https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mara_Davi
In this conversation, I loved getting real with Mara who at the time is starring in Dames at Sea on Broadway. She's so open and vulnerable and shares how she maintains stability in this career filled with so much unknown.
Vedic Meditation is the practice we spoke of and Rob McCaskill is the acting teacher we mention. www.mccaskillstudio.com
Rebecca Luker's Broadway roles include Helen in FUN HOME. CINDERELLA'S Fairy Godmother, Marie. Winifred in the original Broadway production of MARY POPPINS (Tony Award nomination), Claudia Nardi in NINE opposite Antonio Banderas, Marian Paroo in THE MUSIC MAN (Tony Award nomination, Drama Desk Award nomination & Outer Critics Circle Award nomination), Maria in THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Outer Critics Circle Award nomination); Magnolia in SHOWBOAT (Tony Award nomination), Lily in THE SECRET GARDEN (Drama Desk Nomination); Christine in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. With the New York City Opera Ms. Luker was featured in X (THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MALCOLM X) and was Fiona in BRIGADOON. Off-Broadway she starred in Maury Yeston’s DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY – Outer Critics Circle nomination (Roundabout, 2011), the world premiere of A.R.Gurney’s INDIAN BLOOD (Primary Stages), CAN’T LET GO (Keen Company) and THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES.
Ms. Luker has performed leading roles at regional theaters throughout the country including the world premier of LITTLE DANCER by Aherns and Flaherty, Directed by Susan Stroman. Clara in PASSION at the Kennedy Center, Julia in TIME AND AGAIN at the Old Globe, Mary in HARMONY (Drama-Logue Award) at the La Jolla Playhouse and Amalia in SHE LOVES ME with the “Reprise!” series in Los Angeles.
In concert she has appeared in ARIAS AND BARCAROLES with the Chicago Symphony, KNOXVILLE: SUMMER OF 1915 with the Melbourne, Fl Symphony, LIFE BEGINS AT 8:40, PARDON MY ENGLISH, PRIMROSE, and BABES IN ARMS, all at The Library of Congress; JUBILEE and MUSIC IN THE AIR at Town Hall; at Carnegie Hall: NO, NO NANETTE; TROUBLE IN TAHITI; GAY DIVORCE; THE ART OF THE LYRICIST (Ira Gershwin Centennial Series); MY FAVORITE BROADWAY: THE LEADING LADIES & MY FAVORITE BROADWAY: THE LOVE SONGS (both on PBS); an evening to honor Aherns and Flaherty with the NY Pops, A Tribute to Billie Holiday and A Comden & Green Evening. With the Encores! Series at City Center: WHERE’S CHARLEY? And THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE and two concerts with Lincoln Center’s AMERICAN SONGBOOK SERIES honoring Arthur Schwartz and Leonard Bernstein.
Ms. Luker performed to sold out audiences at her critically acclaimed AMERICAN SONG BOOK SERIES solo concerts at the new Jazz at Lincoln Center. She has appeared with the Alabama, American, Baltimore,Birmingham, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Nashville, New Jersey, St. Louis, Chicago, Royal Stockholm, and London Symphonies (to name a few!) as well as the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
Her television credits include the CBS Television movie “Cupid and Cate”, “Law and Order-SVU”, “Boardwalk Empire”, “Matlock”, “An Evening with the Pops”, “An Oscar Hammerstein Celebration” and “A Tribute to Rodgers and Hart” (PBS), The Kennedy Center Honors honoring Julie Andrews, and a Richard Rodgers celebration with the Boston Pops (PBS).
Movies include "Not Fade Away", She is also featured in Toni Dove’s film, “Spectropia”.
Ms. Luker’s recordings include, "I Got Love" (PS Classics)“Greenwich Time” (PS Classics), “Leaving Home” (PSClassics), “Anything Goes: Rebecca Luker Sings ColePorter (Fynsworth Alley), “Aria”,“Aria 2” and “Aria 3” (all on Koch), The Boys From Syracuse”, “Wonderful Town”, “Annie Get Your Gun”, “Broadway Showstoppers”, “Jerome Kern Treasury” and “Brigadoon”.
Other recordings are “Strike Up the Band”, original cast recordings of “The Sound of Music”, “The Secret Garden” . “Showboat” & “The Music Man”, “Placido Domingo: The Broadway I Love”, “Unsung Sondheim”, “Unsung Musicals II” and “Lost in Boston III” and many more..
Rebecca was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama and received a Bachelor of Music degree as well as an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degree from the University of Montevallo. She resides in New York City with her husband, actor Danny Burstein and her stepsons Alex and Zach.
Getting to know you: An introduction to Analisa and A Balancing Act