FOUNDeR

Mark Modzelewski

Founder – Executive Artistic Director

4mjmodz at gmail.com

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What other hats do I wear for THEATER ViSiONS?

Director, Producer, Actor, Script Adapter, Bringer of Snacks

Mark dreamed of being an actor at a very young age, took steps in high school and, now, over thirty years later, is still doing what he loves – making theatre! 

He completed a BA at Fordham University at Lincoln Center in New York City, where he studied with such noted directors as Michael Mayer, Michael Wilson and Yolanda King. Afterwards he was fortunate to work with prominent companies such as Hartford Stage, Long Wharf Theater, and Elm Shakespeare. 

After several years of auditioning, performing, and tech work, he loaded up his car and headed to Los Angeles. It proved challenging to break into a new scene, but he continued to find opportunities. The most fortunate event during his time in California, was when he was invited to direct a performance at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse. This lit the directing fire in him and he has not looked back. 

On the heels of that project, Mark was hired as a guest drama instructor at the Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts in Arizona for their summer arts camp. This partnership proved fruitful as during the summer he was offered the Theatre and Technical Theatre Teacher position at the local high school. In this new role he developed and implemented curriculum, directed at least two shows per year and led fundraising and advocacy efforts. Additionally he took on the role of District Arts-in-Education Coordinator, where, among other accomplishments, he piloted a backstage student training program, wrote and managed grants and built many connections between the community, school district, arts organizations and artists. He was even nominated for a Governor’s Arts Award during his eight years in the desert. 

At this time he decided to further his training and was accepted at East 15 Acting School (University of Essex) near London. He completed, with merit, a Masters of Fine Arts in Theatre Directing and some of his notable professors included Stephen Unwin, Leon Rubin and Michael Fry. His program included time in Moscow studying Stanislavski’s script analysis and Meyerhold’s Biomechanics at the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS). He also studied Balinese Arts in Denpasar, Bali at the Indonesian Arts Institute (ISI).

After completing his masters, he stayed in the UK and directed shows in London and Cardiff. He also worked as an assistant director and backstage with several theatre companies. This led him to set up Torchlight Collective, an independent theatre company based in London. 

It was also during his time in the UK that he met his Bulgarian sweetheart, got married and they had their first child. Soon they decided to be closer to family and moved to Sofia. As he sought directing positions he realized there were no English language theatres in Bulgaria. This became an opportunity to combine his passion and skill for theatre and education while also filling a much needed void in the artistic and cultural landscape. After arriving, he contacted a lawyer and set about making this new dream a reality. In August 2019, THEATER ViSiONS officially became an NGO in Bulgaria!