MARK ROGERS

Thoughtful. Wise. Caring. Patient. These are the words that come to mind when students, alumni and colleagues think of Mark Rogers. Whether leading the Fine Arts Department, directing a play or teaching English class, Mark emanates a warmth and openness that has inspired Arrows to discover their strengths in the classroom and on the stage since he began working at St. Sebastian’s in 1996.

When recalling how he came to be employed at St. Sebastian’s, Mark joked, “I worked here before I worked here.” His wife, Sally, who had joined the Fine Arts faculty in 1989, recruited Mark to help build set pieces for the fall play she was directing. “I must have been making quite a racket with my screw gun and circular saw. A couple days later, I received a friendly letter from Bill Burke, thanking me for helping Sally. The letter was accompanied by a check.” A week or so later, the same thing happened again: big racket, check in the mail. When the opportunity to officially work at St. Sebastian’s arose a short time later, Mark didn’t hesitate to jump onboard.

For the first few years, Mark worked part-time and filled in for Sally during her maternity leave. It was the perfect arrangement while he and Sally were raising their young children, Nellie and Cam—she continued to teach the drama classes and Mark directed the plays. When Sally moved onto a new opportunity, Mark took on the fulltime role, teaching drama and English classes and continuing to run the Drama Club.

Although Mark came to St. Sebastian’s with extensive theater experience and had done some teaching, he’d never taught theater or directed a play before. He acted exclusively for several years— mostly on stage with a little bit of TV and film mixed in—and extrapolated from what he’d learned by watching the various directors. The first play he directed at St. Sebastian’s was Molière’s classic comedy The Imaginary Invalid, in which he’d performed in his acting days and thought the boys would enjoy. The performance took place in the Atrium, an open space that existed before Ward Hall was built, using a few rented light poles to provide theatrical lighting.

Since those early days, the Fine Arts Department, and its facilities, have expanded greatly and Mark has taken on a larger role, becoming chair of the department in the mid-2000’s. In addition to guiding the Slings & Arrows Players in the Drama Club, he continues to teach English and drama to 7th and 8th grade students. The walls of his classroom in the Art Building are lined with posters from the plays he’s directed, making an impression on students when they come into class for the first time and bringing back memories when alumni return to campus to visit.

On any given day, you can find Mark beginning a class by playing his guitar, providing one-on-one feedback on an English paper, or helping a struggling actor remember his lines late into the evening—all with the same calm rapport. His comforting presence creates a safe environment for a middle school student delivering his first monologue in front of the class or an actor testing a performance approach. “Over the years young men have discovered their acting talents because of Mark’s mentoring,” shared his colleague, Deirdre RynneAnnan. “He understands the strengths of each of his actors perhaps before they do, draws performances out of a student and inspires them to dig deeper.

And they do because they trust and respect him!”

Under Mark’s careful guidance and encouragement, Arrows with all levels of acting experience have soared during their days as Arrows and beyond. Former student David Korzeniowski ’16 shared, “He helped me root out ‘interrospeak” from my monologues, gave me confidence to go onstage, and made drama practices some of my favorite late nights on St. Sebastian’s’ campus. My time with Mr. Rogers and the Drama Club vastly improved my public speaking and performance under pressure, skills that are crucial in my work as a broadcaster today.”

When Mark first started working at St. Sebastian’s, the Drama Club entered the drama festival competitively and made it to the state finals in 1999. As exciting as this was, Mark recognized that being competitive meant being more selective in material and casting. At some point, he decided to only select plays where he could cast everybody who tried out—from the seasoned actor to the shy 7th grader to the varsity athlete trying something new in the offseason. “There’s not a lot of other extracurriculars where the middle school age group spends so much time with upperclassmen,” noted Mark. “I love the camaraderie of the club. It’s wonderful to watch seventh graders and 12th graders working together on a play.”

Mark has consistently given his actors creative freedom, knowing when to step in and when to step back. “When Mr. Rogers provided feedback, it was always helpful, but he always had the trust in us as actors to make the decisions for our performance,” shared Owen Finnegan ’16. “This feeling of ownership was really important in shaping me as an actor.” The greatest example of students taking command is the winter play. In 2012, when Mark Lane ’12 approached Mark with an original script, he not only agreed to try it, but also had the senior direct the one act play. This launched a new tradition in which several Arrows have written and directed the second play of the year. Bringing an original piece to the drama festival, just a few weeks later, has proven to be a successful strategy, with several students winning play-writing and acting awards over the years.

Mark’s role in the winter play varies from advisor to peacekeeper, and sometimes wrangler. CJ Santosuosso ’15 recalls how Mark was originally reluctant to let him produce The Rise and Fall, his artistic take on the events that led up to and followed the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. “After a disastrous first rehearsal, I feared his reservations were correct. Though I was concerned, Mr. Rogers was patient, allowing the cast and I to work each night on the show,” recalled CJ. “Slowly things began to click. One night, a couple weeks before we performed in Ward Hall, he pulled me aside and said, ‘I’m glad you didn’t listen to me.’ That to me is the embodiment of who Mr. Rogers is. He will root for his students to succeed no matter what.”

The unfailing commitment Mark bestows upon his students and actors extends to his colleagues as well. For the past fifteen years, he has led the Fine Arts Department in weekly meetings, offering sage advice, supporting new ideas, and inserting humorous anecdotes to provide a sometimes much-needed laugh. Under his tenure, the department has expanded curriculum, facility and technological resources. “Mark has cemented himself as a stalwart mentor and inspirational educator who always makes and takes time to lend an ear of support,” noted Deirdre. “Our whole department is so grateful for his steady hand at the helm and for his friendship.”

Headmaster Burke reinforced these sentiments at the Faculty-Trustee Dinner in November where Mark was honored for his 25 years of service: “A loving husband, a great father, and a pure educator, Mark exemplifies the spirit of St. Sebastian’s at our very best. He exudes and inspires the good, true, and beautiful, and is the very essence of loyalty and committed friendship as evinced by his enduring connection with longtime walking partner, Pat Colton, who passed last January.”

Mark is equally grateful for the commitment of his colleagues. “Generosity is all over the place. People are generous with their time, generous with their expertise, generous with their mutual support,” shared Mark at the Faculty-Trustee Dinner. “I consider myself very fortunate to have worked here for twenty-five years with so many generous colleagues, like the members of the Fine Arts Department, dedicated, talented souls all.”

Thank you, Mark, for serving as an effective leader and sharing your passion for the craft with countless Arrows.