About Mark

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Mark has created 370 blog entries.

A Harper Honey Review of Around the World in 80 Days

Here's a lovely review by Harper Yi of the Off-Broadway production of Around the World in 80 Days. "But on top of all this ingenuity and artistic splendor, the show is funny-- genuinely, side-splittingly, joyously funny. The script itself is fast-paced, quick, and witty with some very sharp jokes that will tickle you with the precision of wit and other, very intentionally blunt jokes, that will hit you more like a baseball bat in the gut, except instead of the wind (and [...]

A Harper Honey Review of Around the World in 80 Days2018-07-23T05:42:33+00:00

Guy LeMonnier Joins Cast of Around the World in 80 Days

Last week Guy LeMonnier joined the cast of the Off-Broadway production of Around the World in 80 Days. Guy replaces Josh Segarra in the role of Phileas Fogg. Guy is a founding member of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, so all you TSO fans come on out to the New Theatre at 45th Street to see Guy knock it out of the park. Break many bones, Guy.

Guy LeMonnier Joins Cast of Around the World in 80 Days2015-10-25T19:49:38+00:00

China – The Whole Enchilada at Sacred Fools

China - The Whole Enchilada will get its West Coast Premiere at Sacred Fools in Los Angeles, Feb. 4 - March 12, 2014. The show will be directed by Allison Bibicoff, who directed a killer production of Around the World in 80 Days at the International City Theatre in Long Beach (The show was an LA Times Critic's Choice). Allison is graciously letting me be part of the whole process. This will mark the first time I've been involved with a [...]

China – The Whole Enchilada at Sacred Fools2020-02-27T06:11:20+00:00

Crime Fighting Geese

According to The Telegraph, police in Xinjiang, China have started using geese to help them fight crime. The poultry police are "extremely vigilant and having excellent hearing," according to Xinjiang police chief Zhang. “Geese are very brave. They spread their wings and will attack any strangers entering [someone’s] home,” said Mr Zhang. In some ways, they are more useful than dogs. A household normally keeps one dog [but] an intruder can throw a drugged bun to kill the dog. Geese are normally kept [...]

Crime Fighting Geese2017-10-28T06:44:09+00:00

Land Rover Going Around the World in 80 Days

British luxury SUV maker Land Rover is  hosting an epic 'Around the world in 80 days' expedition. Sixteen assorted Land Rovers, driven by their intrepid owners from the Land Rover Club of Hong Kong, are on a drive to conquer the world in 80 days. Hey, that sounds a lot like the plot to my show Around the World in 80 Days, currently running Off-Broadway. The four month expedition started on June 9, and already has chalked up more than [...]

Land Rover Going Around the World in 80 Days2023-11-16T00:56:11+00:00

Here Lies Love With Melody Butiu

If you haven't seen Here Lies Love, the David Byrne/Fatboy Slim musical currently playing at the Public Theatre, you better hurry on down to the theatre and beg for tickets because the show closes July 28. My friend Melody Butiu, a fantastic singer and actress, is in it and she tears it up. I saw the show when I was in town for the opening of my Off-Broadway show Around the World in 80 Days (see how I got my plug [...]

Here Lies Love With Melody Butiu2020-02-27T06:11:13+00:00

Throwback Thursday July 28

It's Throwback Thursday so I thought I'd post my old reel. Yeah, I used to be an actor but retired when I became a dad. I found trying to keep my daughter on a schedule and pursue an acting career were at odds with each other. And truth be told, I has grown weary of being an actor and wanted to concentrate on my then burgeoning writing career. So here's me in Out of Sight, Holy Man, Ally McBeal, Clover, [...]

Throwback Thursday July 282017-02-11T05:49:37+00:00

Two Great Stories From Shanghaiist

I love Shanghaiist. If you have never been to their site and are a Sinophile like I am, hie thee to their site right away. Today there are two headlines that made me laugh out loud, The first: Survey: China is the World's Fourth 'Horniest' Country The survey was done by AskMen, China is the fourth horniest country. Who's first? Greece. I suppose they grew tired of the Occupy Greece movement and moved on to Occupy Vagistan. Here's what AskMen has to [...]

Two Great Stories From Shanghaiist2022-01-18T05:51:05+00:00

Putting Around the World in 80 Days on the Radar

Here's another review of the Off-Broadway production of my play Around the World in 80 Days. It's a lovely review but this is what worries me: "This show, which just opened at the end of May, seems to be flying under the radar (I hadn’t heard a single thing about it beyond that subway ad)." Under the radar!? Oh no. We have to get this puppy out from under the radar and smack dab on the radar. It needs to [...]

Putting Around the World in 80 Days on the Radar2015-10-25T19:49:38+00:00

The Old Booger Bit

When I wrote Around the World in 80 Days, I left out any stage directions because I wanted the actors, the director, and the designers to bring their imaginations to the show. The show is not just an adaptation of the great Jules Verne novel but a celebration of the magic of theatre. I didn't want to hamper any productions with my silly and most likely less imaginative stage directions. So it makes me happy when I see bits like [...]

The Old Booger Bit2017-02-11T05:49:37+00:00
Go to Top