America's most uncoordinated childhood ballet and tap student before discovering that her talents were music and writing, Marakay Rogers finally traded in her violin for law school when she realized that she might make more money in law than she did performing with the Potomac Symphony and in orchestra pits around the mid-Atlantic. Unfortunately, she forgot to factor in the student loan repayments! She has never recovered from being chewed out by Terrence Mann in public for hanging up her bow.
A graduate of Wilson College (PA), Marakay is also a writer, film reviewer and interviewer. Additionally, as of 2014, she serves as vice-chair of the Advisory Board of the Beaux Arts Society, Inc. and is a member of GALECA.
She's also taught college-level communications, writing, theatre criticism and English literature classes, has received multiple writing awards for several small-press novels, and is listed in Marquis' "Who's Who in America". She has done additional post-collegiate English and drama studies coursework with Open University (UK) in drama and literature.
Her junior high English teacher was Broadway star Katrina Yaukey's mother, Kay Yaukey. (Her high school math teacher was Ordean Yaukey, Katrina Yaukey's father, but between Marakay's mother, an editor, and Katrina's mother, English won out.) Marakay is senior theatre critic for Central Pennsylvania and a senior editor for BWWBooksWorld as well as a classical music reviewer. In her free time, Marakay practices law and often gets it right.
BWW Cooks: Stalking the Philly Cheesesteak
January 11, 2016
January 11, 2016
It's steak and it's cheese, but did you make a classic Philadelphia cheesesteak? Here are the tricks and tips from Philly's own cheesesteak emporiums.
OPINION: Aging Well? The Body Shaming of Carrie Fisher
January 4, 2016
January 4, 2016
Should a middle aged general wear a metal bikini, or look like she could? The biggest debate about THE FORCE AWAKENS has been whether Carrie Fisher looks like she 'should' - the capstone to a year of massive looks-ist attacks on female performers.
BWW Cooks: Lox - It's What's For Breakfast (And So Is Other Fish!)
January 4, 2016
January 4, 2016
Fish for breakfast? Hey, you're eating it every day on a bagel, and there are other great fish ideas for breakfast as well.
BWW Review: Was 2015 the Year of LGBT Film?
January 2, 2016
January 2, 2016
Commercial film this year brought big films with LGBT content and themes. Some critics think it was the year of LGBT cinema, but was it?
STAGE STRUCK: Preserving New York's and Women's Forgotten Theatre History
December 22, 2015
December 22, 2015
Mari Lyn Henry and the Society for the Preservation of Theatre History have embarked on a production and college program highlighting the forgotten greats of the American theatre
BWW Review: Rainbow Delights Audiences with Revived GOOD NIGHT MRS. PUFFIN
December 15, 2015
December 15, 2015
She's back, and she's sassy and psychic as ever. Cynthia DiSavino's Ginger Puffin is back on stage this holiday season. Prepare to laugh.
BWW Cooks: Vegetarian Holiday Entrees to Impress Guests
December 15, 2015
December 15, 2015
Vegetarians at the holiday table? Don't fear! There are easy-to-cook choices that are fancier than salads and more attractive than bean chili.
BWW Review: The Fulton Offers A Happy, Family-Friendly CHRISTMAS CAROL
December 13, 2015
December 13, 2015
Winning the family Christmas show sweeps this year? Marc Robin's version of the Dickens classic, complete with dreidels and a bad-attitude teen Ghost of Christmas Future
BWW Review: It's A Big Bright, Beautiful SHREK at EPAC
December 11, 2015
December 11, 2015
It's SHREK on steroids, with a feisty Fiona, a smaller-scale, singing dragon, and a lord short on ideas as well as height while the world's favorite ogre rescues a princess and the land of Duloc, all unintentionally.
BWW Review: Mechanicsburg Welcomes a Raunchy, Silly TRAILER PARK CHRISTMAS
December 10, 2015
December 10, 2015
There's no excuse for it, but that's why you should see it. Rednecks, Christmas, Bad Drag and more grace the Mechanicsburg stage.
Beaux Arts Society Ball Coronates Annual BAS Royalty
December 10, 2015
December 10, 2015
The Beaux Arts Society held its annual Beaux Arts Society Ball, coronating its annual royalty and holding its famous annual costume event.
BWW Cooks: Using Bronze Die Pasta
December 4, 2015
December 4, 2015
Can't make fresh pasta? Most Italians don't -- the quality choice there is bronze die extruded, slow-dried boxed pasta. You can make the choice too.
BWW Review: PETER, HOOK AND THE DARLINGS Soars at Open Stage of Harrisburg
December 3, 2015
December 3, 2015
Stuart Landon writes and directs a very different, beautifully set, version of the Barrie tale of the boy who won't grow up
BWW Review: THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Brightens Allenberry Season
December 3, 2015
December 3, 2015
Jackie Heinze and Ryan Gibbs take the annual Christmas production to new places -- Winter Wonderland, to be exact, by way of merry old Oz. A whole new take that's fun for the whole family.
BWW Review: A CHRISTMAS STORY Lights Up Dutch Apple for Christmas
December 1, 2015
December 1, 2015
The Red Ryder BB Gun and the fishnet-clad leg lamp grace the Dutch Apple stage for the Christmas season.
BWW Review: WHITE CHRISTMAS Sparkles at York Little Theatre
November 29, 2015
November 29, 2015
Director Rene Staub puts on a sparkly, glittery, dancing WHITE CHRISTMAS at York
BWW Cooks: Understanding Your Butter
November 27, 2015
November 27, 2015
Just in time for those holiday baking projects: what you need to know about butter before you start cooking. Margarine and soft spreads have no room at this table if baking and finishing foods are to turn out properly.
BWW Reviews: The Fulton Goes Over the Top for Christmas with ELF
November 20, 2015
November 20, 2015
Director and choreographer Marc Robin turns the Christmas musical into an over the top extravaganza with tap, tap, and more tap routines. It's a whole new world of Christmas happiness.
BWW Cooks: The Perfect Baked Potato
November 20, 2015
November 20, 2015
No microwave. No foil. No problems. The perfect baked potato is no secret, and it's not complicated. It's all in the right potato and the preparation.
BWW Review: A New TWELFTH NIGHT Inaugurates the New Gamut Theatre
November 20, 2015
November 20, 2015
Clark Nicholson has a new theatre and a new production of Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT. Both are worth seeing.
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