Marlene's journey in the world of entertainment began with a phone call from Ruth Mitchell, Joshua Logan's secretary, two weeks after she returned to New York. Mitchell inquired about Marlene's availability to audition for a new musical directed by Logan, titled "Annie Oakley". The following day, Marlene and her mother arrived at the Ziegfeld Theater's penthouse, where they joined over 200 mothers and children waiting to audition.
After seven auditions, Marlene was cast as Nellie, the youngest sister of Annie Oakley, in the musical. The show was later renamed "Annie Get Your Gun", starring Ethel Merman, and ran for over three years at the Imperial Theater. Marlene gradually took on more significant roles, eventually playing Minnie, Annie's oldest sister.
In 1948, Marlene left the show to become the understudy to Betty Lou Barto in Michael Todd's musical "As The Girls Go", while retaining a minor role. The show ran for 1 1/2 years, initially at the Winter Garden Theater and later at the Broadway Theater.
In 1949, Marlene was called back to the Rodgers and Hammerstein office for an interview with John Fearnley, the R&H casting director. Without an audition, she was immediately cast in their new play "The Happy Time", which opened at the Plymouth Theater in 1950 and ran for over two years.
In 1952, Marlene was invited to audition for Stanley Kramer's film "The Happy Time". She and her mother flew to Hollywood in January of that year to work on the film, where Marlene recreated her original role as Sally O'Hare, renamed Peggy O'Hare. The film opened at Radio City Music Hall in October 1952.
At the same time, Marlene's sister Gloria was a Radio City Music Rockette. After completing her work in Hollywood, Marlene returned to New York, graduated from Rhodes Preparatory School, and went on to St. John's University in Brooklyn to pursue a Bachelor's Degree.
Marlene's next project was the Broadway production "The Other Foot", followed by three years of Summer Stock. She then earned an Associate's degree from The Fashion Institute of Technology, winning The Berdorf Goodman Award, which granted her a trip to Paris for the fall 1961 openings.
In June 1961, Marlene married 2nd Lt. George D. Kastner, marking the beginning of yet another chapter in her life.
