Mark, Author at Mark Brown - Writer

Christmas Without You – OneRepublic

Best Christmas Songs - Christmas Without You "Christmas Without You" made my list last year and once again it's on my 25 Days of Christmas Songs list. OneRepublic released "Christmas Without You" in 2011. It was their first foray into the world of Christmas songs and it was a spectacular debut. The National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington, DC. in 2011 was the first time they performed it. And as I pointed out last year, also on the bill that [...]

Christmas Without You – OneRepublicMark2017-02-11T05:49:19+00:00

Whatever Happened to Christmas

Best Christmas Songs - Whatever Happened to Christmas - Aimee Mann Christmas. A time to be holly and jolly until melancholia sets in. Hell, that sounds like every day of my life. But at Christmastime it's extra special. A little extra holly and holly. And a lot of melancholia. So today's song is a heaping dose of all of those emotions. Whatever Happened to Christmas "Whatever Happened to Christmas" was written by Jimmy Webb. Jimmy Webb wrote a gazillion songs. He [...]

Whatever Happened to ChristmasMark2017-02-11T05:49:19+00:00

Love For Christmas – The Gems

Best Christmas Songs - Love For Christmas Oh how I love the song "Love For Christmas" by The Gems. The Gems was a Chicago-based group from the early 1960s and featured a very young Minnie Riperton. Minnie went on to have a number one hit with "Lovin' You" in 1974. The Gems were on the Chess Records label, started by a couple of Polish immigrant brothers with the last name of Chess. Go figure. Love For Christmas was written by [...]

Love For Christmas – The GemsMark2018-07-23T05:42:50+00:00

Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge at OCHS

Ocean City High Presents The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge The Ocean City High School Drama Guild in Ocean City, NJ will be doing my play The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge. "Making his directorial debut for the Drama Guild is Ocean City High School alumnus Don Toal Jr. A member of the class of 2003, Toal is also a substitute teacher and has worked in the arts for several years, directing shows and teaching classes for the Greater Ocean City [...]

Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge at OCHSMark2017-10-28T06:43:46+00:00

TheatreSquared Trip

TheatreSquared and Me I just got back from a whirlwind trip to TheatreSquared in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I had a brilliant time. TheatreSquared is currently producing my show Around the World in 80 Days. The theatre graciously invited me out to attend opening night, do talkbacks with audiences, and be a guest pontificator lecturer at a theatre MFA class. If you have never been to TheatreSquared, hop in the vehicle of your choice and hasten your bad self to Fayetteville, AR. Surprisingly, Fayetteville was [...]

TheatreSquared TripMark2020-02-27T06:11:31+00:00

Springfield Contemporary Theatre Goes Around the World

Springfield Contemporary Theatre Opens Around the World in 80 Days My ever faithful Google alert tells me that Springfield Contemporary Theatre in Springfield, MO opened their season last week with Around the World in 80 Days. Woot. Springfield Contemporary Theatre Artistic Director Rick Dines directed the production. The show stars Ron Seney, Bryant Turnage, Cameron Carlton, Patrick Schuster, and Adie Williams. Rick said some very nice things about the script and me in an interview he did with KSMU. KSMU - Shizzin' the public radio scene [...]

Springfield Contemporary Theatre Goes Around the WorldMark2017-02-11T05:49:19+00:00

Cinderella 2015 Live-Action Trailer

Cinderella 2015 Live-Action Looks Fantastic Being a dad of a little girl, I have watched the animated Cinderella film more times than I can tell you. And frankly I've had my fill of the film. But in 2015 Disney will release a new live-action version and it looks magical. Instead of calling it Cinderella Live-Action and to not confuse it with the animated version, I'm simply going to call it Cinderella 2015. And what a cast.Cinderella 2015 had me at Helena Bonham Carter [...]

Cinderella 2015 Live-Action TrailerMark2022-12-13T04:12:32+00:00

Eastchester Players Club Going Around the World

Eastchester Players Club I got a Google alert that the Eastchester Players Club in New York will be doing my show Around the World in 80 Days this weekend. Yeah, I get Google alerts about my shows. I like to see is there's anything I need to know about my shows. Like whether I'm having an Off-Broadway production, or being awarded Outstanding Musical, or having a World Premiere. Was that shameless promotion noticeable? Anyway, when I found the kids at the Eastchester [...]

Eastchester Players Club Going Around the WorldMark2022-01-18T05:52:16+00:00

Chick Chick the Latest Gangnam Style?

Chick Chick. What the Hell? There's a new viral video in town folks and it's called "Chick Chick." Chinese pop star Wang Rong released a video for her song "Chick Chick." Saying the video is bizarre isn't doing it justice. And it's probably an insult to the word "bizarre." People are comparing it to "What Does the Fox Say,” by Norwegian comedic duo Ylvis, and "Gangnam Style" by Korean pop sensation Psy. I think it's in that family but just a [...]

Chick Chick the Latest Gangnam Style?Mark2022-12-13T04:12:31+00:00

Julie and Julia, Without the Julie

Julie and Julia now just And Julia This is so terrific I can't stand it. It's a cut of the film Julie and Julia without the annoying Julie scenes. As you may recall, Nora Ephron's 2009 film Julie and Julia is a delightfully light and fluffy souffle starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. Streep plays Julia Childs at the beginning of the master chef's cooking career. Adams plays blogger Julie Powell, who challenges herself to cook all the recipes in Child's first book. Meryl [...]

Julie and Julia, Without the JulieMark2017-02-11T05:49:20+00:00

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