Alex Marcus

Writer. Creative strategist. Lifelong theme park obsessive.

Alex Marcus at Universal Orlando

I've got 15+ years of creative and strategic work experience, from working with executives to define customer experience for Fortune 500 brands to writing and performing on stages across North America.

And I regret to inform you that I am not this Alexander Marcus.

Cast of Waiting for Ganol at opening night

Playwriting

I've been a theater fan since age five, and a playwright since 2020. My work tends to be highly atmospheric and often takes place in real time, following ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary situations.

Produced

Waiting for Ganol
A South Philly backyard. A gender reveal. A giant cannoli. What could go wrong? Philadelphia Fringe Festival, 2023 · Sold out its run, won the Audience Choice Award. The Broad Street Review said my script "crackled with wit and excellent characterization." Read the review → · Read excerpt →

In Development

This Night
A family gathers for a Passover Seder in a nondescript detention facility · Selected by the Alliance for Jewish Theatre for their New Play Development Lab and subsequent showcase · Read excerpt →
The Gulch
At a bachelor party in Nashville, a young widower struggles to connect · Developed at ESPA · Read excerpt →
Happiest Place
A young couple drifts apart as each discovers an online niche · Developed at ESPA · Read excerpt →

Full scripts available on request.

Fellowships & Affiliations

Alliance for Jewish Theatre
Two-time playwriting fellow, emerging artists fellowship
Jewish Plays Project
Two-time jury member, annual playwriting competition
ESPA @ Primary Stages
Studied playwriting at an esteemed Off-Broadway theater

Journalism & Criticism

I love to report a story from the real world — especially something strange or fun. My nonfiction on arts, pop culture, food, and city life has appeared in Slate, The A.V. Club, and a slew of alt weeklies, blogs, and local newspapers.

Selected Bylines

"Chuck E. Cheese's Music Is Legitimately Great – and has some surprising undertones"
Slate
"John Mulaney is Back with His First Love: Stand Up"
Metro Philadelphia
"Is Magic Ready for a Reappearing Act in Philly?"
Philadelphia City Paper
"Koo Koo Kanga Roo Answers Pressing Questions From Actual Kids"
The A.V. Club
A Southwest Airlines pilot placing a hand on the redesigned heart symbol on the plane's fuselage

Selected Work

Toys "R" Us & Babies "R" Us
Brand VoiceCreative StrategyGuest Experience
Developed end-to-end brand voices for two beloved retailers, integrating verbal and visual design with an innovative retail experience. Read the article
Southwest Airlines
Brand VoiceNarrative Design
Built a brand voice and story to integrate with a visual refresh for the most-loved airline in the U.S. — filled with confidence, humor, and a whole lot of personality. Read more
Carnival Corporation
MessagingGuest ExperienceCreative Strategy
Owned messaging bible and led copywriting for transformative guest experience project, working closely with Disney veterans to deliver a seamless, innovative experience that generated 14B+ media impressions at launch. Read the article
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Narrative DesignExecutive Presentation
Spearheaded crisis communication campaign, working closely with the CMO, President, Chief Medical Officer, and Board of Directors to develop a strong yet simple narrative to carry through OOH, email, internal, and other channels. Read more
Gemini Pretzel
Creative StrategyGuest Experience
Founded a soft pretzel pop-up that originated the "Toronto-style" pretzel, owning the full build — strategy, brand, and guest experience — from scratch. Read the article

Awards & Recognition

Silver Award, Best Brand Evolution — Lincoln Financial
Transform Awards North America · 2025
Silver Award, Branding and Identity Systems — Lincoln Financial
Graphic Design USA · 2025
Silver Award, Best Brand Evolution (Consumer) — DigiKey
Transform Awards North America · 2024
Gold Award, Identity Suite — State Street
Marcom Awards · 2024
Silver Award, Financial Services Print — State Street
Graphis Design Annual Awards · 2024
Branding & Identity Programs Award — State Street
Graphic Design USA Awards · 2023
Indigo Design Award — CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
Indigo Design Award · 2022
Brands That Matter Award — Memorial Sloan Kettering
Fast Company · 2021
Silver Award, Most Effective Media Plan — Memorial Sloan Kettering
Campaign US Media Awards · 2021
Bronze Award, Best Brand Evolution — Toys "R" Us
Transform Awards North America · 2019
Gold Award, Digital IoT — Carnival Corporation
New York Design Awards (DRIVENxDESIGN) · 2018
World's Most Innovative Companies — Carnival Corporation
Fast Company · 2017 · Ranked #5 in Design, #9 in Travel

Case Studies & Work Samples

Detailed case studies are confidential. Enter the password below to view, or request access.

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Sequel: The Musical poster with caricatures of the cast

Performance Credits

New York, NY

House team · Longform musical
Monthly show · Longform musical
Monthly show · Longform musical
Kafka — Various
Indie team · Longform

Oakland, CA

Liquid Mind — Pan Theater
House team · Longform
The All-Pan Players — Pan Theater
Weekend show · Shortform & longform

Training & Education

New York, NY

Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
Core Improv Program (1–5), Advanced Study Program, Musical Improv, Character, Magical Realism · Instructors incl. Anthony Atamanuik, Jackie Clarke, Jon Gabrus, Chris Gethard, Charlie Todd
Magnet Theater
Musical Improv Core Program (1–3)

Toronto, ON

Comedy Bar
Pro Scenic, Pro Harold, Pro Longform

Oakland, CA

Pan Theater
Various workshops

Philadelphia, PA

Philly Improv Theater
Advanced Longform
A young Alex Marcus riding a roller coaster with his father

It all started with Thunder Run.

I'm a born-and-raised New Yorker, but when my dad was transferred to Toronto for work I took advantage of Canada's looser height requirements and rode my first adult coaster at age two.

In the years since, I've obsessed over many more coasters — plus the speakers camouflaged as rocks at Walt Disney World, Poseidon's Fury at Universal's Islands of Adventure, and more immersive attractions across the globe.

Over those same years, I've worked as a management consultant, a creative consultant, and an entrepreneur — and I've built a thriving writing practice across multiple disciplines.

Now, I'm bringing my experience into an industry I've loved since that first spin on Thunder Run. Here's hoping it'll be a great ride.

View my resume →

Alexander Marcus, the German pop star, in an Egyptian-themed costume

If you look for me on the internet, you're about a million times more likely to come across Alexander Marcus, the German pop star.

You know, the one who has more than 10 million streams on "Hawaii Toast"?

Starred in Glanz & Gloria?

Is known for going everywhere with his signature plastic globe, Globi?

Seems like a great guy. Certainly a fellow creative spirit. But, for better or worse, he ain't this Alex Marcus.

Oh, my favorite song? I'd have to say "Papaya." Though I do also have a soft spot for "1, 2, 3."

(And it's just a pseudonym, by the way. He's not even a real Alex Marcus.)