Since 1996, Mark A. Thompson, a native of Southern California, has entertained audiences at universities, colleges, schools and organizations across the country as “Galileo” in An Evening with Galileo, Galileo’s Universe, and now, a new production: Galileo 1610, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s wondrous telescopic discoveries of 1610.

Mr. Thompson is Cantorial Soloist Emeritus at Temple Beth Sholom in Santa Ana, California. He received his Master of Arts from California State University at Long Beach and his Bachelor of Arts from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel.

Thompson, an avid amateur astronomer, achieved notoriety when he was forced by the City of Seal Beach to remove an observatory dome from the roof of his home after he had been given permission by the city to build it. During this debacle, Thompson began to read about Galileo’s problems with the authorities and became fascinated with the great scientist’s life.

Galileo 1610 is the product of a decade of extensive research, writing and performance. Many of Galileo’s remarks are in his actual words, culled from hundreds of original and secondary sources.

For a re-cap of IYA2009 appearances and performances please see “Channeling Galileo”