Mark Leydorf

Mark Leydorf wrote the book and lyrics for the musical Citizen Ruth (based on the film by Alexander Payne), with music by the late Michael Brennan. It was named Best Musical at the New York International Fringe Festival. Also with Michael Brennan, he adapted Emile Zola’s Nana as a literary burlesque, and wrote Candy, an original screwball comedy. Mark’s play Lifeboat (a romantic comedy at the end of the world) has had several readings under the direction of Darren Katz. His ghost story Francis Bay was published by the Printer’s Devil Review (2015). Filmmaker Adam Baran is working with Mark to adapt a second story, Bad House, as a screenplay. Mark worked on-and-off as an actor for 20 years, appearing in the Broadway revival of The Ritz. He also was in an episode of Law and Order: SVU.

Since 2001, Mark has been a frequent contributor to Poz, the leading magazine for people living with HIV. Over the years, he’s also taught writing at a boarding school, written financial research on Wall Street, and copy-edited at magazines from Good Housekeeping to Penthouse. At his current day job, at Bloomberg Businessweek, Mark is not only an editor but also the “voice” of the magazine, which he reads aloud each week for the web. Mark’s been a committed activist since he first arrived in New York, protesting with ACTUP and QueerNation, volunteering for GMHC, and serving on the steering committee of Gays Against Guns. You will find him most weekends out in the streets, leading his “resistance queertet,” Sing Out Louise!, in his satirical versions of popular songs. A graduate of Yale, Mark is a member of the Dramatists Guild and Actors’ Equity.

Select Credits Include: Brass Ankle, Der Orphano das Chao (Target Margin), Mephisto, Valerie Shoots Andy (Reverie), Train Play (Clubbed Thumb), Witches Triptych (Women’s Project), Dick Play (La Mama), New York Theatre Workshop, Mamma Mia! (Mandalay Bay Casino), A Christmas Carol, Arcadia (Portland Stage Company), Of Mice and Men, Oklahoma! (Hangar Theatre), Copenhagen (Delaware Rep).