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 Review: THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES Sparkle at Servant Stage
March 29, 2018
March 29, 2018
The Sixties are back in Lancaster, leading up to a youth production of JUKEBOX SATURDAY NIGHT in May.
BWW Review: ON GOLDEN POND Sparkles at Oyster Mill
March 9, 2018
March 9, 2018
The classic play-turned-film is no clone at Oyster Mill, where it has a life of its own
BWW Review: Go INTO THE WOODS at the Belmont Theatre
February 24, 2018
February 24, 2018
The Sondheim send-up of fairy tales takes on new life at the Belmont, with an evil witch that's a delight to meet.
BWW Review: OUR TOWN Is a Lot Like Us, At Gamut
February 18, 2018
February 18, 2018
Tom Weaver brings a witty, properly non-styled production of Wilder's classic play to the Gamut stage.
BWW Review: Go to GO BACK FOR MURDER at Oyster Mill
February 3, 2018
February 3, 2018
There's nothing like seeing a theatre do what it does best. When it comes to Oyster Mill, it's Agatha Christie.
SOMETHING ROTTEN is Fresh at Hershey Theatre
January 27, 2018
January 27, 2018
The Bottom Brothers are struggling to compete with rock star playwright and poet William Shakespeare. Can they come out on the cutting edge of the 1590s or will they stay bottom forever?
BWW Review: Laughs at The Belmont With PLAZA SUITE
January 18, 2018
January 18, 2018
Director Joel Persing takes you to Neil Simon's infamous Suite 719, where anything can -- and does -- go on.
BWW Review: GALLATHEA Brings Happiness All Around At Gamut
January 18, 2018
January 18, 2018
As the show's producers advertise, love is love is love, even when it's pre-Shakespearian comedy. Love wins out over virgin-eating monsters in the middle of Tudor England in GALLATHEA.
BWW Review: A Green Light for THE OLD TIME GOSPEL RADIO CHRISTMAS
December 19, 2017
December 19, 2017
Servant Stage delivers another helping of what it does best: singing, dancing, preserving tradition, and bringing on the fun in theatre.
BWW Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL Brightens Season at TAFE
December 13, 2017
December 13, 2017
TAFE, Theatre Arts for Everyone, puts on a big, bright, shiny A CHRISTMAS CAROL
BWW Review: OLIVER! Glorious OLIVER! at The Belmont
November 24, 2017
November 24, 2017
Director Rene Staub brings the Dickens and Leonard Bart classic to the Belmont mainstage. Jeff Gilbert's Fagin steals wallets, jewelry, and the show, but don't miss the women's singing in this production.
BWW Review: A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at Gamut
November 7, 2017
November 7, 2017
Director Clark Nicholson gives the Tennessee Williams classic fresh life and a sterling cast.
BWW Review: JEEVES INTERVENES at Oyster Mill
November 6, 2017
November 6, 2017
Jeff Wasileski reprises his role as the greatest valet of all time in Oyster Mill's latest production
BWW Review: FRANKENSTEIN Comes Alive at The Belmont
October 23, 2017
October 23, 2017
Mary Shelley's classic tale of ego gone wrong and the devastation it wreaks comes to the Belmont, laboratory and all.
BWW Review: Servant Stage FIRST LOOK FUNDRAISER Offers Fabulous 2018 Programming
October 18, 2017
October 18, 2017
Area favorite Dan Deal hosted the announcement of a TITANIC 2018 season for Servant Stage Company
BWW Review: Belmont's School LES MISERABLES is Les Fabuleux
September 18, 2017
September 18, 2017
Multiple schools from central Pennsylvania contributed cast to the Belmont's LES MISERABLES. They're clearly the cream of the area crop, with great singing and acting chops to match the set.
BWW Review: Servant Stage Goes AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
September 9, 2017
September 9, 2017
Mark Brown's stage adaptation of the Jules Verne classic races across the stage with local favorite Dan Deal playing Phileas Fogg, the adventurer hero.
BWW Interview: Creative Team Speaks on IT HAPPENED IN KEY WEST at the Fulton
August 26, 2017
August 26, 2017
A developing musical was given the opportunity to run a public workshop at The Fulton to see audience reaction. The book, lyric, and music writers speak up on the need for workshops and how they help shape musicals.
BWW Review: SING, SING, SWING Along With Servant Stage Company
August 22, 2017
August 22, 2017
Wally Calderon directs a revue of Forties era jazz, pop and swing classics that keep the joint jumping.
BWW Review: THE MOUSETRAP Snaps at DreamWrights
August 15, 2017
August 15, 2017
The Christie classic is back on stage. Some clever casting ideas and a great set create the mood for murder.
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