Rose Markisello

It was Queens, Fall of 1984, I snuck into auditions for the musical "Gypsy" because taking time out of the Irish-Italian family Locksmith business to sing and dance was forbidden! After singing in church and begging for dance lessons for over a decade, it was always NO! I HAD to seize my chance. "What will you sing" asked Mr. Garvey, our hard-working director. I panicked! "GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY" I shouted with way too much gusto! With my knees knocking, I opened my mouth, and surprisingly, my voice rang out. Then the room fell silent.....all eyes were staring at me. "Oh No! why did I come here... " Suddenly the applause spread throughout the high school auditorium. I was loud, I was bawdy, I was Mamma Rose! Why my parents let me do it, I'll never know, but it changed my life. I pursued filmmaking at NYU, which for me, was like entering The Land of Oz. Fall of Senior year, I moved to Rome. Talk about an adventure for this Queens girl, yes I became fluent in Italian. I later earned my living as a stagehand in Film/TV AND pursued my joy as an actress. Then 9/11 happened. I took a hiatus, becoming a volunteer at OWN Charter school to be near my children in that turbulent time. Putting my talents to work, I directed the school Talent Show, and brought down the house with a rousing rendition of "The Mom Song". My world spun-out again, when I became a single Mom. My son's 4th grade teacher told me "You're here every day, get paid, be a substitute teacher!" Me? Am I really giving up my career in Film/TV? Well.... 13 years later, my children are grown up, thousands of NYC students know me as Ms. Rose, and this freelance work allows me to stand firmly once again in my power as an actress. In my spare time I sat on the Board of Laguardia Arts High School/Music Dept. with Bernice Fleischer, Coached Swimming to over 1,200 young Champions at St Sebastian, and to this day I am still active with Amnesty International. It's 2023, I'm auditioning and making Indie films. So thrilled to be back. La Vita e bella! Caio!