About Me
Marlene Villafane, a Nuyorican was born in Spanish Harlem, and raised in the Upper West Side. She began dance classes at age 6 for a short period of time. In fact, her first taste of performing was as a dancer, then after, at age 9 she gained her first experience as an actress in an 8 minute play at elementary school. She played a very rich woman in a very haunted house.Marlene has always been singing since the tender age 3. It was at this time that she was already formulating her own tunes.At age 13, she began taking classical voice training at HARLEM SCHOOL OF THE ARTS. She then went on to attend LaGUARDIA HIGH SCHOOL of the MUSIC and PERFORMING ARTS, taking classes and graduating with such actors as Omar Epps, Marlon Wayans, and Adrian Brody. She immediately afterwards, studied voice and graduated from the MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC with a BM in classical voice training. Her teachers to name a few included Hilda Harris and former teacher to pop diva Taylor Dayne, Mr Gabor Corelli. God bless his soul. She has also worked under the direction of world renowned actor Mr. James Moody of the movies "FAME", and "THE LAST DRAGON".Immediately after M.S.M, she began touring internationally with such shows as "PORGY and BESS" portraying Clara which toured Japan, the U.K, Australia, Taiwan, and New Zealand. She then got the part to understudy the character Julie as well as perform ensemble in the Australian tour of Hal Prince's "SHOWBOAT" with Livent. In "SHOWBOAT", she went on to play a week's worth of Julie.While playing Julie, she worked side by side with world renowned Australian actor Mr. Barry Otto (father to Miranda Otto of " War of the World's") and the star of Baz Luhrmann's "STRICTLY BALLROOM."
One of Marlene's goals is to have a longstanding career as recording artist .Her other goal ,as well, is to have a wonderful career acting in film and television. She has already completed a few independent films and is very keen to do more roles. She is currently in the studio working independently recording her own original songs. Her album should be completed by the very end of January of 07.She is highly aware that, the most important is that as long as she continues to keeps her tremendous faith and focus in check, and keeps persevering, she will continue to grow as a person, artist and in this business. "That is the main ingredient." Its about letting the Universe works it's magic through you and for you. Surrender to it . The Universe is working for you even when you don't realize it!".She is very proud to have completed her education and gain such a great foundation for her technique by having studied operatically. "It's like Shakespeare but for singers! That's what opera is."
After her tours, Marlene has also worked a good amount of time performing regularly in the Russian nightclubs of Brooklyn in Coney Island and Brighton Beach for 3 and a half years.Marlene's theater credits include the J.C. Gonzalez's pop opera "WARM" as Lori at the Lamb's Theater in NYC, RIO" as Rosita directed by Tom O'Horogan (director of the original Broadway production of "HAIR"), and the Batenrouge production of "LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS" as Chiffon.Marlene's film and television credits include "El CANTANTE" with Jennifer Lopez and Mark Anthony as a dancer, the independent film "A LOVE IN HARLEM" as Carmen, and the independent film "A MAN'S MAN" with rapper Loon for Warner Brothers which at this moment due to production issues, this particular film, still remains unfinished.You may now see her in her latest role in the Scott Goldberg's zombie short "THE DAY THEY CAME BACK" as Private Gaylen Rockman. To watch the film log into www.scottgoldbergfilms.com and then click on Watch The Day They Came Back, scroll down then viola! You know what to do! You may also check her out in the feature comedy film called "CREATING KARMA " directed by Jill Wisoff ,which was hand picked and screened @ the Coney Island Film Festival Oct 6th-8th, 2006.
Find out more about the festival @
www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com and also please watch the trailer and find out more about the film, it's director, cast and crew @ www.creatingkarma.com.
In conclusion, as mentioned before, Marlene has also done sketch comedy with the "URBAN LATINO COMEDY TROUPE" in the show "LOSE CONTROL" Please read more about them @ www.losecontroltv.com. This is a stellar ensemble cast, and very happy about that.
She is also working with another upcoming artist, Roy Alexander and is a part of his band and his album. She has recorded two duets with him, and also sings backup. His album has been released December 12th, 07 and is already receiving lots of positive attention.
Marlene was also a part of a brilliant Spanish sketch comedy show called "QUE LE PARECE?" where she played a variety of wacky characters along with another talented troupe of comedians, which ran on TELEMUNDO for about year and a half. The show is still playing re-runs on the Spanish cable channel SUPERCANAL CARIBE every Friday @ 7:30pm.Marlene is also a member of the NEGRO ENSEMBLE COMPANY and has performed in various outreach productions for children and teens across the Metropolitan area. She loves kids and feels that it's important to send children the right messages to make healthy choices in their lives. If you want to be an actor, entertainer, doctor, or president of a corporation then do that, but do your best to stay focused and true to yourself. After all, they are the future!Get Your Own! | View Slideshow
