Mark Staggs Comedy & Impersonations

Mark Staggs
Comedy & Impersonations

I live in a world of Celebrity Impersonations where I see Arnold Schwarzenegger as Darth Vadar, Jack Nicholson working the drive thru at Jack-in-Box, John Wayne talking with Katherine Hepburn in Rooster Cogburn and Bill Clinton singing songs about Hillary. I do over 70 impersonations of famous people - celebrities - characters. All of them tell jokes or stories or sing songs like Johnny Cash singing Folsom Prison.

I did my first impression at the age of five. My first John Wayne impression was in 1967 when I and my friends watched “The War Wagon” at the bijou. We came out and I did an impersonation of The Duke and they were speechless, their eyes wide open stating “that I sounded just like John Wayne in the movie.” Well as much as a kid of nine could sound like The Duke.

The impressions started adding up rapidly in high school and then in the Marines. Over the past 40 plus years I had performed sporadically until 2015. Then the light came on and I started doing my standup routine as Festus Haggen, the Dodge City Deputy from Gunsmoke, the western TV series. Buck Taylor, who played Newly O’Brien on Gunsmoke said of Mark’s Festus impersonation; “I feel like I am standing next to Festus right NOW! I am! Man, that’s scary!” My other impersonations are regarded as excellent, but my Festus is regarded as EPIC! And from that point on my Festus & Friends Show took off.

The Festus & Friends Show includes many other celebrities and characters. Some of the celebrities are Jimmy Stewart, Liam Neeson, Clint Eastwood, Slyvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jack Nicholson, Johnny Cash, Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Matthew McConaughey, Christopher Walken, and many more. Several characters include Forrest Gump, Peter Falk as Columbo, Darth Vadar, Captain Kirk, and Karl from Slingblade. I also use various local and foreign accents in my show.

I have been booked across the country. Most recently I performed as a Festus tribute artist at theaters and resorts in Pigeon Forge, TN. Other venues where I have performed are RV Parks, festivals, private functions, cowboy churches, chuckwagon cookoffs, entertainment venues and corporate events. I am an experienced emcee and have preached in churches on occasion. My comedy is extremely clean, and I have always been asked to come back.

My mission is to honor God, and lead people to Jesus Christ through laughter and testimony. He accepted Christ in 1980 and has served as a pastor, teacher, and 17 years as a NASCAR track chaplain. Mark served 4 years honorably, in the United States Marine Corps. I am married to my long-time love Diana since 1981, who sometimes joins me as Miss Kitty at festivals and chuckwagon cookoffs. I have two grown married children and five grandchildren.

PERFORMANCES
ICONS at Memories Theater, Pigeon Forge
Country Tonite, Show, Pigeon Forge
Westgate Resort, Comedy Show, Pigeon Forge
Oakmont Resort, Comedy Show, Pigeon Forge
RV Parks in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas
Various Cowboy Churches
Chuckwagon Cookoffs

EMCEED
Texas Country Music Awards Show on 2 occasions
Sunnyside Film Festival, Oklahoma
Silver Spur Awards, Hollywood, CA
Cowboy Way Jubilee on 2 occasions, Oklahoma
Host of the ICONS show at Memories Theater, Pigeon Forge

BEST IMPERSONATIONS
Festus Haggen
John Wayne
Jimmy Stewart
Clint Eastwood
Jack Nicholson
Johnny Cash
Darth Vader
Matthew McConaughey
Robert DiNero
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Forrest Gump
Liam Neeson
Sylvester Stallone
Captain Kirk
Karl from Slingblade
Bill Clinton
Plus, over 70 more

ACCOLADES
Sunburst Awards – Most Unique Act and Funniest Male
Top nomination ICMA comedian of the Year for 2 years
Nominated Top 5 comedian of the Year for the ICGMA
Valley Star Comedy Act of the Year Award for 2 years, Rio Grande Valley, Texas

WHAT I OFFER
Festus & Friends Comedy Show up to 90 minutes - including at least 25 other celeb impersonations.
Voice Over Talent for TV, Radio, and Internet
Seasoned Emcee
Tribute Artist
All day Walk-Around entertainer

Hotel and travel expenses/airfare may be required per distance from kodak, TN.
Lighting for stage
Speakers for microphone
Table for merchandise