Mark Fossen, Director, Producer, Actor, Dramaturg - Creates Theater

Isn’t being a Computer Programmer by day and a Director, Actor, Producer and Dramtrug by night pretty much opposite ends of the scale? I asked local theater professional extraordinaire Mark Fossen recently in a telephone interview. He laughed as he explained that directing has more in common with right brain programming than one would think. Both require organizational skills, planning, project management and the ability to figure out what people want and how to make it happen. Who would’ve figured?

Currently, Fossen is directing The Crucible at The Grand Theatre in Salt Lake City. With a star-studded cast featuring several well known local actors (Max Robinson, Barbra Smith, Richard Scharine and Toni Byrd – just to name a few), he remarks that he loves working on American classics at The Grand. In fact, some may recognize him from his work on the beautifully done The Glass Menagerie just last year. He jokes that when something’s not working, you can’t really go back and blame Arthur Miller or Tennessee Williams for being bad writers. You know that others have made it work and it’s something wrong on your end. It challenges you to find the solution.

After seeing The Crucible, I was swept away with the art and beauty of the production. So often, theater is used just to tell a story and one can forget how breathtaking it can be when it becomes art. As Mark and I spoke, he was on his way to a local high school to talk to the students about The Crucible. As he worked on the show, he always kept these students in the back of his mind in an effort to make live theater more accessible and meaningful to the younger generation.

When asked to describe his role in the theater industry in one sentence, he replied; “I do whatever I can to make theater happen.” In addition to his current project, The Crucible, you may recognize his work as Dramaturg at the recent sell-out success of The Adding Machine at Babcock Theatre or as Producing Associate of Educating Rita at Pinnacle Acting Company. In addition, he is taking up his acting hat with The Scarlett Letter at Plan-B Theatre Company next month. He also let slip (a potential tease) that he has another directing gig in the bag but has been sworn to secrecy.

After studying at NYU, DePaul and Columbia he landed in California where he met his wife, April Fossen, while participating in the California Shakespeare Festival. After a move and brief stint in Pennsylvania, he migrated to Utah a mere 6 years ago where the whole family (including 2 kids) can be seen around town with their hands in nearly every theater venture including the patronage of over 60 shows last year.

From A Theater Lover to another:

Megan: “If you were a musical or play, which one would you be and why?”
Mark: “Title-of-Show because it's still in progress and swears a lot.”

Megan: “What is your favorite musical?”
Mark: “Sweeney Todd.”

Megan: “What is your favorite play”
Mark: “Anything Shakespeare, most likely the History Plays.”

Megan: “Any parting advice or additional thoughts?”
Mark: “Go see The Crucible. It’s far easier to stay home and watch TV or refresh Facebook but it’s more rewarding if you make the effort to appreciate and attend theater. I wish more people knew that.”

 

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The Crucible is playing at The Grand Theatre through March 24, 2012.  

Read Megan's review of The Crucible with Utah Theater Bloggers Assocation. 

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