Mark Brotherton has an impressive resume after 25 years contributing to Central Florida stages, having directed, acted in and coached for more than 90 productions at the university and its partner organizations. But his lasting impact is seen in the students he mentored, the lessons he instilled, the jokes he shared and the heart he brought to every interaction he had.
Brotherton, an associate professor in theatre performance, came to UCF from the University of Oklahoma, where he directed and performed in numerous productions and coordinated the SummerWind Arts Festival, which produced more than 100 different art and performance events over a ten-day period.
Brotherton also worked as an actor in New York City and throughout the country, but his heart was in teaching his students.
“Mark lived and breathed his students and theatre. He was the true embodiment of a theatre spirit. Whenever he and I talked, he was always scheming about ways to make the show he was directing better, or his classes better, or how to help a student that was having problems, or about a classic play he loved. He made us laugh, and loved to talk about his ideas for something new, a new play to direct, scenes to assign his students. He literally taught up to the last minute he could. Hopefully he will keep teaching us as we remember his words, his plays, his amazing performances and his friendship.” -Michael Wainstein, UCF School of Performing Arts
“Mark’s passing leaves a huge hole in the theatre program. He was an inspiring theatre artist and dedicated teacher who mentored many generations of students. He was fierce and gentle, demanding and nurturing, honest and kind, funny and serious. He expected the best from his students and colleagues and always led by example. He left us many artistic gifts; as we are grieving Mark’s death, we are also celebrating his remarkable contributions to the department, university, and theatre. Mark’s art and personality made the world a richer and kinder place.” -Julia Listengarten, Theatre UCF Artistic Director
If you were unable to attend the memorial celebration of Mark, you can click here to watch the recording.
Read Mark’s obituary from Orlando Sentinel
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Mark Brotherton’s memory to the UCF School of Performing Arts – Theatre Department. To donate, go to the UCF Foundation Giving Page: https://www.ucffoundation.org/givenow. Type in “Theatre Department” in the Search for a Fund box. For tribute information, type in “In memory of Mark Brotherton.”
Or mail checks to the UCF Advancement Office:
UCF Foundation
12424 Research Parkway, Suite 250
Orlando, FL 32826
*Note in the memo portion of the check that the gift is for “Theatre Department – in memory of Mark Brotherton”.
Mark Brotherton’s UCF Credits
Much Ado About Nothing; Director; Fall 2020
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder; Director; Fall 2019
Titanic: The Musical; Actor; Spring 2019
Staged Reading Inspired by “Station Eleven”; Director; Spring 2019
Of Mice and Men; Director; Fall 2019
Staged Reading “Refugee Plays”; Director; Spring 2018
Boy Gets Girl; Actor; Spring 2018
Of Thee I Sing; Director; Fall 2017
The Lion in Winter; Actor; Summer 2017
Staged Reading “The Grapes of Wrath”; Director; Spring 2017
Almost, Maine; Director; Spring 2016
The Understudy; Director; Fall 2015
Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up; Actor; Summer 2015
Kiss of the Spider Woman; Director; Spring 2014
Shipwrecked! An Entertainment, The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont; Director; Fall 2014
The Music Man; Director; Spring 2013
Boeing Boeing; Director; Summer 2013
Spring Awakening; Actor; Spring 2013
Good Boys and True; Director; Fall 2012
Bury the Dead; Director; Spring 2012
Barefoot in the Park; Director; Summer 2011
The Chimes; Actor; Fall 2010
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; Actor; Summer 2010
Doubt; Director; Fall 2009
Dear Santa (Orlando Rep. Theatre); Director; Fall 2009
Greater Tuna; Actor; Summer 2009
The Chimes; Actor; Spring 2009
The Lark; Actor; Spring 2009
It’s a Wonderful Life; Director; Fall 2007
Most Happy Fella; Dialect Coach; Fall 2007
Summerstage 2008; Artistic Director; Summer 2007
Cabaret; Director; Summer 2007
Noises Off; Director; Fall 2006
Thomas Edison Invents (Orlando Rep. Theatre); Actor; Fall 2006
Act Reading Series (Orlando Rep. Theatre); Coordinator; Spring 2006
You Can’t Take It With You (Orlando Rep. Theatre); Director; Spring 2006
Five Women Wearing the Same Dress; Dialect Coach; Spring 2006
The Boyfriend; Dialect Coach; Fall 2005
The Moon Is Blue (Orlando Rep. Theatre); Actor (Reading); Fall 2005
Hello Out There (Orlando Rep. Theatre); Director (Reading); Fall 2005
Act Reading Series (Orlando Rep. Theatre); Coordinator; Fall 2005
Pippin; Actor; Summer 2005
The Diary of Anne Frank (Orlando Rep. Theatre); Coordinator; Spring 2005
The Visit; Director; Spring 2005
Act Reading Series (Orlando Rep. Theatre); Coordinator; Spring 2005
A Christmas Carol (Orlando Rep. Theatre); Director; Fall 2004
Blithe Spirit; Dialect Coach; Fall 2004
Merton of the Movies (Orlando Rep. Theatre); Director (Reading); Fall 2004
Bury the Dead (Orlando Rep. Theatre); Director (Reading); Fall 2004
Othello (Orlando Shakespeare Festival); Actor; Spring 2004
Rivers Run Deep; Actor (Reading); Spring 2004
Edward III (Orlando Shakespeare Festival); Actor (Staged Reading); Spring 2004
Misalliance; Actor; Fall 2003
Misalliance; Dialect Coach; Fall 2003
Steel Magnolias; Director; Fall 2003
The Gin Game; Director; Summer 2003
The Antigone Project; Actor; Summer 2003
The Balcony Scene; Director; Spring 2003
The Merry Wives of Windsor; Actor; Fall 2002
The Lady’s Not for Burning; Actor; Summer 2002
Laundry and Bourbon; Director; Summer 2002
Lonestar; Director; Summer 2002
Look Homeward, Angel; Director; Spring 2002
Ain’t Misbehavin’; Director; Fall 2001
Snips; Actor (Staged Reading); Fall 2001
The Nerd; Actor; Summer 2001
I Love My Wife; Director; Summer 2001
Lu Ann Hampton; Dialect Coach; Spring 2001
Crazy for You; Director; Spring 2001
Glengarry Glen Ross; Actor; Fall 2000
Something’s Afoot; Dialect Coach; Fall 2000
You Can’t Take It With You; Dialect Coach; Fall 2000
Out of Order; Dialect Coach; Summer 2000
Orphans; Director; Summer 2000
Tintypes; Actor; Summer 2000
Anything Goes; Director; Spring 2000
Amadeus; Actor; Fall 1999
The Importance of Being Earnest; Dialect Coach; Fall 1999
Sabrina Fair; Actor; Summer 1999
Equus; Director/Actor; Summer 1999
Big River; Actor; Spring 1999
Pericles (Orlando Shakespeare Festival); Director (Staged Reading); Spring 1999
Butterfingers Angel; Director; Fall 1998
Run for Your Wife; Actor; Summer 1998
The Cardigans; Director; Summer 1998
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas; Actor; Spring 1998
King John (Orlando Shakespeare Festival); Director (Staged Reading) Coordinator/Director; Spring 1998
Fall Student Showcase; Coordinator/Director; Fall 1997
Laughter on the 23rd Floor; Actor; Fall 1997
Noises Off; Dialect Coach; Fall 1997
Round and Round the Garden; Director; Summer 1997
Table Manners; Director; Summer 1997
Welcome to Andromeda; Advisor; Spring 1997
Eleemosynary; Advisor; Spring 1997
Children of a Lesser God; Director; Spring 1997
Bury the Dead; Advisor; Fall 1996
Private Wars; Advisor; Fall 1996