Meet Marc Baron | Story teller through film, music and stage

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marc Baron and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marc, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I cannot say there was a specific event. It’s something I have done since I was a child – singing, writing, playing an instrument. When I told my mother that I want to pursue the arts professional, she said “it was in my DNA.” I think she was right. My mother grew up in Vienna, Austria, was a classmate of Hedy Lamarr, and was a budding singer/dancer who performed all over Europe. My grandmother was a concert pianist and distantly related to Gustav Mahler. My grandfather was a respected sculptor who knew Schiele, Kokoschka, Emerich Kalman and Franz Lehar. They came to the US in 1939. As a kid, while others were playing outside, I preferred a good movie, or listening to good music (classical, Broadway).

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is varied. Singing brings me joy (and hopefully brings joy to those who hear me). Writing brings me total control by allowing me to create my own worlds, and directing allows me to see those worlds come to life. It’s always a struggle – and it seems to get harder, not easier. The one thing I’ve learned, perhaps from my grandfather, is to stay true to your art, your craft. There will be challenging times, discouraging times, but stay true. My constant demands of myself have afforded me to improve my skills. I’m proud of my recent screenplays, one has received 39 international festival laurels, and another 44 – AND – was optioned by a producer in Vienna where we are now packaging the film. You need to keep focused on your art. I’ve always prided myself in trying to help others. I have been serving on the SAG-AFTRA NY Board now for 18 years!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
While I live in New York City, with great parks, museums, theaters, and concert halls … I would rather show them Vienna. It’s a city filled will beautiful architecture, theaters, museums, parks, and a living history of music. They respect people in the arts – they don’t ask you to justify your career by listing credits. The food situation is amazing there. So many wonderful cafes that have been around for 150 years. I’d take them to places where Mozart married, or to favorite cafes of Freud, Beethoven, or Mahler….to the Grecianbeisel restaurant, operating since 1475! In addition to schnitzle, there’s so many wonderful foods there few in the US know, such as tafelspitz and kaiserschmarm. And those pastries and coffees! The main art museum there is one of the world’s top 5….we’d go to where Beethoven and Mozart lived and relax in one of the many beautiful gardens such as the roses in Volksgarten. It’s not only a city of my ancestors, but beautiful – which is why my film project is set there. I have helped several friends plan their visit to Vienna.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d say several. My mother and grandparents for making art and music part of my early life. Then Fred Kelly, Gene Kelly’s brother, who mentored me in college then later introduced me to The Lambs. The Lambs is America’s oldest professional theatrical organization founded in 1874. At The Lambs I continued acting, singing, writing, and directing. There I was befriended by Joyce Randolph (Trixie of “The Honeymooners) and her husband, Richard Charles, then the Shepherd (president) of The Lambs. That led to me moving into leadership of The Lambs for over 30 years, still acting, singing, directing, and producing events. I eventually became The Lambs’ Shepherd for ten years (the eighth longest to serve). I stepped down January 2023 and was named the Shepherd Emeritus for my 30+ years of service, only the third to receive that honor in 150 years. Now I am focused back on my career, and two develop two feature films. I should also mention Dustin Hoffman and Matthew Broderick who encouraged me to start writing and creating my own projects years ago. Finally, I should acknowledge my business partner, Joe Cirillo. Joe was an actor who started as a policeman, then got a role in “The Godfather,” starting his life in films. Together we’ve been developing several film projects.

Website: https://comebackinvienna.com/home/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oroloroent/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oroloro/

Twitter: https://x.com/Oroloro

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarcBaron

Other: www.MarcBaron.com
www.MegaBallsMovie.com
www.Josephu.info

Image Credits
(L-r.) with Abe Vigoda and Cliff Robertson; with Dustin Hoffman, with Fred Kelly, with Joyce Randloph, with Matthew Broderick, and as a strike captain / SAG-AFTRA Board member during the actor strike of 2023.