Ep312 - Marc Summers: Telling His Life and Slimes

The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

Marc Summers believes that if he didn’t have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), he wouldn’t be where he is today. He looks back into the humble beginnings of his diverse career, his struggles with severe OCD, battles with cancer, and his resilience that ultimately defined his career journey. Marc highlights the unique aspects of “Double Dare”, how he landed the job, and his creative input in the physical challenges and the show's distinctive nose that’s supposedly modeled after his own. His off-Broadway show, “The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers” written by Alex Brightman and featuring music by Drew Gasparini, showcases his life, including the various challenges he faced throughout, from a car crash where he broke every bone in his face to the stigma of having obsessive-compulsive disorder on his career. It also touched on his early career as a magician and comedian, his experiences at the Comedy Store alongside legends like Dave Letterman and Robin Williams, and the supportive role his wife played in his life and career for over 50 years. He discusses the show's exploration of overcoming obstacles and the theme of perseverance–traits that Marc takes pride in.

Director Chad Rabinovitz and composer Drew Gasparini talk about their collaboration on "The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers", including the creative process and thematic elements behind bringing the show to fruition. Chad reminisces about his childhood admiration for Marc, his dream of participating in "Double Dare", and the journey from being a fan to collaborating with Marc, Drew, and Alex Brightman in creating and directing the show. Drew shares how a summer stock production of "Grease" brought him and Marc together, the immersive nature of the production, intertwining the nostalgic elements of "Double Dare" with heartfelt storytelling about Marc's life, and his unique perspective as the composer of the show.

Marc Summers is a TV personality, comedian, game show host, producer, and talk show host known from the original “Double Dare” game show on Nickelodeon, and as the host of “Unwrapped” on the Food Network. He was the executive producer for Food Network's “Dinner: Impossible” and “Restaurant: Impossible’, and now he has an off-Broadway, almost one-man show called “The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers” written by Alex Brightman, and with music by Drew Gasparini.

Connect with Marc Summers:

• Instagram: @realmarcsummers
• Instagram: @drewgasparini

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