bio

Peter Michael Marino is a New York City native whose work has been seen from the UK to Tokyo. He has worked extensively as a writer, director, producer, teacher and actor; an is a member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA, The Dramatists Guild, and a graduate of the Commercial Theater Institute.

Pete is the librettist of the West End musical Desperately Seeking Susan, based on the film of the same name and featuring the songs of Blondie. The show played at London’s Novello Theatre in 2007, and was presented by Tokyo’s legendary Toho Company at the Theatre Creation in 2009. CLICK for reviews

In 2012, Pete began performing his solo comedy, Desperately Seeking the Exit in NYC, Hollywood, Long Lake, and Manchester. It received 5-star reviews at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe where it was named one of the “Top 5 Fringe Shows” by The Stage. This solo comedy transfered to the Leicester Square Theatre in London for a four-week run 2013 after stops in Ft Myers, Florida and Adelaide, Australia - where it was named Best Comedy by The Advertiser.

Pete is the recipient of both the 2010 & 2011 Backstage Readers Choice Award for Favorite NYC Comedy Teacher for his ongoing Flying Solo classes at the PIT. Peter also teaches his acclaimed Comedy Essentials and Instant Improv Workshops at The Actors Centre in London, and recently taught his Flying Solo classes there. Other teaching credits include Buffalo State College, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Theater for a New Audience, Theatresports New York, and the Roundabout Theater.

He recently directed and developed Lori Hammel’s Margo Rose Live! at The PIT, Amy Albert’s Delilah Dix: America’s Showgirl at Ars Nova, and Mark Giordano’s critically acclaimed Mad Man at the PIT, which was extended 3 times. Peter also directed and developed Alicia Levy’s sold-out concert extravaganza Chickapalooza at Ars Nova in 2010, and the PIT in 2011. He directed Amy Albert’s Delilah Dix: Showin’ My Business at The Laurie Beechman Theatre and Ars Nova, as well as Delilah Dix and Her Bag of Tricks at Don’t Tell Mama, Second City in LA, and the 4-star reviewed production at the 2010 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

In ’09, Pete directed two Buffalo premiers: A Christmas Twist at the Alt Theatre, and the improvised Character Witness at Buffalo State, SUNY. Additional NYC directing/development credits include Elizabeth Whitney’s Wonder Woman! A Cabaret of Heroic Proportions! at TADA, Adelaide Mestre’s Top Drawer at the International Midtown Fringe, Alicia Levy’s I’m SO There and Red Carpet Ride at The PIT, and twenty-five videos for Lori Hammel’s Margo Rose Ferderer news reporter spoofs.

With Sheila Head he co-wrote Hollywood Nurses, an homage to the lesbian pulp novels of the 1950s, which enjoyed a sold-out run at Chashama on 42nd Street, and a well-received reading, helmed by Carl Andress, at the Abingdon Theater in October ’10. Peter directed and developed Ms. Head's motivational speaker spoof, Head Games at Ars Nova and The PIT in New York City, and IO West in Los Angeles. Together, they created the improvised cult show Character Witness, which ran for two years and led to the development of over fifty original characters and its cable TV spin-off, The Uncle Charlie Show, which enjoyed a national following.

As an actor, Pete has appeared in dozens of Off-Broadway, cabaret and regional productions and workshops. He provided the comic relief for over four years in the Off-Broadway smash STOMP. On film, he portrayed John Dean in Spike Lee’s She Hate Me. Television appearances include Late Show with David Letterman, Cyberchase, Guiding Light, All My Children, and As the World Turns. His voice has been heard on hundreds of television and radio commercials for very important beverages, banks, bands and perfumes.

Pete wrote and performed the title role in the critically acclaimed New York City cabaret-spoof hit Lance Jonathan: All About Me! (MAC Award Nominee). The sequel, Lance Jonathan: More About Me! was met with critical acclaim and received the 1999 Backstage Bistro Award for Outstanding Achievement, as well as MAC award nominations for Original Musical Comedy and Original Song.

Other directing credits include the New York City premieres of Chicago’s Illegitimate Players’ A Christmas Twist and Burton Cohen’s Jackie Lantern’s Halloween Revenge, both at The Village Theatre; Susannah Nolan’s award-winning production of Don’t Pick Up at the American Globe Theatre, as well as the Western New York premiere of Extremities. He has also developed plays and staged readings of a dozen new works at The Writer’s Theater with Tom Fontana (of "St. Elsewhere," "Homicide: Life on the Street," "Oz"). Additional directing, development and producing credits include premieres at New York City venues UCB Theater, Ensemble Studio Theater, New World Stages, The Duplex, and The Cubiculo. Peter was also a segment producer, sound editor and writer for the live radio show NY Central.

Pete is currently slaving away on his memoirs - tentatively titled, “Slaving Away on His Memoirs.”

For more info on Pete, please send an email to: petermichaelmarino@me.com