Zachary Linnert had completed graduate school and was living in New Jersey when he started looking for a job in school administration. He found one — and it happened to be at ‘Iolani School.

Four years later Linnert is the school’s associate dean of Lower School and completing the requirements for a doctorate in educational leadership from Johns Hopkins University.

Linnert, 36, made his Honolulu theater debut in 2015 in the supporting role of Captain Walker in “The Who’s ‘Tommy’” at Manoa Valley Theatre.

Three years later he is starring as Montague “Monty” Navarro, a man determined to become Ninth Earl of Highhurst even if he has to kill everyone between him and the title, in “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” at Diamond Head Theatre.

JOHN BERGER: Congratulations on a superb performance, and on going straight from a supporting role in your first show to the lead in your second.

ZACHARY LINNERT: I didn’t expect it. I decided to take a chance (and audition) because I like the show — it’s witty, it’s clever, it’s smart but it’s fun — but I expected that I probably wouldn’t be cast because they cast such extraordinary talent.

I’m very grateful that (director/choreographer) John Rampage took the chance that he did in casting me. I love the show, I love the role, and it’s been a hell of a ride so far.

JB: Tell me about working opposite Garrett Hols, the guy who plays the seven people Monty kills – and the one who dies of natural causes.

ZL: Garrett is very much a collaborative co-star and just a real gentleman. He had been preparing for this role for over a year and half, so he came in (to rehearsals) with fully formed characters. In the show he gets to play and I’m the straight man.

JB: What’s something the audience might miss?

ZL: Toward the end when (Montague) is told he can’t be guilty because he’s an earl. It doesn’t get the laughter that I would expect it to get, but I think it’s one of those jokes that you have to marinate on for a little bit. It’s a political statement.

JB: Is there something that might surprise people who know you only as the character they see onstage?

ZL: I’m fluent in American Sign Language and actually did a fair amount of theatrical sign language interpreting before I moved here.

I’m also a big baker — I love to bake and decorate cakes. If I’m stressed out, working on cupcakes or something is a form of therapy.

JB: What would you like to be doing five years from now?

ZL: Be still here (in Hawaii). In my time off I would love to be doing shows, and I would love to collaborate with friends in introducing audiences to (shows) that don’t get produced here — “Falsettos” is a perfect example.

There’s a really rich talent pool of actors here and this would give them another access to performing.

“On the Scene” appears on Sundays in the Star-Advertiser. Reach John Berger at jberger@staradvertiser.com.