Author/Founder

Mark M. Weston

photo: joe mazza 2016 — http://bravelux.com

BIO

Mark has had a multi-faceted career in the creative work of Arts, Science, and the Humanities. His writings for The Art of Wellbeing™ demonstrate an ability to integrate disciplines of Music, Language, Philosophy, and Religion with Science and Mathematics and the Social Sciences of Education, Economics, History, Psychology, Religion, and other disciplines.  This work has been praised for its “Renaissance” perspective, a perspective forged in time through experience in a variety of artistic and business enterprises.  Examples of the span of his work include the development and commercialization of a unique M.C. Escher-inspired jig-saw puzzle for the toy industry as well as a unique general panel of assays to assess in vitro toxicity for the life sciences industry.  Mark has served as executive business strategist for Fortune 500 companies and as Executive Director for not-for-profit theatre. He has worked as a professional musician, music director, composer and songwriter.  Mark and his wife, Madeline, are parents of two beautiful daughters.

Drawing upon his in business and in the arts, Mark is now committed to promoting the mission of The Art of Wellbeing™ to make it accessible to a wide audience.

In Business

Mark has built a career as a management professional. His range of experience extends from leading and growing start-up firms and turn-arounds to directing strategy for corporate divisions.

Industries

Mark has led company growth in products and services across a wide range of industries including:

• Telecommunications
• Life Sciences
• Performing Arts
• Pharmaceuticals
• Software
• Wireless Telecom

Functional Experience

Mark has led company growth in products and services across a wide range of industries including

• General Management
• Business development
• Strategy
• Marketing
• Finance

Business Education

M.B.A. from University of Chicago Booth School of Business

In the Arts

He has been active in the Chicago performing arts community for over 25 years as producer, performer, music director/composer/arranger, and songwriter.

PRODUCTION

As Executive Artistic Director of Apple Tree Theatre (2008-2009) the company was cited by the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee for outstanding artistic achievements in Chicago theatre. As producer for the musical Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill Mark enjoyed critical acclaim and received two Joseph Jefferson Award Nominations for outstanding achievement in the 1980-81 Chicago Theatre Season. Served as consultant to variety of off-loop Chicago theatres, providing fund-raising, marketing, and business operations services.

PERFORMANCE

Mark plays accordion with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and, under the baton of Maestro Ricardo Muti, has performed and recorded with the CSO at Symphony Center.  Recently he played with the CSO at their summer home, Ravinia, and was featured in performance with Itzhak Perlman. He has performed extensively with Guitar and Keyboards in the theatres of Chicago (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre, Candlelight Dinner Theatre, and others), and in its studios and theatrical nightclub stages. Featured with performers such as Ross Lehman, Hollis Resnik, Bernadette Peters, Jan Pearce, Dionne Warwick, Carol Channing, Shirley Jones, Angela Lansbury, Patti Page, Nancy Wilson, and others. Featured performer with USO tours of the Orient and Europe.

MUSICAL COMPOSITION, ARRANGEMENT and DIRECTION

Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago, IL: Music Director for Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children featuring acclaimed actress Lois Smith, directed by Academy Award-winning Director, Eric Simonson, with music by grammy award-winning producer T Bone Burnett and Darrell Leonard.

Appletree Theatre, Highland Park, IL: Music Director for musical adaptation of Moliere’s Scapin; Composer of incidental music for Waiting for Godot and Ross Lehman’s In My Father’s House; Composer and Lyricist for Toga Tales, a children’s musical play by Mark Lococo. Sound Designer for The Swan.

Stormfield Theatre, Chicago, IL: Composer for The Gift of the Magi, a theatrical adaptation of O’Henry’s classic short story with book and lyrics by Ross Lehman.

Other Experience; Freelance musical arranger for various Chicago artists

Arts Education

Candidate for the degree of Ph.D. in the Musicology Department. Specialization in Renaissance and 20th century music.

Bachelor of Arts-Music Degree