Tim Acito

Tim Acito grew up in central New Jersey, immersed in music from birth thanks to his father, a Dixieland jazz pianist. Acito trained in classical piano and also pursued dance, spending six years performing full-time from age 25 to 31 with companies like MOMIX, the American Repertory Ballet, Paul Taylor 2, and Pearl Lang. This dual passion for rhythm and narrative ultimately inspired him to transition into musical theatre, combining his love of movement, poetry, and storytelling.

After retiring from dance, Acito pursued an MFA in playwriting from the Yale School of Drama. This academic foundation enabled him to weave together his theatrical instincts with narrative craft—a synergy that would come to define his work in musical theatre, especially as a composer, lyricist, and bookwriter.

Acito is best known for Zanna, Don’t!, a 2003 Off-Broadway musical for which he wrote the book, music, and lyrics, with additional lyrics and material by Alexander Dinelaris. The show is a whimsical “musical fairy tale” set in a world where being gay is the norm and heterosexuality is taboo—a satirical yet heartfelt exploration of acceptance and love. The New York Times called it “smart, touching, and humane,” and it garnered multiple Drama Desk nominations and won for Outstanding Music, Book, and Lyrics. It also earned a GLAAD Media Award and became a beloved cult favorite in regional and international productions.

Beyond Zanna, Don’t!, Acito continued to invest in bold, boundary-pushing storytelling. He adapted The Women of Brewster Place—based on Gloria Naylor’s novel—for Arena Stage and the Alliance Theatre without initially securing the rights, a bold move that paid off. The production was acclaimed as “extremely impressive.” In addition, his more recent projects include composing music for The 200-Pound Beauty—Korea’s highest-grossing contemporary musical—and developing a prog-rock musical titled Tunguska! for a Berkshire Theatre Festival reading, set in 1907 Russia about attempts to contact the afterlife via radioactivity.

Tim Acito’s career reflects a vibrant fusion of movement, music, and theatrical storytelling. From his roots in dance to his bold adaptations and original works, he demonstrates a courageous creative spirit that embraces the quirky, the profound, and the socially resonant. His work, particularly Zanna, Don’t!, remains notable for its charm, heart, and unapologetic celebration of diversity and acceptance.