Benefit Planned
for Local Entertainment
Favorite
Mark OToole
Sickness Takes Toll on
Wonderful & Giving
Local
Singer
For those who "love"
entertainment, over the years many residents of the Anthem communities have
developed a "love affair" with the personality and
voice of Mark OToole.
You've seen him at
numerous venues that include the M Resort, Green Valley Ranch, MacDonald Ranch,
and Sun City Anthem's Freedom Hall just to name a
few.
His crowning jewel was a
production he wrote to honor the music of Barry Manilow and performed at Cabaret
Jazz at the Smith Center to a sold-out audience that gave him one standing
ovation after another.
Most recently, he's been
the Master of Ceremonies at the Cannery on Saturdays, The Rampart each Wednesday
evening, and the Marriott Sunday brunch.
It was anticipated that Mark's career
would take a wonderful turn when he performed his "Manilow" show at Green Valley Ranch this past
summer...
...a "breakthrough" to a new beginning
in his career, and combined with a new agent, bookings for 2017 across the
country and on a number of cruise ships began to soar.
Until...
He developed what he believed was a "cold" just prior to his Green Valley performance.
He developed what he believed was a "cold" just prior to his Green Valley performance.
He was not well, but like the true
professional he's always been, he stopped the show with standing ovations
amongst the over 2,000 people in attendance.
He would then go to an Urgent Care
facility, and life would take a path that would destroy so many of his
dreams.
He was over
medicated, and before long, he would lose sight in one eye, parts of his body
would begin to swell, and eventually, he was unable to
walk.
I would eventually see Mark at his home
and witnessed a man whose life was in "limbo"...
...a man who had given so much to so
many, was now in a situation where his entire career was in
jeopardy.
...a man who was incurring medical
bills far beyond the reach of any individual...
...a man who looked
"lost".
This was not the first medical setback
for Mark OToole.
It was approximately 9 years ago when
he would see a doctor for a routine physical exam...without any symptoms of any
illness...
...and be told that he had Stage Four Cancer...that he should make
preparations....that his life would probably end within a 60
day period.
...but Mark was a fighter. He would
undergo months of chemotherapy and through the grace of God, became a CANCER SURVIVOR, passing the critical 5 year
period.
And...as a cancer survivor, there has
never been a time when a person who has been afflicted with that dreaded
disease, that Mark OToole hasn't picked up a phone,
or traveled to spend time with them, to share his story and give
them confidence.
And now, though it appears that he is
happily...yet VERY SLOWLY... on the road to recovery
ONCE AGAIN, he has been faced with medical bills that are far beyond his ability
to pay.
And so....Mark
OToole needs your help.
His many friends in the entertainment
world have scheduled a benefit to assist him, and we hope you will share your
love with a person who has shared his, for years.
Won't you share your love with Mark
on Wednesday, November
16th, from 2:30pm to 5:00pm*
at:
Addison's
Lounge
The Rampart
Casino
221 N. Rampart
Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV
89145
(702)
507-5900
*Seating is limited.
Doors open at 2:00pm.
Seating is first come first
serve.
DONATION:
$20.00 suggested donation at the
door on the day of the event.
A "Go Fund
Me" page has been set up by Kathy Wolfe of Club Fortune Casino
for any donation by clicking on this link:
An alternative to the "Go Fund
Me" site would be to consider sending a donation by check payable to "Mark OToole" to:
Dick
Arendt
2891 Scotts Valley
Drive
Henderson, NV
89052
Any and All Donations will be provided to Mark OToole in order to pay his medical expenses.
...and we'll present it to him on
behalf of the residents of the Anthem communities at his
benefit.
Thank you and please,
try to make it !
He Needs Your Help Now More than Ever !
Do You Know Mark OToole ?
Would you like to send him a message ?
Send it to us at:
My reaction when I saw him?
This is an entertainer's entertainer. The place was full, and the audience literally adored him. He had a "following" amongst seniors that I had never seen. Not only did he possess a wonderful voice, but his repoire with an audience created a warm and fun atmosphere that allowed people to be themselves.
He didn't have just an "audience"; he had an "audience" that were his "friends" and "unofficial family" !
About that time, I became both the Entertainment Editor and Radio Talk Show host for The Vegas Voice, and my wife, Marla, the publication's Editor.
It was an exciting time during which that publication wished to enter the "entertainment" field with an afternoon production called...
An Afternoon Affair.
They were searching for a Master of Ceremonies for their shows at Sunset Station and Red Rock, and the first person who came to our minds was "the guy who sang at the M"....Mark OToole.
Mark was a "natural", and as the show proceeded at Sunset Station, the showroom was filled each week during the entire run of the show.
Gary Anthony (a premier Frank Sinatra tribute artist), would take the MC reigns at Red Rock's "An Afternoon Affair" productions, and the two created a following that covered the entire Las Vegas Valley.
Gary will be joining the army of local entertainers at Mark's benefit.
Mark would find the weekly talent, the musicians to back them up, worked feverishly to rehearse, and often, pay the musicians a portion of his weekly compensation...
...a figure so low, it would be embarrassing to disclose...
...out of his own pocket ... in order to ensure the show's quality.
And...afterwards, jump in his car and travel to the Rampart Hotel in order to perform for an additional 3 hours !
...but...it was in April, 2014 when, in my opinion, the talent of Mark OToole shined like it had never done before !
The Vegas Voice sponsored a show at the Henderson Pavilion to honor World War II vets called:
"Keeping the Spirit of '45 Alive", a show that was dedicated to those who served our nation during World War II.
If my memory serves me, more than 1,500 people attended that free event...and the M.C. was Mark OToole !
This was a "first" for many of us at The Vegas Voice, and to say the least, a number of us, hadn't a clue as to what to expect.
...until Mark OToole took over !
This man "took the bull by the horns" and we quickly realized he could "do it all". He was able to bring order to a chaotic day...a true professional !
If there was any doubt, Mark OToole would not only win the hearts of so many, but he would also become an "unofficial" member of the family of countless seniors in the Las Vegas valley.
In my mind, it was the talent of Mark OToole who built the foundation on which The Vegas Voice entered the entertainment world.
He really is...an entertainer's entertainer.