Highlights of
Theatre and Drama for Marcus
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Theater was Mark's passion and formally began when he started playing the bass in the 6th grade at Lincoln Elementary School. Mark and the bass were serious companions with him playing this fine instrument from 6th grade through his years at Clark College. From his very first performance, he always took his bass playing quite seriously. He also participated in choir his entire school life, from elementary school through his years at Clark College. His passion for drama, which lasted throughout his life, began at Hudson Bay High School where he performed in several productions. He loved being on stage but also enjoyed the challenge of camera work, sound, lighting, and set design and construction and was good on both sides of the camera. When he was in high school, he and his very good friend, Steve, compiled many productions; Steve gives Mark credit for deciding camera angles, editing, and special effects.
If you were lucky enough to know Mark, you know how passionate he was about theater. When he worked a fun-filled summer in the Character Department at Disneyland, he was able to combine his theatrics and fun-loving nature to entertain children of all ages and be a character all day! The month following his death, there was a tree planted at Disneyland in his memory; that would please him very much.
At the University of Portland's Performance Arts Festival, February 25, 1989, Mark was a finalist in Duo-Acting.
During the school years of 1988 through 1990, Mark participated in many productions in high school including Dracula, The Mad Woman of Challiot, Children's Theater,
In 1990, Mark performed in Portland's "Carbon Copy" as Lomboda-man, Confession, and Reporter. In this production, the cast wrote, directed and performed calling upon all their stage skills.
In Music Theatre Oregon's musical Equity production, "Evita" presented November 27 through December 2, 1990, Mark held parts as a Heavy, Waiter, Reporter, and Aid utilizing both his musical and acting skills on a professional stage.
In "Broadway Bound" Marcus operated sound control. Clark College Theatre presented this production in December of 1990 and January of 1991
Marcus also participated in many performances in Clark College's tours for Children's Theatre.
In Clark College Theatre's 1991 production of "The Pied Piper Packs a Peck of Peer Pressure," Marcus played the part of the Mayor.
In "Ten Little Indians" Marcus performed the role of General Mackenzie. He also worked on the Set Construction Crew. This Clark College Theatre production was performed in 1991 in April and May for three weekends.
In 1991, Marcus worked as an entertainer in the Character Department at Disneyland for one full fun-filled summer in 1991. He also performed as a singer/dancer in "A.A.P.H.A.S.A.B."
While working at Disneyland, Mark also performed some modeling work. Some of his projects included the Tokyo Splash Mountain photo-shoot; the Queen Mary Wedding Chapel photo-shoot and working as an A.C.E. Fashion Show Model.
The part of William Coles was performed by Marcus in Clark College Theatre's 1991 production of "Other Peoples Money."
Mark's vocal experience included participation in The Clark Concert Choir (Bass, 2nd Tenor) from 1991 to 1993 and in Vocal Jazz Ensemble (Bass) from 1991 to 1992.
Marcus sang Bass in The Clark College Music Department's concert held on December 2, 1991. Songs that evening included The Holly and the Ivy, Ave Maria, Awake the Trumpet’s Lofty Sound; Burgundian Carol; This Have I Done for My True Love and Christmas Song.
Marcus sang Tenor 2 for the Clark College Concert Choir performance held on December 3, 1992, presented by the Clark College Music Department. Songs sung that evening included "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence," "O Magnum Mysterium," In Ecclesiis," "Thou Must Leave Thy Lowly Dwelling," "Lullay My Liking," "Laudate Dominum," and "Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones."
Marcus played the bass for Clark College Orchestra's Fall Concert held on December 4, 1991. Works performed were Fanfare for the Common Man by Aaron Copland; Overture to "Nabucco" by Giuseppe Verdi; Three Dances from "The Bartered Bride" by Bedrich Smetana; and Hungarian March from "La damnation de Faust" by Hector Berlioz.
Marcus performed as Sasha in the dinner theater productions of "Fiddler on the Roof" presented by Clark College Theater in February and March of 1992.
Marcus was honored on May 27, 1992, at the Clark Student Recognition Awards Program for his participation in Vocal Music-Concert Choir and for Theatre for the school year 1991-92. He had received the Clark Student Recognition Award for Theatre for the school year of 1990-91. He also received Student Recognition Awards for his participation in ASCC Finance Committee for the school years 1991-93.
Marcus performed as Grant Chandler in Clark College Theatre's 1992 production of "Double in Diamonds."
Marcus played Petruchio in the 1992 production of "The Taming of the Shrew"--One Act
In "The Diary of Anne Frank" Marcus worked on the Production/Technical Staff in the following positions:
Additional Set Design, Lighting Design, Construction Foreman performed March 26, 27, 28 by The Plainsmen Players (Evergeen School District). Marcus also constructed the set for "Leader of the Pack" performed in 1993.
Mark's television experience included working as an extra in two network movies, the NBC Movie of the Week "Why My Daughter?" in 1993 (originally titled "My Story") and the ABC Movie of the week "Mystery Dance." He also worked in several commercials including the psycho salesman in the Camas Ford commercial in 1992. He was always amused because so many people recognized him on Clark College's campus from that commercial. He also appeared in a Safeway commercial in 1990 which was in the same time period he worked at Safeway though the two were not related since the commercial was through an agency. While at Disneyland in 1991, he appeared in the San Antonio cartoon show "Kid's Club" as Baloo.
The most comprehensive television project Mark worked on and appeared in was "What About the Children?" in 1990 and 1991. This project was a production of Youth Unlimited in Portland and was intended to reach at-risk youth and addressed both the problem of teen pregnancy and drug use. The young people involved in the production also helped write script to enable it to be received better by other youths. "What About the Children?" which won an award at the 16th Annual Young People's Film & Video Festival at the Portland Art Museum Northwest Film Center, was distributed to schools, youth organizations and shown on cable television.
Mark's interest in tumbling, fencing, martial arts, swimming, scuba diving, track and field, rock climbing, bungee jumping, rapelling, windsurfing, and horseback riding helped him in his acting career as did his skill with the string bass, bass guitar, and guitar. Even his competition chess helped him as did his German from high school and Russian and French from Clark and many key phrases in several more languages.
Unfortunately, when Mark started working at Hewlett Packard, he was working 12-hour shifts Friday, Saturday, Sunday and every other Thursday. He was able to perform the part of Gentleman Gerald Van Tile (Two Gentlemen of the Bench) in "Romance" presented by Vancouver Community Theater in February and March of 1995. However, the long weekend shifts resulted in the end of his participation in serious theater work. Also, at the time, Mark had become seriously involved with Julie and, because of his committment to that relationship, he put his practical job ahead of his passion for drama and participated very little in theater work. This change of direction was a loss to all of us.
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