About Me
Mark J. Thomas is the composer and lyricist for the new bluegrass/country musical "Come Sing Jimmy Jo" based on the novel by internationally acclaimed author Katherine Paterson and adapted for stage by playwright and sreenplay writer David Paterson (both of "Bridge to Terabithia" fame). The show, which was premiered by Stage One Theatre in the Kentucky Center, Louisville, KY. in 2005, ran from January through April and was acclaimed by audiences and critics alike. Mark also served as music director of that production as well as music director of the most recent production of the show in fall of 2007 by the Barre Players in Barre, VT. Mark inherited his love for bluegrass and country music from his dad, who played guitar, fiddle and taught himself to play five-string banjo, Earl Scruggs style. Thomas lives and works in Nashville, TN, as a songwriter/composer, musician and actor. Performing credits include DreamWorks, HBO, PBS, off-Broadway, The Nashville Network, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Kentucky Opera, Nashville Opera, Six Flags, and Opryland. Other compositions for the stage include the music for The "Whore and the H'Empress" which had its world premier at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Having earned a bachelors and masters degree in piano performance, Thomas served as adjunct music faculty at Indiana University Southeast, and Tennessee Technological University, and continues to tour as a solo piano artist. Favorite roles as an actor include Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird", Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol", half the population of Tuna TX in "Greater Tuna" and Jesus in "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Godspell". In Nashville Mark is a regular at the Bluebird Café and at Miss Marple's Dinner Theatre.
