Prospect Park’s Mark Marano brings history to life in ‘Once Upon a Nation’
Standing next to the semicircular bench just outside of the Museum of the American Revolution at 3rd and Chestnut Streets, Mark Marano of Prospect Park rings his bell to attract people.
“Welcome! Want to hear a story?” he asks as four visitors sit down.
When he finds out this family of four is from upstate New York, he decides to tell a true story related to the American Revolution which has a New York State connection.
The story is about the Oneida Native American tribe who originally inhabited the area that later became central New York. The little-known story Marano relates is about how the Oneidas fought actively alongside the Continental Army.
He narrates with enthusiasm and dramatic flair, using gestures and flourishes that animate his five minute presentation. His audience — parents plus two boys — listen attentively. The applause comes after.
A professional actor, Marano has had varied experience in theater, including four years with Upper Darby Summer Stage, plus regional theaters in New Jersey, New York and elsewhere.
This summer he’s using his theatrical talents in a new role as a storyteller for the popular summer program known as “Once Upon a Nation.”
The Delco actor is one of a group of especially trained storytellers who are part of this free program, under the auspices of Historic Philadelphia, Inc., which brings colonial Philadelphia history to life with true stories.
Thirteen storytelling benches are located throughout the historic Philadelphia area. Next to each bench is an oval sign, “Once Upon a Nation” and under it, “Free Storytelling.” The program continues through Labor Day.
Marano was interested as soon as he heard about the program.
“History has always been one of my favorite subjects,” Marano said. “And this involved acting. So, it sounded great.”
His audition was successful and it was followed by a three-week training program for the storytellers. Each was given the script for four stories to prepare.
All were relevant to the particular site where their bench was located.
The storytellers-in-training worked with a director during rehearsals. Once they were on their own on the benches, “we could add to the stories, and we could improvise,” said Marano. “Sometimes I even try out jokes to see if they work.”
Marano is at his bench Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. — whatever the weather. With each group, he chooses one story, depending on how he gauges audience interest.
During heat waves or with summer storms, he moves to a bench just inside the museum.
Being outdoors, Marano must cope with varied city noises as he tells his stories. A bus stop is just steps away and there are the occasional sounds of a siren, or of motorcycles, or other assorted street noises.
All this means a strain on his voice when the noises compete with his voice or when an entire group stops to hear a story. Each storytelling bench can seat about 10 people, but Marano has even had larger groups who stand around as he tells a story. One recent tour group numbered 35 people.
Quite often he’s using his voice almost non stop.
“Mostly, we get a few minutes between stories, but sometimes we have story after story,” Marano said. “So to keep up the voice power, I fall back on my actor’s training about knowing how to make my voice last longer.”
It also helps to stay hydrated. “I absolutely bring a large water bottle with me every day,” he said.
After the story ends for each group — often with applause from the listeners — Marano enjoys interacting with visitors. He asks where they’re from, what they’ve already seen and what they plan to see next.
Often he asks, “Have you had a cheesesteak yet?” Or he’ll tell them about the Reading Terminal or about nearby restaurants.
He’s met visitors from near and far.
“I’ve had people from West Chester and Delco and from as far away as France, the UK, even several visitors from Singapore,” Marano said.
It taps into his acting skills, but it’s quite a different experience from being on the stage.
“This is very much a oneman show,” he said. I’m the ringleader of my own little three ring circus.”
Then, too, there’s the satisfaction of what this “one man show” is about.
“It’s teaching our nation’s history,” Marano said. “and we’re shining a spotlight on the lesser known people who have shaped our history in their own way.”