The brand new inventive director for Arizona Theatre Firm is “on a cloud” about taking over his new function with the brand new 12 months.
Matt August will substitute Sean Daniels, who’s shifting to Florida, subsequent 12 months.
“I’m so completely satisfied to have this new place” because the Kasser Household inventive director for the state’s regional theatre firm, he informed the Sentinel.
August has racked up 27 years of expertise within the theatre world as each an educator and as a director. His work as a director ranges from musicals to opera and basic performs.
He directed the favored vacation present “How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical” when it got here to Broadway in 2006 and 2007, “breaking Broadway field workplace data.”
August has had earlier expertise with ATC. He directed “King Charles III” in 2016 and 2017 and “Discord” in 2015 and 2016. He additionally directed the nationwide excursions from 2010 to 2019 and from 2021 to this 12 months. Plus, they went to the UK for a tour in 2019.
He mentioned ATC had reached out to him to ask if he could be prepared to relocate for the brand new place. He has been residing in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, the place he served as assistant professor of directing on the Utah Valley College.
“There have been completely different candidates they have been vetting,” August mentioned. “I utilized, you understand, threw my hat in and made my case, what I wish to create for ATC. And I suppose I made a very good argument.”
He mentioned he’s at the moment in a transitional interval getting ready for his transfer.
“It is boots on the bottom by January 1,” August mentioned.
August mentioned he’s already planning what he desires to do with the theatre subsequent 12 months and what reveals to deliver, however nothing is ready but.
“I believe general I wish to make sure that we develop our confidence, particularly with extra folks feeling comfy and secure to assemble once more,” August mentioned.
When he is not within the theater, August is the proud father of three women. He mentioned his life exterior of the theater is mundane and home, consisting of taking the ladies to highschool or physician’s appointments and happening walks with their canine.
August focuses on Shakespeare performs, vacation classics and newer up to date items. His work has additionally been staged in Off-Broadway venues and the League of Resident Theatres.
He earned his BFA in efficiency research from the College of Colorado and a MFA from the California Institute of the Arts and started his work within the trade “just about out of graduate faculty.”
He was Tony Award-winning director Jack O’Brien’s apprentice for 4 years from 2000 to 2004. If he may spend a day with a playwright – lifeless or alive – he wish to hang around with Terrence McNally.
“He wrote such astonishing, groundbreaking work that coated so many aspects of American life,” August mentioned. “And I did get to work with him on ‘The Full Monty’.”