About Marc

Marc's love of puppetry began at an early age after he witnessed a performance by The Melikin Puppets at his elementary school. That initial spark led to a lasting relationship with Mel and Laverne Biske, from whom Marc sought advice and direction. When The Melikin Puppets next performed at his school, the Biskes allowed Marc to sit backstage, where he began to learn the mechanics of puppet movement.

His interest in theater and puppetry continued to grow through high school at Brother Rice and later at Columbia College Chicago, where he earned a BA in Fine Arts and Theater with a concentration in puppetry, a major he shaped for himself. It was during this time he interned with Dave Herzog Marionettes. As with the Biskes, a strong friendship grew with his new mentor, one that would continue throughout his life.

Subsequent years were devoted to puppets, stage prop creations and theater, and he performed at local Chicago theaters, such as Red Moon, Emerald City, WIP and Oracle.

Taking a chance on his prop-making skills, he left Chicago for Portland, Oregon, to work at Michael Curry Design, where he helped fabricate various pieces for Walt Disney Studios and Cirque du Soleil. After his term ended at Michael Curry, Marc made connections at the Tears of Joy Theater, where he worked as a touring puppeteer. He eventually wrote and designed puppets for his first original play, The Ugliest Duckling, which premiered at the Winningstad Theatre, Portland, on April 8, 2011.

Marc then returned to Chicago, where he continued to develop his own puppet show while working for various other puppet companies, including Dave Herzog Marionettes and Roberts Marionettes, as well as the Pegasus Players and the University of South Bend, Indiana.

Marc's “Here Comes the Circus” show finally took form with a cast of circus performer marionettes, pictured below, who presented their various talents and tricks during each performance. These included Joey, a rollerskating monkey, Lance, a tightrope-walking lion, and Stripes, a trapeze-artist clown. His marionette family now resides at the Northwest Puppet Center in Seattle, Washington.