The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

Ep312 - Marc Summers: Telling His Life and Slimes


Listen Later

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

  • Connect with The Theatre Podcast:

    • Support the podcast on Patreon: Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast
    • YouTube: YouTube.com/TheTheatrePodcast
    • Threads, Twitter & Instagram: @theatre_podcast
    • TikTok: @thetheatrepodcast
    • Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast
    • TheTheatrePodcast.com
    • My personal Instagram: @alanseales
    • Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      The Theatre Podcast with Alan SealesBy Broadway Podcast Network

      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6

      4.6

      124 ratings


      More shows like The Theatre Podcast with Alan Seales

      View all
      Pop Culture Happy Hour by NPR

      Pop Culture Happy Hour

      11,495 Listeners

      The Producer's Perspective Podcast with Ken Davenport by Broadway Podcast Network

      The Producer's Perspective Podcast with Ken Davenport

      134 Listeners

      Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang by Big Money Players Network and iHeartPodcasts

      Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

      8,763 Listeners

      Little Known Facts with Ilana Levine by Hosted by actress Ilana Levine

      Little Known Facts with Ilana Levine

      479 Listeners

      Broadway Breakdown by Matt Koplik

      Broadway Breakdown

      352 Listeners

      Page To Stage by Broadway Podcast Network

      Page To Stage

      46 Listeners

      Putting It Together by Broadway Podcast Network

      Putting It Together

      12 Listeners

      The Wrong Cat Died by Broadway Podcast Network

      The Wrong Cat Died

      41 Listeners

      The Dramatists Guild Presents: TALKBACK, sponsored by the Dramatists Guild Foundation by Broadway Podcast Network

      The Dramatists Guild Presents: TALKBACK, sponsored by the Dramatists Guild Foundation

      30 Listeners

      Mamas Talkin' Loud by Jessica Rush & Cara Cooper

      Mamas Talkin' Loud

      104 Listeners

      The Ladies Who Lunch with Donna McKechnie by Broadway Podcast Network

      The Ladies Who Lunch with Donna McKechnie

      30 Listeners

      DRAMA. with Connor & Dylan MacDowell by Connor and Dylan MacDowell

      DRAMA. with Connor & Dylan MacDowell

      202 Listeners

      Stage Left: The Podcast by Broadway Podcast Network

      Stage Left: The Podcast

      13 Listeners

      Shut Up Evan by Evan Ross Katz

      Shut Up Evan

      362 Listeners

      Home Cooking by Samin Nosrat & Hrishikesh Hirway

      Home Cooking

      4,845 Listeners

      And the Award Goes To... Hosted by Ilana Levine by Broadway Podcast Network

      And the Award Goes To... Hosted by Ilana Levine

      47 Listeners

      Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out by Mike Birbiglia

      Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

      4,580 Listeners

      As The Curtain Rises - Broadway’s First Digital Soap Opera by Broadway Podcast Network

      As The Curtain Rises - Broadway’s First Digital Soap Opera

      37 Listeners

      Tony Telecasts by Broadway Podcast Network

      Tony Telecasts

      2 Listeners

      Make Me a Musical by Broadway Podcast Network

      Make Me a Musical

      2 Listeners

      Falling in Love with Mr. Dellamort by Jack Feldstein & Paul Doust

      Falling in Love with Mr. Dellamort

      14 Listeners

      Stages Podcast by Marylee Fairbanks

      Stages Podcast

      179 Listeners

      The Great Broadway Game Show Competition, hosted by Todd Graff and Andrew Lippa by Broadway Podcast Network

      The Great Broadway Game Show Competition, hosted by Todd Graff and Andrew Lippa

      16 Listeners

      Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus by Lemonada Media

      Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

      10,789 Listeners

      Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson by Sony Music Entertainment

      Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson

      926 Listeners

      Finding Fire Island by Jess Rothschild & Broadway Podcast Network

      Finding Fire Island

      159 Listeners

      Closing Night by Patrick Oliver Jones

      Closing Night

      10 Listeners

      From the Mezzanine | A Broadway Podcast by Lindsey Stone

      From the Mezzanine | A Broadway Podcast

      65 Listeners

      Call To Stage with Amber Davies by Amber Davies/W!ZARD Studios

      Call To Stage with Amber Davies

      9 Listeners

      The Quiet Part Out Loud by Broadway Podcast Network

      The Quiet Part Out Loud

      40 Listeners

      & Juliet: The Podcast by & Juliet Broadway

      & Juliet: The Podcast

      10 Listeners

      Backstage Pass by Broadway Podcast Network

      Backstage Pass

      15 Listeners

      Are You A Charlotte? by iHeartPodcasts

      Are You A Charlotte?

      1,047 Listeners

      Good Hang with Amy Poehler by The Ringer

      Good Hang with Amy Poehler

      9,906 Listeners

      Cult of Body & Soul by Jess Rothschild & Broadway Podcast Network

      Cult of Body & Soul

      213 Listeners