Two shows double fun for Franklin Park actor

Mark Kosten in "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" at Emerald City Theatre. | Photo by Tom McGrath

Updated: May 24, 2012 10:15AM

Franklin Park resident Mark Kosten is living a dream.

He sings, acts and dances in not one, but two Emerald City Theatre productions in Chicago: “Pinkalicious” at the Broadway Playhouse, Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., through Sept. 2, and “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day,” at the Apollo Theatre, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., through June 30.

Kosten, 21, has also performed on the WGN midday news, sung the National Anthem at a Chicago Fire Game, and had a slot on the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Not to mention the other countless times he has performed at children’s hospitals around Chicagoland.

And he’s loving it.

“I just feel happy being able to perform,” he said. “Words cannot describe the way I feel when I’m on stage. It fills my soul. If you love what you do, you can’t go wrong.”

Even growing up, Kosten knew theater and music were on the path he would follow. He first realized that while performing in “Fiddler On the Roof” at Hester Junior High in Franklin Park.

“There was this moment when I was singing, “If I Was a Rich Man,” and the entire audience began to cheer for me,” Kosten said. “It just all came together. It just felt so gratifying to be singing and to make people happy. That’s when I knew that acting was exactly what I wanted.”

High school star

Kosten went on to become involved with the theater program at East Leyden High School.

“Leyden gives their students so many opportunities, especially in the fine arts program,” Kosten said. “It’s a very special place for me, where I was able to grow as a person and actor.”

He won lead roles at Leyden as the Cat and the Hat in “Seussical the Musical” and J. Pierrepont Finch in “How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying.”

After graduation, Kosten immersed himself in the theater community, pursuing his dream. Auditioning for roles with the Emerald City Theatre Company, he hit the jackpot. He got roles as Peter Pinkerton for “Pinkalicious” and as the lead in “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” — at the same time.

“They needed an answer right away,” Kosten said, “and of course I said yes!”

“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” is based on the 1972 children’s book of that name by Judith Viorst. The story follows a little boy named Alexander who has a horrible day and decides he wants to move to Australia.

“The play has a very funky, fun 1970s feel to it,” Kosten said. “The floor is a map of Australia, and our clothes are very ’70s. Viorst actually co-wrote the play, so it is very similar to the book.”

In “Pinkalicious,” Kosten plays the role of Pinkalicious’s little brother, Peter Pinkerton. Peter loves vegetables, and wants his sister, (played by Lara Mainier), to love them too. His favorite part of the play is trying to get her to eat them.

“The audience gets a big kick out of it,” Kosten said. “Lara and I play well off each other.” he said.

Juggling act

Juggling two roles is hectic, but Kosten relishes it. On a typical day, he wakes up to find Emerald City Theatre telling him exactly where he goes for the day.

“When I’m performing in ‘Alexander,’ my understudy takes on my role in ‘Pinkalicious,’” Kosten explains. “And some days, I’m in both shows on the same day.” Which doesn’t bother him at all. It is, after all, what he’s always wanted to do.

And he hopes to keep on doing it — on stage, and maybe pursue film and TV one day. “I just want to remain happy,” he said. “If anyone wants to gets get involved with performing, my biggest advice would be to just have fun. It’s that easy. Just remember to always do what you love.”

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