Meet the Entertainment Team Members
Zac Deeney - Owner & Creative Director
Zac Deeney is the Owner and Creative Director of Upon A Star Entertainment and a seasoned professional in the performing arts. With nearly a decade of experience in the entertainment industry, Zac has built a diverse career that encompasses performing, musical direction, choreography, writing, creative direction, and teaching. His expertise spans various areas, including theatre, live entertainment, holiday parks, cruise ships, and immersive events, which highlight his role as an essential member of the theatre production team across different platforms.
Recent highlights in Zac's career include serving as a Production Vocalist at Haven Devon Cliffs for the 2026 season, following his impactful performance at Unity Skirlington during the 2025 summer season. Additionally, he showcased his talents as a Guest Entertainer with P&O Cruises for Christmas 2024 and Christmas 2025, alongside many other notable credits in the field of entertainment.
Behind the scenes, Zac collaborates with a talented performing arts team, taking on roles as a Musical Director, Choreographer, Writer, and Creative Director. He has developed both original works and established productions, driven by his passion for bringing ambitious ideas to life and creating valuable opportunities for fellow performers and creatives.
As the founder of Upon A Star Entertainment, Zac’s vision is to cultivate a company that merges high-quality entertainment with real opportunities for entertainment professionals. This mission aims to strengthen the creative community in the North East and beyond.
In addition to managing the company, Zac remains active as a performer and creative, integrating his industry experience into every project that Upon A Star undertakes. His goal is straightforward: to create exceptional entertainment, provide opportunities, and leave a lasting impact on audiences.
Laura Marie Allen - Artistic Operations Manager
Laura is the Artistic Operations Manager at Upon A Star Entertainment, expertly bringing together her extensive experience in performing arts, children's entertainment, education, and safeguarding. As a key member of our performing arts team, she ensures that every project embodies creativity and professionalism.
Laura holds a BA (Hons) in Drama and Applied Theatre and a Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Education, providing her with a solid foundation in both the creative and educational aspects of performing arts. With a decade of experience in the children's entertainment industry, Laura has led bespoke parties and events, bringing to life some of the most recognizable children's characters. Her passion lies in creating experiences that allow children to have fun, make lasting memories, and feel truly part of the magic.
In addition to her entertainment work, Laura collaborates closely with Children's Social Services, which enhances her expertise in child protection and safeguarding. This crucial knowledge is an integral part of her role at Upon A Star, ensuring that the safety and well-being of our performers and audiences remain central to our mission.
Laura also brings a wealth of performance experience to the company, having performed as a lead vocalist in charity productions and taking on headline roles in shows like Grease The Musical, The Wizard of Oz, and The Greatest Showman. Her extensive background as an entertainment professional enriches the operations at Upon A Star.
Having worked alongside Zac for eight years, Laura has developed a strong creative partnership and friendship with him, both contributing significantly to the foundations of Upon A Star Entertainment. Together, they work within the theatre production team to bridge the gap between creative vision and practical delivery, ensuring that productions, events, and projects run smoothly, professionally, and safely.
With her blend of creative experience, operational knowledge, and safeguarding expertise, Laura plays a vital role in delivering the magic of Upon A Star to the highest possible standard. She is enthusiastic about continuing to collaborate with Zac and the wider Upon A Star team to infuse creativity, professionalism, and a touch of magic into your next event.
Emma Deeney - Casting & HR Manager
Emma is the Casting & HR Manager at Upon A Star Entertainment, bringing extensive experience in performing, production, casting support, and photography to the company. As an integral member of our theatre production team, Emma offers a unique understanding of the performing arts industry and the entertainment professionals who drive it forward.
Her performing career began at an early age, including an appearance at the prestigious Welsh Eisteddfod in 1990. Emma's passion for the industry led her into production, where she gained valuable experience with both the BBC and ITV as a Production Assistant in 2001.
From 2003 to 2005, Emma actively contributed to North East Sing Live, taking on roles as a performer and rehearsal manager. During this time, she showcased her talent in large-scale productions at Newcastle City Hall and Leeds City Hall, culminating in her performance at the world-renowned Royal Albert Hall in 2004 for The Night of a Thousand Voices.
After a hiatus from performing, Emma made a triumphant return to the stage in 2023, reigniting her passion for live performance and maintaining her connection with the performing arts team.
In her role as Casting & HR Manager, Emma plays a critical role in supporting our casting processes, performer recruitment, and HR operations. She ensures that our performers are welcomed into a professional, supportive, and well-organised working environment.
Emma collaborates closely with the creative team throughout the casting process, helping to identify performers who possess the skills needed for our productions and embody the core values and professionalism that Upon A Star represents.
In addition to her management responsibilities, Emma provides professional photography for our cast headshots and character profiles, allowing our performers to present themselves at the highest possible standard.
Her blend of industry experience, performance knowledge, production expertise, and creative vision makes Emma an invaluable part of the Upon A Star management team. Having been closely involved in the development of the company from its earliest stages, she is passionate about supporting Upon A Star's growth and creating opportunities for talented performers to join this exciting journey.
Emma is proud to contribute to building the teams behind our productions and eagerly looks forward to discovering and supporting the talent that will shape the future of Upon A Star.