The Team

Artistic Director
Mary Ehlinger

Managing Director
Carolyn Silverberg

Board of Directors
Parker Drew
​Tony Giovannini
Teresa Schmidt

Action Committee
Hanna Jorgensen
Molly Maher Lucareli
Teresa Aportela Sergott

Co-Founders
Mark Silverberg & Parker Drew
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If you would like to work with us, send your resume (actors please include headshot) to:
[email protected]

Mark Silverberg

Founder and Managing Director

​The battle began May 2, 2011, when Mark was diagnosed with prostate cancer. At that time, he was in rehearsals for St. Norbert College Music Theatre's Man of La Mancha. Two weeks after surgery, the show opened and his singing of "The Impossible Dream" not only mesmerized audiences but took on an even deeper personal meaning. His relationship with SNC  Summer Music Theatre continued with his impressive performance as Javert in Les Misérables and two consecutive productions of South Pacific as Emile de Beque.

Two years later, Mark and his wife Mary (herself a cancer survivor), along with a handful of other like-minded friends, founded Play-by-Play Theatre. As co-founder and managing director, Mark never took a penny for his work; neither has Mary for her direction and musical direction. It is their hope that such an investment will first reap rewards for the community and then smile upon them.

December 10, 2016, one week after the closing of Play-by-Play's The Last Five Years, Mark's battle took a turn. He pressed on despite the significant challenges, maintaining a gracious, loving presence and sense of humor through it all.

​He joined the choir of angels on May 2, 2017.

Play-by-Play had organized a fundraising event for Mark's medical bills called Artists United --  an evening of our community's favorite performers in concert for one of our own. The event became a celebration of Mark's wonderful life and the incredibly impact he had on the community. 

Mark had his share of performing credits after 25 years based out of NYC: Off-Broadway, NY Gilbert & Sullivan Players, Bronx Opera, West End Opera, Montclair Opera (NJ), Mountain Playhouse (PA), Mill Mountain Theater (VA), Carousel Dinner Theater (OH), Music Theater North (NY),  SNC Summer Music Theatre (WI), and commercials.  A graduate of both the University of MN and the MN Opera Studio, Mark sang for 2 years with the MN Opera Company before moving to NYC.  He taught Voice privately and was a member of Actors Equity and AGMA.