Whiz Kid: Marcus Carl Franklin

Name: Marcus Carl Franklin

Age: 18 years old

School: Peekskill High School graduate; Class of 2011

Accomplishment:

The local tap-dancer has been lighting up stages with his talent for years, but this kid can do more than just dance. Franklin has also acted in television commercials, on Broadway, and on the big screen. Currently, he is writing, producing and engineering his own music as well.

Key to Awesomeness:

When Franklin was four he saw tap-dancer, Savion Glover, and all-around entertainer, Gregory Hines, on a PBS television show and was instantly inspired.

“Something inside me wouldn't be satisfied until I could do what they were doing on the screen that day,” said Franklin.

Fourteen years later Franklin has spent his life making that dream a reality. Acting since he was four, and dancing since he was five, Franklin has appeared in the Tony Award-winning Broadway play, Caroline, Or, Change, as well as held lead roles in the HBO classic, Lackawanna Blues, the IFC Spirit award-winning movie on Bob Dylan's life, I'm Not There. His most recent rolls have been in the 2011 movie, The Art of Getting By, and in the new television series, Blue Bloods.

You might best recognize the multi-talented young man from some of his most recent local performances, including the recent Pro-Am Ensemble concert that took place in downtown Peekskill a couple of weeks ago, or from his appearance on stage at the Paramount Theatre earlier this summer where he tap-danced while Daisy Jopling performed. (See the Youtube video in this article to watch this performance).

 “Tapping honestly comes pretty naturally to me,” said Franklin. “I say I practice 24/7, because whether I have my shoes on or off, whether I'm on the wood or I'm on the carpet in my house, even at the dinner table while I'm eating, I'm always moving my feet, trying new things, practicing steps I've seen watching footage or from classes.”

Speaking as someone who both creates music and performs as a dancer, Franklin acknowledges the power of these arts in combination, and credits them with the ability to bring entertainers and audiences together.

“Through movement, we can transcend boundaries and learn to appreciate each other,” said the entertainer. “When music is added to this beautiful means of communication, it gets other people involved, even if they aren't on stage. They feel it, we as dancers feel it, and we begin to grow closer and vibe with each other.”

Franklin’s future plans are to attend college at Drexel University in Philadelphia this fall and to continue to combine tap with the R&B and Hip-Hop music he has been creating, a practice he describes as bringing, “ the elements of the old days and the new school together so tastefully.”

You can keep up with Franklin via his official website, his Facebook fan page, Twitter and his blog, We Young Kings.

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