For the next two weeks, Hastings' Zachary Unger will fall asleep in the car on the way home from New York City after appearing in the revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical Merrily We Roll Along at the New York City Center. 

Performing the role of Frank Jr., Unger is on stage only during the first act, but his mom Dana said he wouldn't miss the final bows for the world. "So we're getting a little cot for his dressing room so he can sleep during Act II and then come out for the curtain call."

His parents are also bringing pajamas and a toothbrush to the theater so he can change and be ready to go to sleep right after the show.

Despite having been in two professional-level productions simultaneously this month—the other was a workshop called Becoming Chaplin at the Alvin Ailey Theater, in which he played the young Charlie Chaplin—Unger missed only three days of school for the rehearsals. On those days, he was tutored at the City Center.

"It's very important to us that Zachary has a normal life, that he's grounded," Dana Unger said. 

Zachary started acting with the Random Farms Kids' Theater Company in Elmsford when he was only 5. Instructors there immediately recognized his singing and acting talents and asked him to audition for their showcase.

"We were approached by an agent who saw Zach perform in one of their productions when he was only 6 and a half," his mom said. "It's not like we sought agents out—they came to us."

Unger said performing with professional actors in the revival of Merrily "is really fun. They play with me a lot because I'm the only kid in the cast." 

But, then again, Unger isn't intimidated to work with professionals because he's been doing it for practically his whole life.

Recently, Unger did the voice of the "mini-owl" in Nick Jr.'s "Dora [the Explorer's] Enchanted Forest Adventures." The "grown-up owl" was voiced by Jason Alexander.

Miraculously, none of this has gone to the precocious and articulate 8 year old's head.

"I missed being in school and seeing my friends," said Unger, who returned today after his three-day hiatus with a playbill to show the class.

His teacher Paula Higgins—who Dana said has been incredibly supportive—has even purchased tickets to the show to see her student perform.

During auditions and when on stage, Unger says he feels "both comfortable and excited."

"I get a little nervous, but it feels really great. I love being on stage."

To date, Unger's favorite show is The Lion King.

He hopes to perform on Broadway someday—and he may even have a chance in the near future—

Becoming Chaplin is slated to move east to Broadway, and Unger is hoping he'll retain the role of Young Charlie Chaplin.

"Broadway is my dream," he said.

For now, his mom said they're just taking it one step at a time. Unger's little brother Noah, 6, is just starting to perform with Random Farms Kids' Theater and go on auditions himself.

"Even though they love the stage and are very talented, we want to make sure our kids stay kids," Dana Unger said. 

In describing the day he auditioned for Merrily We Roll Along, Unger began by mentioning that he played basketball with friends, and then he went to the theater and performed a song from the show and recited some lines. 

Besides doing theater and TV, Unger will also appear in the upcoming films "Tar" and "What Maisie Knew" (playing the role of "The Freckly Boy.")

Unger said he most enjoyed playing Charlie Chaplin and Frank Jr. because, "Merrily We Roll Along goes back in time, which is cool."

According to the synopsis of the musical on the City Center's website, the show "runs backwards in time from 1976 to 1955, [and] examines the lives of three people whose friendship is tested by time, events, ambition and fate."

Heavy concepts for a third-grader...

But not this particular one.

"He's such a down-to-earth kid," Dana Unger said. "It's so important to us that he can stay in school while performing, which he loves."

Read a New York Times review of the show here. 

Merrily We Roll Along will run through Feb. 19. You can purchase tickets here.