Marc Summers Lights Up Historical Mt. Gretna Theater with Nostalgia and Entertainment
Situated in the captivating arts and resort enclave of Mount Gretna, PA, Gretna Theatre stands as a distinguished gem among south-central Pennsylvania's limited professional theaters. With its rich heritage dating back to 1927, it proudly claims a place as one of America's longstanding summer theaters. The legacy of theatrical production at this very site stretches even further, tracing its roots to the establishment of the Pennsylvania Chautauqua in 1892, which gave rise to the inaugural Playhouse that remains a cherished landmark.
The landmark prides itself on breathing life into the surrounding area with performance artistry that must be seen to believe. As the sun begins to set over the seemingly enchanted forest that surrounds Mount Gretna the smell of homemade ice cream, root beer floats, and a feeling of nostalgia envelopes the Gretna grounds.
Marc Summers on set at Mount Gretna Theater in Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania
‘On your mark. Get set. GO!’ As a kid growing up back in the day, those iconic words were practically gospel in the homes of millions throughout North America. American TV personality Marc Summers burst on children’s screens in the early 90s with a game show on Nickelodeon called Double Dare. This show consisted of trivia, physical challenges, and a wild obstacle course. However, behind all the joy and laughter that was displayed lived a man that had to go through life obstacles while trying to entertain viewers. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder was a relatively new condition that wasn’t mainstream, and Summers wasn’t aware that he has been dealing with this disorder his entire life.
Sefra Mack (Left) Marc Summers (Middle) Evan Mack (Right) on stage at Mount Gretna Theater
“Dr. Hollander was the expert of OCD at the time, and because I had him as a guest, I was lucky enough to meet him and pursue it and called him up one night and said, it's getting worse, and I need you to help me. And so, he set me up in Los Angeles with behavior therapy on his medication. And I worked with him. And I was lucky that that happened,” says Summers about how his condition was treated.
Summers created his one-man show “The Life and Slimes of Marc Summers” to tell the story of his OCD as well as his inspirational journey that has been met with failure as well as success. The Gretna Theater welcomed Summers with open arms to set the stage for his vulnerability and give theatergoers an unforgettable experience.
