Bio

Susannah Mars was in holiday high gear in the critically acclaimed Mars On Life; Holiday Edition at Artists Repertory Theatre, in Portland, Oregon. She also appreared as Becca in A.R.T's Rabbit Hole.

You may have seen her recently as Susan in The 5th Avenue's production of Company, in Seattle, or as Sue in Wade McCollum's One (Insight Out Theatre Collective.) Maybe you saw her as Reno Sweeny in Anything Goes at the Oregon Festival of American Music, or in My Fair Lady at Portland Center Stage or Dallas Theater Center. She traveled to Ashland to play Keely in Pete 'n Keely at The Oregon Cabaret Theater. Back in Portland, she was Marjorie in The Tales of the Allergist's Wife (Triangle Productions) and appeared in Gilgamesh (The Haven Project).

She cooked up a storm as Karen in Dinner With Friends (Artists Repertory Theater) and thrilled audiences at Portland Center Stage as Rose in Gypsy, Rhoda in A New Brain, and The Meredith in Bat Boy. She also appeared in the Portland premiere of Closer Than Ever (Oregon Stage Company), and originated the role of Mary Reade in the world premiere production of A Pirate's Lullaby (Artists Repertory Theater). Other favorite roles include Jill, Debbie, Betsy, and April in The Heidi Chronicles, and Lucy in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.

Susannah has been honored with five Portland Drama Critics awards: four for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical — for her portrayals of Fanny Brice in Funny Girl (Musical Theatre Company), Mabel in Chaps (Artist's Repertory Theater), Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (Musical Theatre Company), and Sister Robert Ann in Nunsense (Triangle Productions); the fifth for Dinner With Friends (Artist's Repertory Theater).

Regionally, she has appeared in Das Barbecu (ACT, Seattle), as Eva in Evita and Meg in Brigadoon (Coeur d'Alene Summer Theater), and as Dr. Charlotte in Flasettos (The Group Theatre, Seattle).

Susannah has soloed with several symphonies, including the Oregon Symphony, Norman Leyden conducting, in A Tribute to Cole Porter, Say It With Music; The Best of Irving Berlin, and the Concerts In the Neighborhood series. She opened the Bullitt Cabaret at ACT in Seattle with a reprise of her show Mars on Life, which premiered in New York City at Don't Tell Mama and Danny's Skylight Room. Her debut solo recording, Take Me to the World, was released on the Los Angeles-based label LML Music and was nominated as Best CD of 1998 by the Manhattan Association of Cabaret Artists and Clubs.

Susannah lives in Damascus, Oregon, with her husband, Gary, daughters, Kate and Olivia, two dogs, four chickens, two fish, and a frog.