Currently

Mark is currently beginning his 13th year at Newman University as Director of Theatre. He also serves as the Chair of the Division of Arts & Humanities and was recently promoted to the rank of full Professor. He just finished production on the film Sod & Stubble. This fall he will be directing All My Sons at Newman.

News & Updates

08/10/2023	Mark is a producer for the independent film Sod & Stubble. The SAG production was granted a waiver to complete production. He also appears in the film as John Ise, the author of the book on which the film is based.
06/01/2021	Smet Theatric presents Zoe Kazan’s Absalom June 3-5, 2021 at the Culture House in Kansas City. Mark Mannette appeared as publishing titan Solomon Weber under a small professional theatre contract courtesy of Actor’s Equity. Here’s a link to a related story: https://news.newmanu.edu/chelsea-smet/
02/04/2020	January included Mannette’s participation in three conferences: Kansas Thespians in Wichita, KS; KCACTF Region V in Sioux Falls, SD; and Education First conference in Atlanta, GA. He also played Tartuffe in Tartuffe for MADCAP Productions. February will include his 19th 24 Hour Theatre Project – the 9th at Newman February 7 and 8 and the rehearsal process that will culminate in the world premiere of his adaptation of Dante’s Inferno scheduled for production and literary festival March 5-8.
09/08/2019	Mark Mannette just completed the fall semester of his ninth year as Director of Theatre at Newman University. This fall he directed The Dark at the Top of the Stairs by William Inge – and produced and built the set for Elf the Musical.
02/26/2018	In March mark directed a production of Lope de Vega’s The Dog in the Manger.
12/16/2017	KRT recently presented The Three Little Pigs Go Surfing on Cheney Lake, by Mark Taylor Mannette. Episode 1: February 3 at 8 am and Feb 4 at Noon. Episode 2: Feb 10 at 8am and Feb 11 @ noon. Mannette also voiced the roles of Hinkley Pig and The Big Bad Wolf. December 16-31, 2017 Saturdays at 8am and Sundays at noon, Kansas Radio Theatre presented: Who Killed Scrooge? A retelling of A Christmas Carol with a murder mystery twist. This is Mark Mannette’s script and he also voiced Arthur Baron (the Scrooge who is murdered) in the first two episodes. Then he voiced Detective Slaughter in Episode 3. Previously, Mark’s voice was heard on Kansas Radio Theatre – broadcast around the state of Kansas from September 2, – 23, 2017- Saturday’s at 6pm and Sundays at noon. He played the roles of the General and Ivan Shark in The Adventures of Captain Hilltop.
08/17/2017	Mark recently appeared as Leonato in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, presented by The Guild Hall Players September 21-24.
08/16/2017	Mark directed Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie at Newman University in the Jabara Flexible Theatre at 8pm on October 12, 13, & 14 and 2pm on October 15, 2017.

Links

Reviews

Review: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner "Director Mark Mannette brilliantly stages this production in a 360-degree in-the-round format that puts the performers in the center where every gesture, nuance and tic is clearly visible. The performers are as exposed as if under a microscope, and Mannette’s cast is powe ... read more >>

BWW Review of Baskerville "Leading the cast as Sherlock Holmes himself is Mark Mannette, appearing courtesy of Actor's Equity. Mannette, the current director of theatre at Newman University in Wichita, was strong in his delivery and conveyance and believable in that conviction, with a British accent. ... read more >>

Current Student "Mark Mannette is a charismatic and skillful actor, playwright, director and mentor who creates and instructs in the art of dramatic literature with great enthusiasm. From the roles he has played to the roles he has made, Mannette is a river of dramaturgical inspiration that ... read more >>

Former student “I say this with 100 percent honesty — if I had not gone to Newman and met Mark (Mannette, director of theatre), and had not been mentored by him, I would never have written a single work. He encouraged and challenged me to write and gave me so many opportunities. People ... read more >>

Susan B. Paschal, Fayetteville State, on A Sreetcar Named Desire. “Under Professor Mark T. Mannette’s sensitive but concrete direction this classic play by Tennessee Williams came to rugged life with visual intrigues, well developed character relationships and a perpetual flow make one forget the true length of the play. Amidst the cha ... read more >>

Jeff Wax, Actor and Director / Portland, Maine "The capacity to mesh and mold personalities and egos seems to me to be inherent in being a successful director and teacher in the field. Mark has repeatedly demonstrated his talent in accomplishing this very complicated task. I have personally observed Mark Mannette direct ... read more >>

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