Mark O'Brien's biography

MARK O'BRIEN is one of the most creative and original contemporary producers of illusion and magical entertainment in the world today. Since 1984, together with his company, MarkOBrien Productions based in Orlando, Florida, O'Brien has been providing top quality illusion acts, full scale shows, consultation and design for both popular and corporate entertainment. This encompasses casinos, cruise lines, theme parks, television shows, movies, trade and corporate shows, theaters, special events, marketing programs and advertising campaigns internationally. Most recently O'Brien has focused his energies on creating custom programs for corporations.

Mark O'Brien is also the creator of "TERROR MAZE HORROR FACTORY"sm. This unique "haunted" attraction goes beyond anything that has been done before! Mark O'Brien created and conceived the most "frightening" combination of incredible illusion and live performance to play in markets such as Theme Parks, State Fairs and Arenas. Mark O'Brien's TERROR MAZE HORROR FACTORY was the featured attraction at the 1997 "MADISON SQUARE GARDEN Scare Gardens" Attraction where O'Brien was directing, consulting and producing. Prior to coming to New York City, Mark O'Brien's TERROR MAZE played the Illinois State Fair and New York State Fair.

During the summer of '97, "Mark O'Brien's Magic Factory" sm appeared as a featured show at the Iowa State Fair, where it was a big success. Since 1996 MarkOBrien Productions Robot Division has provided ROBOTS for engagements throughout the US at dozens of trade shows and fairs such as the Western Idaho State Fair, Mid-South Fair, and Iowa State Fair.

Recent corporate clients include Hewlett Packard, Bear Stearns, Envion, and Wawa. For each of these Companies MarkOBrien Productions successfully produced major entertainment program(s) with magic and illusion. In several cases, O'Brien created original scripts enhancing the features of the company's product and services or scripting which addressed the corporate meeting's objectives. In many of these productions, MarkOBrien Productions provided the staging, lighting, sound and technical crew as well as the talent and exotic animals.

In 1995 and 1996, "Mark O'Brien's MAGIC FACTORY" sm played in Germany at FORT FUN ABENTEURLAND. It was the most popular show in the park's history and set record breaking attendance. "The Magic Factory" is a complete Production Show featuring Mark O'Brien and large scale illusions with choreographed dance, full intelligent lighting systems, fantastic special effects, 10 foot tall robots and alien creatures, exotic animals and pyrotechnics.

In between engagements in Germany, O'Brien acted as the principal stunt man for the most dangerous LEOPARD STUNTS ever filmed. Together with his exceptional ASIAN LEOPARD, "Big Boy", O'Brien spent six weeks filming in Moab, Utah. This Fine Line Feature, "Passion in the Desert" was released nationally in June of 1998.

Mark O'Brien has performed nationally, from Atlantic City's production shows at TRUMP CASTLE, TRUMP TAJ MAHAL, RESORTS INTERNATIONAL and SHOWBOAT CASINOS to major corporate shows for IBM in San Diego. Mark is known by millions of kids across America through his many appearances on NICKELODEON Television Networks "Total Panic" and "What would you do?" programs. In 1995 Mark O'Brien co-produced with Nickelodeon a TV-Pilot called "The Magic Of Mess". Visitors at Universal Studios Florida could see the show live during the taping.

In 1994, Mark O'Brien Productions designed and created illusions for the International touring show Cole Porter's ALADDIN. O'Brien Productions also constructed all the hard scenery for this show. The effects received great reviews! Also in the Asia, MarkOBrien Productions constructed a 20 foot laser gun with simulated laser lighting for the WORLD'S LARGEST STUNT SHOW in Thailand. MarkOBrien Productions also costumed this production and created the music score and sound effects.

Other projects have included custom designed unusual magic and special effects aboard ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINES' super liner the "Majesty of the Seas". In 1992, "Mark O'Brien's MAGIC FACTORY"sm was running at BUSCH GARDENS in Tampa, Florida where it played to as many as 9,000 people daily. During Halloween 1988, O'Brien produced and starred in a Laser-Illusion spectacular for the "WAR of the WORLDS" 50th ANNIVERSARY Celebration. This production generated international media attention for O'Brien and was highly acclaimed for its use of lasers to enhance illusions.

In Orlando, O'Brien designed illusions for a "STAR WARS" illusion-laser show for WALT DISNEY WORLD in association with LUCAS FILMS. He also designed and supplied illusions for MICKEY'S STARLAND (Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom) which were viewed by 25,000 people daily. Mark also performed his illusion act at Disney's PLEASURE ISLAND on New Year's Eve and has designed and supplied customized illusions for Disney's Corporate Shows.

In the early 1980s, world famous illusionist Doug Henning introduced Mark's act on a TV Special show casing young talent calling his act "Most impressive". Since then O'Brien has produced, directed, performed, consulted and supplied Companies, Events, Casinos, Cruise Lines and Theme Parks with spectacular illusions, shows and creative services. A graduate of Northwestern University where he majored in television and theater arts, Mark O'Brien continues to create and present the unique, unusual and amazing!


"THE MAGIC FACTORY" is a federally registered service mark of MarkOBrien Productions FL, Inc.

Updated June 1998