bio

Peter 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. In June 2011, Peter returned to teach his acclaimed Comedy Essentials Workshops and his new Instant Improv Workshops at The Actors Centre in London. He is currently teaching his new comedy class “Flying Solo: FUNNY STUFF” at the PIT. 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 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 twice. He also directed Amy Albert’s, “Delilah Dix: Showin’ My Business” at The Laurie Beechman Theatre and Ars Nova. He directed and developed “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. Peter also directed and developed Alicia Levy’s sold-out concert extravaganza “CHICKAPALOOZA” at Ars Nova in 2010 and the PIT in 2011.

In ’09, Peter 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.

He 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, Don’t Tell Mama, The Duplex, and The Cubiculo. Peter was also a segment producer, sound editor and writer for the live radio show NY Central.

As an actor, he 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.

He is currently rehearsing his solo comedy, “Desperately Seeking the Exit” for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which recounts his experiences mounting a musical in London; coaching solo performers; teaching his Flying Solo Funny Stuff classes at The PIT; and slaving away on his memoirs - tentatively titled, “Slaving Away on His Memoirs.

Download a pdf of Peter Michael Marino’s CV & Letters of Recommendation by clicking HERE

Peter Michael Marino is a New York City native where he has worked extensively as a writer, director, producer, teacher and actor. He is a member of AEA, SAG, AFTRA, The Dramatists Guild, and a graduate of the Commercial Theater Institute.

Peter is the conceiver and 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