Mary Reynard

Mary Reynard began her career at the age of 16 as a dancer with The Claire Powell Debutantes. She traveled the United States on a "show train" where she lived in a state room while performing at State Fairs. After graduating from High School she studied Opera at Northwestern University with Norman Gulbrenson. She left Northwestern to hitch-hike thru the U.S. , Canada, Mexico and South America with her boyfriend settling in Boulder Co. where they lived on a commune in the Rocky Mountains. While in Boulder Mary performed at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and other performing venues including a dancing stint with comedian Martin Mull. She studied Yoga with Swami Satchitananda and became a founding member of the Integral Yoga Institute of Boulder, as well as studying with famous French Pantomime artist Samuel Avital. She also taught dance at the Boulder Free University and at Spring School, an alternative High School. After leaving Boulder Mary continued her Operatic training at the American Conservatory of Music with Gisela Goettling. There she was recognized as one of their top 10 students and went on to teach Musical Comedy Workshops for them. While studying there she was cast in an original musical version of Lysistrata directed by Chicago legend Ted Liss whom she married. Soon they were team teaching his renowned acting workshops. During this time she also studied with and then began team teaching with Second City legend Del Close. Mary traveled to London, England to study Shakespeare at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. There she befriended instructor David Parry and Geoffrey Connors the vocal coach to the Nation Theatre of Great Britain. She organized and produced Trans-Atlantic seminars for them in Chicago affording local actors the opportunity to study with them. At their request she helped David Parry and June Kemp to launch the successful London Shakespeare Studio. Mary received her Sag card from Hollywood Icon Joanne Woodward in Ms. Woodward's directorial debut. She has worked on various film projects with Sharon Stone, Michelle Phillips, Steven Railsback, Mickey Rooney, Mel Brooks and Frank DeFilita. Favorite stage roles include: Lady Macbeth (Macbeth), Billie Dawn (Born Yesterday), Abigail Williams (The Crucible), Medea (Medea), Irma Cronkite (Picnic), Miss Wonderland (Dylan) and Cinderella (Cinderella) As a director Mary has worked in Chicago and the North Shore communities for many years. Most recently she directed acclaimed and controversial productions of A Body of Water for Redtwist Theatre and Macbeth for Roundhouse at New Rock Theater. Other favorite projects include developing and directing Dear Murderess with Emmy Award winner Elaine Madsen, producing and directing A Christmas Carol for CRIS Radio at the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind, and directing documentary films on Allen Ginsberg, John Robbins and Jerry Brown. Mary continues to act, direct and coach in the Chicagoland area.