Mark Martino News

The very first number in the stage version of Saturday Night Fever is an ensemble piece, Stayin' Alive, which sets the tone for the raw, realistic musical drama which follows. 'This show gave us a little bit of an edge and by bookending it with Beauty and the Beast and Singin' in the Rain, which are sweet and a little sugary, this enabled us to do something a bit different - something with an edge, bite and grit,' says Maine State Music Theatre's Artistic Director Curt Dale Clark. Clark, together with cast members Jacob Tischler (Tony Manero), Alexandra Matteo (Stephanie Mangano), Christina Carlucci (Pauline), and Anthony J. Gasbarre III (Joey), are speaking to BWW's Carla Maria Verdino-Sullwold in the season's third Peek Behind the Curtain panel discussion at Curtis Memorial Library, devoted to the exploration of the company's current main stage production of Saturday Night Fever, playing on the Pickard stage until August 4.

With the immortal songs of the BeeGees, mesmerizing disco dancing, and a cast of unforgettable characters, the musical version of Saturday Night Fever offers an inherently compelling theatrical experience. Maine State Music Theatre's new production does all that and more: it brings freshness, originality, and strong dramatic narrative to the work, all the while that it envelops the audience in its pulse and passion. This production is white-hot, warm, funny, and genuine.

"This show is a boot camp in and of itself!" declares Jacob Tischler. Tischler is referring to his role as Tony Manero in Maine State Music Theatre's production of Saturday Night Fever, which begins its run at the Pickard on July 18th, and he is speaking to Broadway World about the colorful creative path that has brought him to this point in his career.

"As an actress I believe in pounding the pavement with positivity. One of my biggest things is knowing that I am a whole person with family, friends, and interests. Theatre is a passion and a life style, but it is one piece of the pie. My job is to make sure all the other pieces of the pie are just as delicious. So I keep a home for myself, surrounded by loved ones; yoga is a big thing for me in maintaining mental clarity and spiritual health, and I am a vegan because I feel that is a kinder way to eat. It may sound corny, but if you put out positive vibrations, they will come back to you."

More than 40 years after its creation, Dan Goggin and Robert Lorick's musical, Johnny Manhattan, had its world premiere in Goggin's home state, Michigan. Featuring a book and lyrics by Lorick, music by Goggin, and directed and choreographed by Mark Martino, Johnny Manhattan played a successful engagement at the Meadow Brook Theater (Rochester Hills, MI) in September 2017. Performance rights for the new musical are now available through Samuel French, the world's premier theatrical publishing and licensing company.

Theatre Aspen announced casting for the organization's 35th Anniversary Season, which includes Ragtime, Godspell, and Our Town today. This season's productions promise to bring world class theatre dramatically closer by presenting talent from Broadway, national tours, and training programs from across the country.

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre has announced that the big and splashy Broadway hit Mamma Mia! is the long-awaited surprise show of its 2018/19 season!

Guys and Dolls/music & lyrics by Frank Loesser/book by Joe Swerling and Abe Burrows/based on stories by Damon Runyon/directed by Mark Martino/musical director: Benet Braun/choreographer: Daniel Smith/Musical Theatre West (MTW),Long Beach/through March 4 My first association with musical composer Frank Loesser was as an actor in the 70s in a revue of his music. I played Sky Masterson of Guys and Dolls and sang a duet of 'I've Never Been In Love Before'. I came to realize quite rapidly how lovely his music is and how well he manages to capture the moment of genuine emotion within a song. Upon seeing Guys and Dolls several times since, I have been awestruck as well by Abe Burrows' and Joe Swerling's ability to take Damon Runyon's New York Broadway characters from the 20s and 30s and blow them up into something overwhelmingly moving and appealing. The two worlds of sin and redemption have never been connect

Gangsters and gamblers, missionary dolls, and showgirls turn the gamble of love into a high-energy musical when Musical Theatre West presents five-time Tony Award-winning musical Guys and Dolls, February 16 - March 4 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center. Based on the stories and characters by Damon Runyon, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, the show tops Entertainment Weekly's list of "The Greatest Musical of all Time." Tickets are now on sale at www.musical.org, by calling (562) 856- 1999 ext. 4 or at the Musical Theatre West ticket office. Tickets start at $20.

Sometimes all you really need is 'The Music and the Mirror' to convey the message of artistry and technique.

Gangsters and gamblers, missionary dolls, and showgirls turn the gamble of love into a high-energy musical when Musical Theatre West presents five-time Tony Award-winning musical Guys and Dolls, February 16 - March 4 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center. Based on the stories and characters by Damon Runyon, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, the show tops Entertainment Weekly's list of "The Greatest Musical of all Time." Tickets are now on sale at www.musical.org, by calling (562) 856- 1999 ext. 4 or at the Musical Theatre West ticket office. Tickets start at $20.

Considered groundbreaking when it opened on Broadway in 1975, the musical went on to win nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical and the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Today, it remains as touching and powerful as when it debuted and is one of the longest running musicals on Broadway.

On a bitter cold blizzard day in January, the Maine theatre community was deriving some warmth and cheer by celebrating its achievements with the 2017 Broadway World Audience Choice award winners. The sixteen theatre artists voted by Maine theatre-goers as the best in each category of performing and technical achievements were selected from a group of 69 finalists, culled from over 9000 nominees rwho epresented less than % of all those in contention for the accolades, and voting for the winners was close and competitive to the very end of the process.

WBT will open its 2018 theatre season with the hit Broadway musical A Chorus Line. This mega-hit captures the very soul of musical theater, and is one of the longest-running Broadway musicals ever. This beloved and iconic musical by James Kirkwood & Nicholas Dante with a brilliant and show-stopping score by Marvin Hamlisch & Lyrics by Edward Kleban, is a celebration of those unsung heroes of the Musical Theatre, the chorus dancers, valiant, over- dedicated, underpaid and highly trained troopers who back up the star and often make them look more talented. The characters portrayed in A Chorus Line are based upon the real life experiences of Broadway dancers.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.

The 2017 awards honor productions which opened between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Nominations were completely reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended October 31, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors.