MARK YORK (Producer/Composer/Lyricist/Librettist)
is Executive Producer and Co-Founder of Mark York Productions and The Ziegfeld Society. As Jim Dale’s personal pianist, Mark has appeared on stage with Mr. Dale in his One Man Show, Just Jim Dale, playing to rave reviews at Roundabout Theatre NYC – Off-Broadway 2014 and on London’s West End at the Vaudeville Theatre 2015. He is currently Music Coordinator for Jerry Herman (composer of some of Broadway’s biggest hits including Hello, Dolly!, Mame, Mack & Mabel, La Cage Aux Folles). He is the Arranger, Pianist and Musical Director for I’ve Got A Little Twist, the new hit revue featuring the stars of New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players which won the 2010 Bistro Award for Special Show.
Mark was Music Assistant to Cy Coleman (Sweet Charity, City Of Angels, The Life, The Will Rogers Follies) and after his passing was the Musical Director for The Cy Coleman Estate. He was the Arranger/Pianist for Busker Alley, a Benefit Gala Concert for The York Theatre starring Jim Dale and Glenn Close directed by Tony Walton. Also with Mr. Walton, he arranged and musically directed Conversation Piece and The Happy Hypocrite, both featuring songs by Noel Coward. Mark directed/musically directed the George White Scandals Benefit Concert for The Bandwagon Theatre Co. starring Julie Wilson, Helen Gallagher, Penny Fuller, Joel Higgins, Jane Summerhays, Sarah Rice, Meg Bussert and Martin Vidnovic and produced/directed Ziegfeld’s Midnight Frolic of 2007 and Ziegfeld’s Midnight Frolic of 2008 starring Helen Gallagher, Jane Summerhays and Anita Gillette. Just recently, he produced and directed Ziegfeld’s Midnight Frolic of 2010 starring Anita Gillette and Sarah Rice, as well as The First Marilyn….Marilyn Miller starring Merrill Grant for The Ziegfeld Society. As the Musical Representative for The Cy Coleman Estate, he worked on the recent revival of Sweet Charity starring Christina Applegate.
As founder of York Productions-Oklahoma City, OK., a children’s musical theatre production company, Mark produced five editions of York’s Broadway Jubilee (a Ziegfeld Follies style revue featuring a cast of 60 kids) and over 40 productions full musicals and revues with children. The World Premier of his newest musical, Galveston! opened for a sold out run July 2003 in Galveston, Texas at The Strand Theatre and opens Sept. 2011 at the Hobby Center in downtown Houston, TX for Masquerade Theatre. Mark has worked on the workshop of Cy Coleman’s newest show, Pamela’s First Musical, starring Michele Lee and Tony Roberts at Lincoln Center and with Jerry Herman on Mack & Mabel In Concert starring Leslie Uggams, Donna McKechnie and Jerry Orbach at Avery Fisher Hall. New York/London credits include: Cy Coleman at the New York Pops, Carnegie Hall, Skitch Henderson conductor (Music Coordinator/Supervisor), Kenny Rogers: Christmas From The Heart, Beacon Theatre (Associate Music Director/Dance Arranger), Roleplay, Off-Broadway (Music Director/Arranger/Pianist), Mack And Mabel, London West End (Music Coordinator) The Porker Sisters, (Composer/Lyricist). As Cy Coleman’s Music Assistant, he has worked on Grace, about Grace Kelly, which premiered in Amsterdam 2001, Ostrovsky starring Kevin Kline, Portraits In Jazz (renamed Like Jazz), written with Alan and Marilyn Bergman at the Kennedy Center. Starring at the piano, he completed an extended run of Jerry Herman On Broadway at The Strand Theatre summer 2002.
Mark started playing the piano in his father’s church in Oklahoma at age 9. His own musicals include: Rest In Peace directed-choreographed by Baayork Lee; Galveston! The Musical, A Midsummer Night, The Odd Ducklings, Apple Annie, a musical version of Damon Runyon’s short story Madame La Gimp with lyricist/librettist Don Loftus and Lillian Lorraine, a musical about the Life of Lillian Lorraine, the Ziegfeld Follies Star and 11 children’s musicals including Alice In Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty, Matchgirl, The Toy Shoppe, Treasure Island, Puff’s Magic Tail, Pinocchio and Heidi. Mark is a native New Yorker from Oklahoma.
ANDREE L. NEWPORT(Librettist & Playwright)
BA in Theatre University of Houston, MFA in Directing from the University of Houston. Newport began exploring the world of theatre at a very young age and has worn many hats throughout the years from School of Performing Arts Director, Artistic Director of The Strand Theatre and Public school theatre director for over 30 years. She began writing with Mark York in 1994 on numerous shows including: LOST IN MY WONDERLAND, SLEEPING BEAUTY, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT, TOY SHOPPE, PINOCCHIO, HEIDI, AND GALVESTON THE MUSICAL (MILLION TO ONE, Working title).
Once Newport entered the world of public school teaching she continued to work on her craft adding One Act Plays that were not only attainable for young actors but character rich enough for seasoned performers.
Her play, Hansel & Gretel, The Dark Forest and La Maison des Marginaux were selected as Playfest winners at TETA in 2022 & 2023. Newport’s focus in her plays is on strong female roles and challenging ensemble.
Newport’s favorite part of creating new works is the process. With her works spanning from NY to Texas she finds joy in helping educators and artistic directors find the perfect play or musical to showcase their actors.
She has been fortunate to watch her work on some large stages including GALVESTON THE MUSICAL at the Hobby Center in Houston. Newport also got to see Baayork Lee direct LOST IN MY WONDERLAND at Molloy College, Long Island.
Having recently left public education to focus on her writing and work with Mark York, she currently resides outside of Houston with her husband, Travis and their teenage son, BP.