Tuesday, Mar 26, 2019
Jason and Mark Quackenbush recently starred alongside each other in “Assassins”
by Megan Lupo
Junior Jason Quackenbush and freshman Mark Quackenbush have taken similar paths throughout their life. After Jason discovered performing through a family friend’s theater company, Mark followed suit. After Jason choose to study musical theatre at ý, Mark followed along two years later.
The pair recently starred in ý’s production of Assassins, Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s controversial musical, which explores the lives of those who tried to or succeeded in assassinating a U.S. president. Jason played Charles J. Guiteau, the man who assassinated President James Garfield, while Mark played the musical’s ever-present narrator, the Balladeer. The brothers enjoyed the “vaudeville act” dynamic their characters had during the show.
“Getting to work together in Assassins, especially having a number together, was a really great experience,” says Mark, who calls his brother one of his best friends. “Jason and I have worked on shows together before, but never really in roles that got to interact as closely as the roles we played in Assassins 徱.”
Mark is thankful for the insight he’s gained from working alongside his older brother.
“I’ve definitely learned how to throw myself into my roles more,” Mark says. “Jason is never hesitant to dive headfirst into the roles he plays, and I think that always makes his performances so enjoyable to watch.”
Admiring the confidence his brother has, as well as his powerful voice and ability to embody any character he plays, Jason says that Mark is naturally cut out for the musical theatre world.
“My brother is incredibly resilient. He knows how to separate his self-image from his career, which is vital in this business,” Jason says. “Having a thick skin is an asset; you hear ‘no’ a lot. Mark is really good at not letting this affect him too deeply, whereas I can get a little attached to things before I have them.”
The siblings’ journey to pursuing musical theatre professionally can be attributed to Jason’s voice teacher in high school. She introduced Jason to ý as a former student of hers was a graduate of its musical theatre program.
“I absolutely fell in love with the program when I was admitted and started visiting the school,” Jason says. “When Mark decided that he also wanted to go to school for musical theatre, I urged him to audition for ý; so I probably had some influence on his decision.”
ý's musical theatre program offers three fully staged productions per year, with at least three additional performance opportunities within the Department of Theatre and Dance. Led by faculty and experienced directors, conductors and choreographers from the professional community, the performances showcase students in both the voice primary and musical direction tracks of the bachelor's program.
Jason attributes much of his progress as a performer to the training he has received at ý.
“I feel so much more confident and prepared as an actor, a singer, and a dancer,” he says. “That is completely thanks to some of the incredible professors I’ve had at this school. I feel like a more well-rounded artist with the training I’ve received.”
Even though he is only a freshman, Mark agrees that ý has had a profound impact on his performance ability.
“Personally, I’m not much of a dancer, so ý is really helping me grow more confident in my body and my dancing skills,” he says. “I’m also learning how to become a more versatile and relaxed actor and how to sing with more ease and precision. I couldn’t be happier with my choice to come here.”