Moving Stories
Mark Ferrando ’11 has a résumé that illustrates his versatility: stunt performer, acrobat, actor, circus artist.
Ferrando has channeled his passion for physicality and theater into a career that calls for both. As a student at UC Davis, he studied dramatic arts and was a part of the gymnastics club.
After graduation, he pursued further study at the Circus Warehouse in New York. The professional training program provided three years of instruction in flying trapeze, juggling, partner acrobatics, trampoline and more.
“The wow factor, sure it’s impressive, but the core of circus to me is opportunity and curiosity,” Ferrando said. “It takes a circus community to say, ‘What if I throw this up in the air and catch it? What about two or three? What about five?’ That curiosity paired with physical theater is what draws me in.”
Performance jobs have given him experience in a variety of settings, including being an acrobat in the Metropolitan Opera, playing Electro in the Marvel Universe Live! tour of Age of Heroes, and appearing in the 2017 film The Greatest Showman.
These days, Ferrando is based in Los Angeles and focused on the motion capture industry. Actors don a high-tech suit and their movements are recorded in 3-D, often for filmmaking or video games.
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Rob Lea ’03 summited Mount Everest, swam the English Channel and biked across the U.S. in 2019.
Vicky Benzing ’80 became an aerosport pilot for her second career.
John Hennigan ’02 has become a star of pro wrestling.
Cara-Beth Burnside ’92 helped find a place for women in pro skateboarding.
