About you
Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, lived a boy named Ron Mark. Ron loved to entertain and encourage others by using his gifts of humor, physical comedy and vocal sound effects. This was his way of creatively connecting with the world around him, making friends and bringing joy and laughter to people who were hurting. It was his way to help others look beyond their own struggle
s and focus on those things that would bring them encouragement and hope. At an early age, Ron imitated just about any sound you could imagine. It was not surprising to find him joining in on the barking conversations of the neighbors’ show dogs, harmonizing to the sound of his father’s electric razor and mother’s Hoover Constellation Floating Vacuum, or scaring his family with the sounds of the warning bell crossing gates and oncoming train as they drove over the railroad tracks near his home. As the school’s best know student for doing impressions and the most challenging for his school principals, he knew he was destined for the stage some day. Growing up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a town internationally known for theater, his family frequented the Ordway, the Guthrie, Old Log, Chanhassen and more. Ingrained in his upbringing, these names became household words synonymous to great entertainment. His father loved the theater and knew the words to all the classic musicals. His mother, a cross between Carol Burnett, Lucille Ball and Mary Tyler Moore was a published fiction writer, drama coach and director of local community theater. Ron’s natural musical and creative abilities are further enhanced by inheriting talents from family members who are professional musicians. His maternal grandmother was a child prodigy violinist with perfect pitch. His grandfather excelled on trumpet and at 19 was the youngest member of the L.A. His aunt is a professional flutist who has performed music for the film industry at Universal, Disney, and Paramount Studios and was principal flutist for MGM's famous movie, “Dr. Zhivago and soloed on the soundtrack of "Sweet Liberty". Ron grew up watching great children's shows including Fred Rogers' (Mr. Rogers Neighborhood), Minnesota's very own Roger Awsumb and Donald Lynn Dwyer's (Casey Jones and Roundhouse Rodney), Robert Keeshan's (Captain Kangaroo), Fran Allison, and Burr Tillstrom's (Kukla, Fran and Ollie) and Bert and Nancy Claster's (Romper Room). Comedy greats such as Flip Wilson, Jerry Lewis, Buddy Hackett, Robin Williams, Ruth Buzzi, Lilly Tomlin, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Dick Van D**e, Laurel and Hardy, Abbot and Costello, the Marx Brothers, The Three Stooges and many more. These entertainers helped shape his view on comedy and formed his unique and dynamic style. As a child, it was not surprising to find Ron’s closest friends asking his parents to come out and play as well. His home had become a hotbed of outrageous material just waiting to be discovered. Around age 10, Ron appeared as an extra in a local Poppin’ Fresh Pies commercial, now Baker’s Square. At age 12, he formed a comedy group with 3 of his peers and wrote, directed and performed slapstick comedy skits for students at local schools. In his teens, he sang on Minneapolis radio for “WCCO’s Boone and Erickson Show” and traveled nationally performing and competing in various singing and dancing groups, winning awards in Opryland, Nashville, Tennessee and on the East Coast. While in college, Ron continued performing and competing nationally with his musical groups, doing stand-up comedy and playing piano at local businesses and non-profit organizations. He appeared as a wild salesman, town's person and the Buffalo Bill’s melodic first tenor in “The Music Man” and a mischievous sailor and waiter in “Cabaret”. in Speech Communications. But, his passion for acting, singing and songwriting had begun to set a blaze in his heart. It had taken on a new meaning and purpose in his life. In 1991, Ron moved to Canoga Park, California to pursue his dream as a singer/songwriter. He quickly gained the attention of 2 record companies, Sunrise Records, Inc. and Hollywood Artists Records, and was offered a demo and commercial recording contract for his original compositions of “Face To Face” and “Life Of Mystery”. He continued on as the astute and charismatic Perchik in “Fiddler On The Roof”, the Biblical character of Lazarus in “Beyond The Cross”, and was cast to perform in “Oklahoma”. He has sung on stage with local and national Christian recording artists “Three Soul Cry” and “Greg Long of Avalon”, and was seen on ABC’s syndicated television show, “America’s Funniest People”. After a long battle of self-discovery, soul-searching, dissatisfaction with the quality of children’s programming and heartbreak over the loss of such great childhood entertainers and educators of his youth, he quickly realized that there was very little, if any, other highly qualified and wholesome children's programming available for young audiences today. So in 2004, he founded Tales That Teach, later renamed Tales To Teach. Tales To Teach is a high-quality, interactive, entertaining and educational storytelling service that provides children and adults with creative and impactful stories for any event. The mission of Tales To Teach is to promote literacy, by providing high-quality, highly interactive and educational storytelling experiences that come to life and ignite the desire in children to read, write and memorize what they have learned, as well as equipping them with the tools and skills necessary to creatively express their thoughts, feelings, knowledge and emotions, so that they may be able to effectively communicate who they are, what they know and how they can use their, lives. knowledge and experiences to positively and powerfully transform the world around them. In 2008, after the birth of their third and youngest daughter Miley, Ron and his wife learned that she was born with a life-threatening and incurable condition called Neurofibromatosis Type-1 or NF-1. Little did they know the life-altering journey Miley and the entire family were about to embark on. Partnering with Miracles of Mitch, now Pinky Swear Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, HopeKids Organization, The NF Foundation (Upper Midwest Division) and The Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota, the CAP Agency (The National Head Start Program), The Dodge Nature Center of MN, The Minnesota Arboretum, Eagle Ridge Academy and more, Tales To Teach had taken on an even greater meaning; to bring joy, hope, encouragement, self-esteem and faith -building skills, even the Word of God to children with life-threatening illnesses. With an arsenal of over 100 vocal sound effects and an entourage of dynamic physicality, Ron’s wildly entertaining and all-encompassing storytelling style quickly engages his audiences. From the honk of an elephant and the roar of a lion to the sounds of helicopters, chainsaws, trumpets and more, his stories come alive in the eyes and hearts of his listeners. He takes them on exciting journeys through real and make-believe life, appealing to all ages from 3-103. He delights and enthralls audiences in an interactive, fun and educational way, leaving them captivated with an adventure they will cherish for years! Ron is an accomplished singer/songwriter, actor and professional children’s storyteller. He currently resides in Eden Prairie, Minnesota with his lovely and supportive wife and 3 hilarious daughters Taylor, Haley and Miley. They are his biggest fans!
