including Disney Cruise Lines, Norwegian, Holland America and Royal Caribbean. He has even designed media for broadcast and arena concert tours.

A recognized authority in entertainment technology and creative production, Zachary serves as Live Design/LDI’s Content Advisor and played a key role in establishing projection design as a formal discipline within United Scenic Artists Local 829. As a strategic advisor to leading media and technology companies—including Disguise, Dataton, Green Hippo, Barco, Christie, Panasonic, and Apple—he helps shape the tools that define the future of live entertainment, while mentoring the next generation of designers through courses lectures at institutions such as Yale School of Drama, Emerson, CalArts and NYU.

Instagram Handles

@front_projection

@ethansteimel

@nicolevsteimel