Teacher

Matt has been teaching theatre in various venues for over 20 years. Most recently, he taught theatre classes for Young Footliters. His philosophy of teaching theatre is providing a safe and welcoming space where the actors’ creativity flourishes, their confidence grows, and their emotions are exercised.

Matt wrote and produced his first play as an undergraduate at the University of Iowa and hasn’t looked back. A number of his plays have been performed in the Iowa City area, including Soldier’s Daughter, which was co-written with members of the Black Doggers playwriting group; Ozma of Oz, an adaptation of two of the Oz books; Guinevere and Arthur, a new take on the Arthurian legend; Pop Tart Hero, a one act play; Mads, a play about the tenuous relationship between a drug addicted father and his teenage daughter; Kazoo, an adventure filled play about a teenager dealing with grief; and Wings, a gun violence play where wings are a metaphor for guns. During the pandemic, Matt wrote and directed two plays for youth over zoom: What We May Be and Storytelling: A Pandemic Play.

Matt’s acting credits include “Biff” in Death of a Salesman, “Garry” in Noises Off, “Paul” in Barefoot in the Park, “George” in Of Mice and Men, “Edward” in Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me, “King Philip” in The Lion in Winter, “Andrew” in Love Letters, and “Philip” in Corpus Christi. Directing credits include Beowulf (and the Bard), Charlotte’s Web, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Hobbit, Wait Until Dark, How To Sell a Chair, Fictional Murders and That Day in September, which he adapted for eight actors. In 2009 and 2010, he won Best Play in the All in a Day Play Festival, a co-production between Dreamwell and City Circle.

Matt and his wife, Sharon, have three daughters, Rachel, Samantha, and Piper. Matt serves on the board of directors of Young Footliters.