Mark Janicello

• Name — Mark Janicello • Born — November 3, 1962 • Birthplace — Brooklyn, New York • Education — University of North Carolina at Greensboro • Years Active — 1984–present • Notable Works — The Finellis Movie • Spouse — Danielle Bayer (married 1989–2000) • Children — 2 • Website — * markjanicello.com • markjanicello.org • thefinellis.com • Youtube Handle — MarkJanicello • Youtube Years Active — 2006–present • Youtube Genre — Entertainment • Youtube Subscribers — 22 thousand • Youtube Views — 12 million • Stats Update — January 26, 2026

Mark Janicello was born on November 3, 1962, in Brooklyn, New York. He attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, earning a Bachelor's degree in 1984.

Janicello began his career by singing in the subways of New York City in the mid-1980s as part of the MTA's Music Under New York program. In 1988, Janicello made his west coast debut playing Raoul de Gardefeu in the Opera at the Academy's co-production (with Long Beach Opera) of La Vie parisienne directed by Christopher Alden. In the late 1980s, Janicello began performing with the charitable foundation Music for All Seasons, singing in children's hospitals, prisons and old age homes. In 1990, conductor Eve Queler heard Janicello and subsequently engaged him to perform in Donizetti's Roberto Devereux, with which he made his Carnegie Hall debut. Janicello also performed for two seasons with the comedic opera troupe La Gran Scena Opera. In 1996 Janicello sang the world-premiere of the opera Nuit des Hommes by Per Nørgård. Janicello's first performance in an operetta was as Camille, Count de Rossillon in the Paper Mill Playhouse production of Lehár's Die lustige Witwe. He returned to Die lustige Witwe two more times in 2010 in Vienna, this time playing Count Danilo Danilovitsch with the Wiener Operettensommer. Other operetta roles have included among others, Orpheus in Orpheus in der Unterwelt and Alfred in Die Fledermaus. In October 2012, he co-starred in the musical Loving the Silent Tears, directed by Vincent Paterson. He also appears on the musical's cast album. The Musical is based on the poetry of Supreme Master Ching Hai. In 2021, Janicello provided the German narration for the documentary film Eating Our Way to Extinction, replacing Kate Winslet's English narration for German-speaking Europe.

In 1992, Janicello was approached by the Music Under New York program to enter the KFC Musical Feast competition representing New York City. The competition was a nationwide search sponsored by Kentucky Fried Chicken. Janicello created a performance where he first sang "Recondita armonia" from Tosca, dressed as a rock singer, and then aided by a quick costume change would switch back and forth between the songs "It's Now or Never" and "O Sole Mio" (which share the same melody) while switching vocal and performance styles between "Elvis and Luciano Pavarotti". He won the competition and was awarded the $15,000.00 first prize by head judge Bo Diddley. Janicello appeared with Bo Diddley on NBC's Today show. Janicello was invited to join the International Opera Studio (IOS) of the Zurich Opera in 1994. Peter Reichenbach, Artistic Director of Cinemusic Festival in Gstaad, Switzerland asked him to perform as Elvis Presley with composer Ben Weisman at the first annual Cinemusic Festival in 1995. After performing with him in Gstaad, Weisman gave Janicello the unreleased Elvis song "Will You Still Be There." Janicello, together with Weisman recorded, released, and promoted the song in 1996 and 1997. On the back of the release of "Will You Still Be There", Stadttheater Klagenfurt hired Janicello to play Elvis Presley in their 1997 production, Elvis: A Musical Biography. The musical moved from Klagenfurt to Wiener Metropol. In 2002, Janicello wrote a new musical about Presley's life, Elvis: Die Show, sein Leben which combined newly-composed songs with songs from Elvis' catalogue of hits which celebrated its world premiere at Theater Akzent in Vienna and an extended run of performances at the Deutsches Theater in Munich. The musical featured both "Will You Still Be There" and "Great Big Mama."

In 2016, Janicello began work as author, executive producer, co-director, lyricist and leading actor on the award-winning comedy The Finellis. Originally planned to be a television series, a proof-of-concept episode of The Finellis was a featured presentation at the 2016 Berlin Serienale. In January 2019, The Finellis went into production in Berlin with some new cast members, rewritten scripts. The Finellis Movie, was released internationally on January 18, 2022. In late 2022, Janicello and composer Ulf Weidmann began turning The Finellis Movie into a stage musical which had its world-premiere production at Wonderville in London from June 3 through June 16, 2024.

Janicello has been vegan since 2004 and advocates publicly for a plant-based lifestyle. He joined Scientology in 1994 before leaving in 2003. He published a book about his experiences in Scientology, Naked in the Spotlight: My Life with Sex, Singing and Scientology which was published in German in 2011 and in English in 2016

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1987 — Showtime at the Apollo — Guest Star — 1 episode • 1998-1999 — Hello Vienna, Hello Austria — Host — 24 episodes • 2012 — Der Mediator — Frank Delay — Pilot episode • Freddy — Ralph — TV miniseries (1 episode) • 2013 — Frühstücksfernsehen — Agent W. Smith — 1 episode • Verstehen sie Spaß? — Johann — 1 episode • Volle Kanne — Guest Star — 1 episode • Auf Streife — Gernot Peters — 1 episode • Verstehen sie Spaß? — British Businessman — 1 episode • 2014 — Schneller als die Polizei erlaubt — Ludger Trinkhaus — 1 episode • Achtung, Kontrolle — Giovanni Bellini — 1 episode • Stand by Me — Guest Start — Pilot episode • Verstehen sie Spaß? — Martin Dams — 1 episode • 2015 — Libido Love — Marc Caccamo — Pilot episode • Die Celiks — Chaniqua LeStrange — 1 episode • The Immigrant Experience — The American — 1 episode • Mein dunkles Geheimnis — Detlef Brahms — 1 episode • Hilf Mir! — Dr. Guido Rehbein — 1 episode • In Gefahr — Fabrizio Montani — 1 episode • Die Celiks — Singing Teacher — 1 episode • Hirschausens Quiz des Menschens — Marc Thalhäuser — 1 episode • Betrugsfälle — Sascha Pantic — 1 episode • Hilf Mir! — Gerry Walker — 1 episode • Schneller als die Polizei erlaubt — Manuel Weiler — 1 episode • Das Aschenputtel Experiment — Guest Star — 1 episode • 2016 — The Finellis Sitcom — Tony Finelli — Pilot episode • Hilf Mir! — Bruce Heinberg — 1 episode • Akte 20.16 — Wilfried W. — 1 episode • 2018 — Berlin Tag & Nacht — Robert Hardy — 6 episodes • Gin & It — Adrian the Master — Pilot episode • Die Wahrheit über... — Michael — Documentary • Late Night Berlin — Calaf — 1 episode • 2022 — The Diplomat — National Security Chief — 1 episode

• Year — Title — Character — Director — Company • 1982 — The Boy Friend — Tony — Paramount Theatre • 1983 — Grease — Teen Angel — William Wendt — Aycock Auditorium • Hatfields and McCoys — Spirit Hatfield — John Arnold — Theater West Virginia • Honey in the Rock — Rex Covington — John Arnold — Theater West Virginia • Cabaret — Aryan Soldat — William Wendt — The Studio at UNC-G • Comic Books Tonight — Superman — Juan Fernandez — Alfredo's • 1984 — Camelot — Sir Sagramore — Terrence Mann — Raleigh Memorial Auditorium • Hatfields and McCoys — Spirit Hatfield — John Arnold — Theater West Virginia • West Side Story — Tony — William Wendt — Aycock Auditorium • 1985 — Star-Crossed Lovers — Romeo — Richard Haase — Dramatist's Guild • Sweet Adeline — Ensemble — Peter Howard — The Town Hall • Fiddler on the Roof — Motel Kamzoil — John Arnold — Theater West Virginia • 1986 — Angelina (reading) — Narrator — Barry Kleinbort — Dramatist's Guild • 1987 — The Three Sisters — Fedotik — Ensemble Studio Theatre • As You Like It — Amiens — Scott Noflet — Judith Anderson Theatre • 1992 — Kismet — Caliph — Don Westwood — Opera Northeast Tour • Jesus Christ Superstar — Annas — Robert Johansen — Papermill Playhouse • Lend Me a Tenor — Tito Mirelli — John Going — Olney Theater • 1996 — Winterzirkus — Canio — Joachim Lang — Platzl's Theaterie • 1997 — Elvis: A Musical Biography — Elvis Presley — Anna Vaughn — Stadttheater Klagenfurt • 1998 — Elivs: A Musical Biography — Elvis Presley — Anna Vaughn — Metropol Vienna • 1998 — The Chamaleon Concert — Self — Self — Theater Akzent • 1998 — City of Angels — Jimmy Powers — Heinz Ehrenfreund — Musicalsommer Amstetten • 1999 — Be My Love: Das Mario Lanza Musical — Mario Lanza — Self — Theater AKzent • 2001 — Victor/Victoria — King Marchand — Pavel Fieber — Landestheater Salzburg • Charlie: A New Musical — Charlie — Self — Kabarett Stadnikow • 2003 — Elvis: The Musical — Elvis Presley — Self — Deutsches Theater Munich • 2005 — Charlie: A New Musical — Charlie — Self — Het Werkteater • 2012 — Loving the Silent Tears — The Italian Tenor — Vincent Paterson — Shrine Auditiorium • 2023 — The Finellis Musical (Producer's Presentation) — Tony Finelli — Self — Phoenix Arts Club • 2023 — Take the Bins Out — Writer/Director — Self — Edinburgh Fringe Festival • 2024 — The Finellis Musical — Tony Finelli — Self — Wonderville London

• Year — Title — Character — Director or conductor — Company • 1980 — Pagliacci — Ensemble — Arvid Knudsen — Aycock Auditorium • 1983 — Così fan tutte — Ferrando — Arvid Knudsen — Aycock Auditorium • 1985 — La fille du régiment — Ensemble — New York City Opera • Attilla — Ensemble — Frank Cosaro — New York City Opera • Turandot — Ensemble — Lotfi Mansouri — New York City Opera • 1986 — The Student Prince — The Prince — Prescott Griffith — Carousel Dinner Theatre • Little Red Riding Hood — The Woodcutter — John Turner — Dramatists' Guild • La Giaconda — Ensemble — Alfredo Silipigni — New Jersey Opera • Introduction to Opera — The Tenor — various — Metropolitan Opera Guild • 1987 — Otello — Cassio — Regina Opera • 1988 — Madama Butterfly — Pinkerton — Don Westwood — Opera Northeast Tour • Lucia di Lammermoor — Arturo — Long Island Opera • 1988 — La Vie parisienne — Raoul de Gardefeu — Christopher Alden — Opera at the Academy • 1989 — Babes in Toyland — Alan — Dino Anagnost — World Financial Center • 1990 — Die Fledermaus — Alfredo — Ron Peluso — Schubert Theater • La gazza ladra — Ensemble — Timothy Lindberg — The Town Hall • 1991 — The Merry Widow — Camillie — Jim Coleman — Paper Mill Playhouse • Roberto Devereux — Roberto — Eve Queler — Carnegie Hall • 1992 — Elisabetta, regina d'Inghilterra — Leicester — Don Westwood — Opera Northeast Tour • Tosca — Cavardossi — Ted Taylor — Augusta Opera • Tosca — Cavadossi — Peter Mark — Virginia Opera • La traviata — Alfredo — Robert Butts — Opera at Florham • La Gran Scena Opera — Mario Costaplenti — Ira Siff — European Tour • 1993 — La Gran Scena Opera — Mario Costaplenti — Ira Siff — The Town Hall • 1994 — Linda di Chamounix — Intendente — Ádám Fischer — Zurich Opera • Die Frau ohne Schatten — Der Jungling — Christoph von Dohnányi — Zurich Opera • 1995 — Dido and Aeneas — First Sailor — David Zinman — Tonhalle, Zurich • Trouble in Tahiti — Jazz Trio — Reto Nickler — Tonhalle, Zurich • Roméo et Juliette — Benvolio — Serge Baudo — Zurich Opera • Der Kaiser von Atlantis — Harlekin/Soldat — Marc Belfort — Zurich Opera • Hin und zurück — Robert — Marc Belfort — Zurich Opera • Le pauvre matelot — le Matelot — Marc Belfort — Zurich Opera • Crossing Brooklyn Ferry — The Traveler — Graham Todd — Arundel Cathedral • Die göttliche Kirmes — Doufi — Reto Nickler — St. Gallen Opera • Die göttliche Kirmes — Doufi — Reto Nickler — Aarhus Opera • 1996 — The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat — Dr. S. — Wolfgang Gratschmaier — Amadeus Festival Vienna • Der Mann, der seine Frau mit einem Hut verwechselte — Dr. S. — Bertram Dippel — Opera Erlangen • Nuit des Hommes — Wilhelm — Jakkob Schokking — World Music Festival • 1999 — Die Fledermaus — Alfredo — Heinz Ehrenfreund — Landestheater Salzburg • 2000 — Orpheus in der Unterwelt — Orpheus — Sylvia Dönsch — Badener Operetten Theater Japan Tour • 2005 — Die lustige Witwe — Danilo — Annette Wolf — Stichting Int'l Opera Producties BeNeLux Tour • 2006 — Die Csárdásfürstin — Edwin — Annette Wolf — Stichting Int'l Opera Producties BeNeLux Tour • 2007 — Orpheus in der Unterwelt — Orpheus — Benjamin Sahler — Opernfestspiel Nürtingen • La traviata — Alfredo — Niels Muus — Musikfestival Steyr • 2008 — Der Zarewitsch — Zarewitch — Wolfgang Dosch — Bergtheater Thale • Die verkaufte Braut — Edwin — Kay Metzger — Bergtheater Thale • 2010 — Die lustige Witwe — Danilo — Patricia Nessy — Wiener Operettensommer • 2011 — Giovanna d'Arco — Carlo VII — Marc Pantus — Rotterdam Opera • 2014 — Hänsel und Gretel — Die Knusperhexe — Inga Hilsberg — Kammeroper Köln

• Year — Title — Artist — Role • 2002 — Great Big Mama — Mark Janicello — Self • 2010 — Great Big Mama XXL — Mark Janicello — Self • 2011 — Push It Now — Mark Janicello — Self • 2014 — I Am a Man — Mark Janicello — Self • 2021 — 19th Floor — Joy Crookes — Music Executive • 2021 — Late Night — Luciano — Police Officer • 2022 — White Wine — French the Kid — Oliver Jennings • 2025 — We Gotta Dance — Mark Janicello — Self • 2026 — My B.F.F. Jack Daniels — Mark Janicello — Self

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2002 — Fate by Numbers — General Walters — Computer game • 2015 — Trips — Bill Wendt — Webseries (3 episodes) • 2021 — Bronte — Detective Lloyd — Podcast • 2022 — Resurgence — Sheriff Hal Hardy — A.I. game • 2022 — Dog Sports Day — Host — Woof Woof TV

Janicello's first work as Musical Author was The Chamelon Concert which celebrated its world premiere in September 1998 in Vienna's Theater AKzent. In 1999, Janicello wrote the script for Be My Love: The Mario Lanza Musical which celebrated its world premiere in Theater AKzent on October 7, 1999 the 40th anniversary of Lanza's death. Be My Love was a jukebox musical whose score contained popular Italian Folk Songs, well-known operatic arias and a number of Lanza's hit songs. In 2001, Janicello authored the book and worked as co-lyricist with Rolf Rettburg on his first completely original musical, Charlie: A New Musical. Charlies music was composed by Béla Fischer. Charlie had its world premiere in a German-language version in Vienna's Cabaret Stadnikow in March 2001. In 2004, an English-language version of Charlie was produced in Amsterdam, with additional songs by Kai Peterson. In 2012, Janicello was engaged to write 6 articles about the marketing of art and artists for Hoop Doop Magazine. Since 2018, Janicello has worked as critic-at-large for BroadwayWorld.com reviewing stage productions in Berlin, northern Germany and London. In Spring 2022, Janicello was commissioned to write a new play Take the Bins Out, a 75-minute monologue for a visually-impaired actor. The play tells the story of Finley Whitmore, whose diagnosis of Retinitis pigmentosa, a congenital eye disorder, is wreaking havoc on his professional and personal life. Take the Bins Out celebrated its world premiere on August 4, 2023 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The Edinburgh production stars Milo Mooney, a visually-impaired actor/comedian as Finley and was directed by Janicello. The Finellis Musical with music by Ulf Weidmann and book and lyrics by Janicello premiered at Wonderville in London in June 2024. In 2026, Janicello became a contributing columnist for Creative Business News.