About Mark

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Mark has created 321 blog entries.

80 Days In Bitter Lemons’ Top Rated Los Angeles Theater Productions 2013

Bitter Lemons' Top Rated Los Angeles Shows for 2013 recently came out and the International City Theatre production of my play Around the World in 80 Days made the list. Not only did it make the Top Ten productions list but it received a 100% Sweet score. Sweet. Bitter Lemons is a site that gathers reviews from a variety of local review sites around the internet and then forms an aggregate score that in turn becomes a show’s Lemon Meter Rating. [...]

80 Days In Bitter Lemons’ Top Rated Los Angeles Theater Productions 20132022-01-18T05:51:59+00:00

China Celebrates Mao’s 120th Birthday

If he was still alive, Mao Zedong would have been 120-years old today.  If the 45-million people who died during Mao's failed Great Leap Forward were still alive today, they'd be -- well -- they'd be alive. To commemorate Mao's birthday, here's a demo recording from my musical China - The Whole Enchilada, written with my friend Paul Mirkovich. In the show, the song is sung by Joseph Stalin.   To read more about the muted celebrations China, [...]

China Celebrates Mao’s 120th Birthday2017-02-11T05:49:30+00:00

Pics From DeSales University’s Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge

Steven Dennis, director of the DeSales University production of The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge, recently sent me a few pictures of the production. I have to say the production looks like it was awesome. Thanks to one and all who worked on this production. Jacob Marley all mad about something. The Spirit of Christmas Yet To Come complaining about the thickness of his shroud and The Translator.

Pics From DeSales University’s Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge2017-02-11T05:49:31+00:00

Darlene Love – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Song #25 of 25 Days of Christmas Songs is not only a fantastic song but a cherished tradition on The David Letterman Show. In 1986 the incomparable Darlene Love performed Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) and has performed the song every year since then. A ton of people have covered the song since it first debuted in 1963 on the Phil Spector produced album A Christmas Gift To You From Phil Spector. But no one sings it like [...]

Darlene Love – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)2023-04-05T00:18:52+00:00

The Kinks – Father Christmas

There are so many fantastic Christmas songs that I have to add another one. Song #24 1/2 of my 25 Days of Christmas Songs is The Kinks' Father Christmas. Father Christmas was released in 1977, a magical year for me. Despite the seemingly anti-Christmas appearance - a gang of kids beating up a department store Father Christmas and telling him to give them money instead of gifts - at its heart is the spirit of Christmas: the spirit [...]

The Kinks – Father Christmas2022-01-18T05:51:56+00:00

The Salem Travelers – Merry Christmas To You

Song #24 of my 25 Days of Christmas Songs list is the very aptly named Merry Christmas To You by the Salem Travelers. A fantastic gospel group, the Salem Travelers formed in the early 1960s in Chicago. I'm not sure what year Merry Christmas To You was first released. In fact, I don't know what happened to The Salem Travelers. But I do know I love this song. I was going to make my own video of the [...]

The Salem Travelers – Merry Christmas To You2022-01-18T05:51:22+00:00

Mel Torme – The Christmas Song (Michael Kessler Open Fire Mix)

What could be better than Mel Torme, The Velvet Fog,  singing The Christmas Song? How about Mel Torme singing The Christmas Song but remixed? My #23 song of 25 Days of Christmas is The Christmas Song (Michael Kessler Open Fire Mix). I have no idea how this remix came to be but I like it. The Christmas Song was written in 1944 by Mel Torme and Bob Wells in a blistering 40-minutes. Best 40-minutes of their lives. This [...]

Mel Torme – The Christmas Song (Michael Kessler Open Fire Mix)2022-01-18T05:51:21+00:00

Hollywood Undead – Christmas in Hollywood

Damn, just when I caught up on my 25 Days of Christmas Songs, I fell behind. Okay, I have to make up a day today. Song #22 of my 25 Days of Christmas Songs is not, I repeat, not a family song. It's Christmas in Hollywood by Los Angeles-based rap band Hollywood Undead. I can't explain why I like this song. It's laced with foul language but I like the hook of the song. So if you're leaning [...]

Hollywood Undead – Christmas in Hollywood2023-04-05T00:18:52+00:00

Slow Club – It’s Christmas and You’re Boring Me

Song #21 of my 25 Days of Christmas Songs is for everyone who's bitter at this time of year. The song is It's Christmas and You're Boring Me by the English duo group Slow Club. It's a fantastic break up song. I mean come on, lots of people pick this time of year to break up and it sucks. Well, it sucks any time but it especially sucks at Christmas. Your mother's heart is bursting for me As we [...]

Slow Club – It’s Christmas and You’re Boring Me2022-01-18T05:51:19+00:00

Aimee Mann- Whatever Happened to Christmas

Christmas. It's all holly and jolly until melancholia sets in. Today's song - Whatever Happened to Christmas - matches my mood. It's Day 20 of 25 Days of Christmas Songs. Whatever Happened to Christmas was written by Jimmy Webb. I was just talking about him today. Jimmy Webb wrote a gazillion songs, among them Wichita Lineman and MacArthur Park. Whatever Happened to Christmas was first recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1968 for the album The Sinatra Family Wish You a [...]

Aimee Mann- Whatever Happened to Christmas2022-01-18T05:51:19+00:00
Copyright 2013 Mark Brown Writer | All Rights Reserved | Powered by three hamsters and WordPress | Theme Fusion
Toggle Sliding Bar Area
Go to Top