Mary Ekler

Biography

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
● Rehearsal Pianist/Arranger for Bette Midler, Hello Dolly! on Broadway and for Midler’s Divine
Intervention tour.
● Pianist/Arranger for 3 seasons of American Idol

Mary Ekler has served as musical director, pianist, and arranger for Grammy Award winning artists Bette Midler, Rita Coolidge, Helen Reddy, Wilson Phillips, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Little Anthony and the Imperials, Stefanie Powers, Michele Lee, Glenn Yarbrough, Dee Dee Sharp, Freda Payne, Lorenzo Lamas, Deborah Gibson, Dale Kristien, Bill Hutton, Phantom’s Leading Ladies, Katey Sagal, Martika, and Bobby Womack amongst many others.

Mary was a featured pianist and arranger on American Idol and can be seen performing on many PBS Doo Wop specials. She orchestrated a musical version of the film The Flunky starring Jimmy Van Patten and Deborah Gibson as well as orchestrating the musical BoomerMania!

An award winning songwriter, Mary’s compositions have been performed and recorded by Sergio Mendes, Glenn Yarbrough, Helen Reddy, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Deniece Williams, and Cheryl Barnes. She has composed music for the TV series Matlock and for numerous feature films.

Musical Director: Reprise Theatre Company’s Broadway Under the Stars at the Ford Theatre, A Grand Night for Singing and Nothin’ Like a Dame at The El Portal Theatre, Musical Theatre Guild's production High Spirits, Forever Plaid at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, Santa Clarita Valley Theatre Project’s production The World Goes ‘Round, The Rose Bowl Queens both directed by Kay Cole, the first annual Hope for the Holidays at the Key Club for APLA, the 2008 S.T.A.G.E. Benefit, Blame it on Bacharach, the 2009 The Brothers Gershwin S.T.A.G.E. Benefit, the 2010 S.T.A.G.E. benefit Original Cast and the REAF Help is on the Way XIV Benefit

Associate Music Director: The Grinch That Stole Christmas at the Pantages Theatre, and Reprise! productions of Company and Kismet.

KEYBOARDS/PIANIST 2018-2019: Cinderella, Wicked, Anastasia, Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, Hello Dolly, Summer, Cats, Hollywood Pantages Theatre
2007: Ray Charles Live!, Pasadena Playhouse
2004: 110 in the Shade, Pasadena Playhouse
2004: Side by Side by Sondheim, Pasadena Playhouse
REHEARSAL PIANIST/AUDITIONS/WORKSHOP/
● Los Angeles Philharmonic Hollywood Bowl Summer Musicals
○ Into the Woods (2019) Directed by Robert Longbottom, Music Director Kevin Stites
○ Annie (2018) Directed by Michael Arden, Music Director Todd Ellison
○ Mamma Mia! (2017) Directed by Kathleen Marshall, Music Director David Holcenberg
○ A Chorus Line (2016) Directed by Baayork Lee, Music Director Patrick Vaccariello
○ SPAMALOT (2015) Directed by BT McNicholl, Music Director Todd Ellison
○ Hair (2014) Directed by Adam Shankman, Music Director Lon Hoyt
○ Chicago (2013) Directed by Brooke Shields, Music Director Rob Fisher
○ Hairspray (2011) Directed by Jerry Mitchell, Music Director Lon Hoyt
● Pasadena Playhouse
● Telsey Casting
● Disney
● Michael Donovan Casting
● Stewart Whitley Casting
● Muny Theatre
● Theatre Under the Stars
● Tisch
● Emerson College
● Cal State Fullerton
● Utah Shakespeare Festival
● Carol Weiss Musical Theatre Workshops
● McPhee International Vocal Studios
● Georgia Stitt and David Kirshenbaum (Sing Me a Happy Song)
● 1999-2021 California State University Los Angeles, St. Francis High School, St. Thomas School,
Cathedral High School, Alverno High School, Temple Isaiah Los Angeles:
Into the Woods, Pippin, Fiddler on the Roof, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, West Side Story, South Pacific, George M., Grease, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Godspell, Oliver, Footloose, A Chorus Line, Les Miserables, Tarzan, In the Heights, Phantom of the Opera, Burnt Part Boys, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Beauty and the Beast, Curtains, Titanic, Legally Blonde, Hairspray, Jekyll and Hyde, Miss Saigon, Jesus Christ Superstar, Annie, Once Upon this Island, Drowsy Chaperone, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
● Judge and Musical Director: Songbook Foundation Songbook Academy
● 2009-2011 TheatreFest Texas Educational Theatre Association
1999-2021 California State University Los Angeles, St. Francis High School, St. Thomas School,
Cathedral High School, Alverno High School, Temple Isaiah Los Angeles:
Into the Woods, Pippin, Fiddler on the Roof, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, West Side Story, South Pacific, George M., Grease, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Godspell, Oliver, Footloose, A Chorus Line, Les Miserables, Tarzan, In the Heights, Phantom of the Opera, Burnt Part Boys, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Beauty and the Beast, Curtains, Titanic, Legally Blonde, Hairspray, Jekyll and Hyde, Miss Saigon, Jesus Christ Superstar, Annie, Once Upon this Island, Drowsy Chaperone, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee