Poster designed by Dave Vieira

a breakneck-paced time-traveling comedy show that is tightly choreographed and joyfully vulnerable.

Mark Pleases You is a high-energy, deeply personal, extremely silly exploration of people-pleasing and what it means to be a good person. Based on true experiences and painful feelings, the show revolves around a conversation between the actor, Mark, and his 12-year-old, most awkward self. Through multiple characters, clownwork, and innovative staging Mark takes the audience on a life and death journey culminating in a triumphant dance performance.

Watch the Full Performance online

Performed as part of the New York Comedy Festival at Caveat in Manhattan on November 12, 2023.

Awards

Best of Fringe, San Diego International Fringe Festival 2023

New Zealand International Travel Award, San Diego International Fringe Festival 2023

Best of Broadwater, Hollywood Fringe Festival 2023

Hollywood Producer’s Encore Award, Hollywood Fringe Festival 2023

What People Are Saying

“With boundless energy he is an unstoppable force of nature. Mark takes the stage like a Tasmanian devil, unleashing a live wire, fireball performance that will leave you in awe..”

— Eloise Coopersmith, GiaOnTheMove.com

“Sharply written and performed with energy, enthusiasm and charisma in spades, Mark Pleases You manages to be cleverly self-referential but not obtuse, self-reflective without being narcissistic. It is entertaining, intelligent and emotionally vulnerable (in a way that seemed more alien and confronting to the local audience than any of the American cultural references that Vigeant was sometimes at pains to explain) and an excellent example of what comedy can be”

— Nicholas Holm, ThePost.co.nz

“I sat in the audience expecting to have a kitchen sink land in my lap at any moment, which I probably wouldn’t have noticed as I was laughing so hard..”

— Ernest Kearney, TheTVolution.com

“Vigeant’s performance is cheerfully hilarious, and his excitement is infectious, making for a delightful experience that is polished in its concision, connection and feel.”

— Tom Layton, Everything-Theatre.co.uk

Audience Praise

  • Riley Smith

    Mark is hilarious! He reminds me of a young Jim Carrey. This high energy, wacky one man show is non-stop funny. Mark commits 150% to every bit. He makes some very very funny faces. He has a great physical stage presence and he seems like a super nice guy. Mark my be trying to please people less, but he pleased the hell out of everyone in the audience

  • Chris Farah

    I adored this show, it’s funny and full of heart and Mark is so present and engaging (plus a phenomenal writer), but what is remarkable is his physicality and command of instrument combined with an overall trust that makes it a JOY to behold his work.

  • Claire Woolner

    Its amazing that Mark is still breathing after he has finished this show—let alone ever able to do it again. He gives his all and brings you right along with him in this incredibly honest, yet totally bizarre wild ride of a show. He pushes you just enough but reels you in with true beauty. This show can encourage us all to have more compassion for ourselves and learn to love our authentic needs. So sweet (and I’m talking about creme savors here).

  • Anonymous

    a wonderful comedy! mark is excellent at balancing comedy and vulnerability. had me on my toes the entire time

  • Michael Choe

    Excellent performance. Very animated and fast-paced, Mark will leave you at the edge of your seat. He not only shares with us fragments of his personal life, but he also takes a head-on approach on struggles that most, if not all of us, go through at some point in our lives--whether we admit to it or not. The show portrays an honest, witty angle on an otherwise serious topic, with a story that was as enlightening as it was entertaining

  • Kaleo Astorga

    As someone who has had the pleasure of seeing Mark’s show at San Diego Fringe before seeing it here, I can confirm that Mark’s performance quality has stayed so consistent. He’s always looking for the humor in every situation and brings 110% every show. This guy is extremely entertaining very hard working, and if there’s one show to check out in Hollywood, Harrisburg, or Edinburgh, it’s Mark Vigeant’s..

  • Alex Kern

    Mark is a force to be reckoned with. This show was a rocket launch from the very beginning and never stopped. Mark jumps from one character to the next with precision and joy unlike I have ever seen onstage

  • Emma Irene Olson

    I loved this so much. A silly and wonderful celebration of simply being who you are! While it's about Mark, I related to so much of what he shared and loved getting to watch someone connect to their own inner child in the funniest way.

  • Jonatan Pinke

    This show was an energy bomb and an invitation to look into yourself and love what you see!

  • Anonymous

    Fantastic! A whirlwind! Gripping and energetic!

  • Dan Prevette

    Mark deserves all the buzz, and this show is a must see. I'm so glad I saw this show. I didn't know Mark, and I had never heard of the show, but my god. This is Fringe. Unpredictable, unstoppable, unapologetic, and unbelievably funny. It's an absolute blast.

  • Dahiana Bilbao

    WOW - so good!!!

  • Ariel Jimenez

    This was like Jim Carrey's "The Mask" but about going through puberty. You ever see that one episode of Community where Abed can't decide if Nicolas Cage is a good actor or not and then he gets up on the table and pretends to be a cat? Yeah the whole show is pretty much that. This show was insane and unhinged. Mark is a phenomenal performer who pretty much has the audience on the edge of their seat the whole time. This show was just chaos (granted I went to the midnight showing where Mark was running on 3hrs of sleep) but still. Pure chaos. It was such a fun performance and I highly recommend everyone see it if they want to see some pure clowning.

  • Katierose Enriquez

    I loved this show. I was doing that hissing, breathless addictive laughing, when you start to wind down and you think you might finally exhale and the laughing starts back up again. This show had my number. It made me laugh and got me right in the heart. And there is a LESSON! Seriously! Perhaps it's my geriatric millennial showing, but this show really spoke to me. I saw it at 11pm on a Sunday night and on Monday I negotiated my obligations to serve me and my priorities. I want to be clear though, this is not a funny TedTalk. It's legit, it's personal, and it's super weird in the best way (his 11 year old self hit VERY close to home for me.) GO SEE IT

  • Katharine Means

    Well, I certainly was pleased! Mark plays with absolute abandon: bold, joyful and vulnerable. He commits to the bit like no one you've seen before.

  • Jon Bershad

    An absolute hilarious burst of energy!

  • Asta Leigh

    Mark is a BEAST of an actor! It’s mind blowing how skilled he is. What I love the most is how incredibly apparent it is that he loves what he does. And we in turn love it too! The show is a fantastic trip and one I’d take any day of the week.

  • Katherine Bourne Taylor

    This show is SO FUNNY and Mark is hilarious. His nonstop energy is infectious and you feel really taken care of as an audience member.

  • Samantha Bowling

    Marks energy is arresting. He is a bullet train the moment he steps on stage. The pacing of the show is wildly impressive as are his character performances. Distinct and nuanced while also being wildly broad in a delightful way, Mark’s commitment draws you in. I felt like I was watching Jim Carrey.

  • Harley Walker

    Mark fully embodied every single moment of this show! A triumph! He went to the fullest extent of every character moment and lived in each one so completely . The boldness of his choices never covered the truthfulness of the story he was telling and I found myself wanting to stand up and yell “ME TOO” countless times over. This show is what the Fringe is all about!

  • Molly Kauffman

    So fun! Everyone who hates on solo shows don’t understand how fun it is to watch one person dissect all their trauma and run around on stage making silly faces and good points. I was laughing the entire show. Everyone go see this!

  • Ryan Lisman

    I had a wonderful time seeing this courageous and deeply inspiring performance by Mark Vigeant. I was constantly blown away by the level of complete vulnerability and willingness that Mark displayed at every single moment of this show. I can’t even imagine having that level of vitality. Mark was drenched in sweat for almost the entirety of the performance, and I deeply appreciate the commitment that he gave to providing total entertainment to the audience. In addition to being extremely funny, the show touches on some incredibly important sociological dynamics that we can all learn from. I was proud to give this production a standing ovation at the end and I’m extremely glad that I decided to see this show. I promise you that you will also be deeply engaged and captivated by this completely unique show. This show inspired me to further pursue the courage inside myself as a theatrical artist, providing a lovely reminder that we show the best of ourselves when we make the brave choice to share our stories authentically.

  • Audrey Valcourt

    Consider me pleased! Mark is a masterful performer and writer. This show had me hyperventilating from laughter but it also got me right in the heart.

  • Jill Young

    This show keeps you on your toes-- from broken laptops to Satan to axe body spray (is that part staying?) Mark pulls from a seemingly never-ending bag of tricks to craft a story as hilarious as it is entertaining. Utilizing an array of voices, facial expressions, and well-timed projections, Mark brings his life perspective to you, and crafts a witty takedown of people-pleasing that, ironically, will do nothing but please you. Brilliant!!

  • Hailey Mcafee

    The highest of high energy shows, I absolutely loved Mark Pleases You! Mark is a master of timing, the play moves fast but he somehow slips in asides to the audience, all while jumping between very specific characters. With a core story about acceptance, and a finale that made my face hurt from smiling so much, I can't recommend this show enough.

  • Kelsey Harper

    Mark's show is a high energy tour de force with so much heart and sooo much spot on character work. Mark Pleases You has earned its hype.

  • Nathan Kamens

    Powerful and fun show - I highly recommend checking it out!!!

  • Anonymous

    Mark manages to crack me the fuck up repeatedly (I'm talking keeling over in my seat, crying laughing) AND reflect on deep truths about what it means to love myself and others authentically. His energy is unparalleled by any other performer I've ever seen. It's clear he's whip smart, has done "the work" in therapy, and is a seasoned performer that makes the audience feel so at home. 10/10 would recommend seeing this show multiple times since it's so juicy and entertaining!

  • Charles Day

    A wild and fiercely imaginative show. As zany as it is hearfelt. As hilarious as it is deeply moving. Mark Vigeant does way more than please. He delights.

  • Lani Harms

    Such a high energy, hilarious & insightful show. Mark is such a charismatic performer and tells this deeply personal story in a way that also feels universal. Such an inspiration!

Directed by Joanna Simmons

Joanna Simmons is a writer/director living in New York City. She has directed over 20 solo shows, countless comedy shows, and taught classes on solo show creation and creative writing. A self-proclaimed, "Story Midwife", She'd love to help you get your next show out of your head! Instagram @joannaksimmons