Hi!

I just returned from a one-day trip to West Virginia to see client Stephanie Lynne Mason as Tzeitel in a fabulous production of Fiddler on the Roof at the West Virginia Public Theatre. I arrived back in New York just in time for my Saturday clients, and to teach two Sunday musical theatre auditioning and performing workshops with legendary teacher Diane Hardin. Diane and I work on the musical, vocal, and dramatic aspects of the performance, and handling the audition experience.

BTW, if you’re between 8 and 18 years old, and have no plans tomorrow (Sunday), we had a couple of cancellations in our kid's (8-12) workshop Sunday from 10-1, and our teen (13-18) workshop from 2-5. The cost for each three-hour class is $175. Classes are held in a midtown studio. If you’re interested, please call or email me right away!

Internationally known voice teacher Jeannette LoVetri has created a one-of-a-kind institute at Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA, with attendees from all over the world.  I was pleased to be asked back to this prestigious annual symposium last July, and presented lectures on selecting songs for auditions, making logical 16-bar music cuts, and stage presence. Subsequently, some of the participants sang in a Master Class, where their performances helped spark more discussion and learning about how to best serve the needs of students in the world of musical theatre auditions. I was proud to share the day with noted otolaryngologist Dr. Gwen Korovin, who presented an information-packed segment on anatomy and medical conditions of the throat.

More photos are on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/bobmarks

In July, I was in beautiful Myrtle Beach, SC to be a judge for the American Talent Showcase. I did some private coaching, as well as some classes on musical performance. This organization, run by Donna and Terry Ehrlich of Z-1 Models & Talent (http://z1modelsandtalent.com) always provides a warm, supportive atmosphere for the contestants, and is a highlight of my travels. This is my seventh year with this organization, and I always look forward to my annual trips to the South.

With some of American Talent Showcase’s other judges.

With fellow judge and teacher Kathy Garver, best known for having played Cissy the eldest sibling on the original TV series Family Affair.

With the performing group iCande.

Client Jeremy Gumbs was an amazing Young Simba in Broadway’s Lion King, and he gave me and my wife Elayne a grand tour backstage. And it was great to see Danny Rutigliano still getting the laughs as Timon. He is an original cast member and also originated the role in the L.A. Production, for which he received the Ovation Award for Best Featured Actor.

My first time in an “elephant graveyard!”