Matt Walker is a 2008/2009 Ovation Award Nominee with 4 nominations in 2 categories. He is nominated in the Acting Ensemble Category and Director of a Musical category for his work in ALICE IN ONE HIT WONDERLAND 2: THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS produced by Troubadour Theater Company, and in the Acting Ensemble Category and Director of a Musical category for his work in AS U2 LIKE IT at the Troubadour Theater Company. He was previously nominated for Best Director of a Musical for his work in A CHRISTMAS CAROLE KING (2003) at the Falcon Theatre and Best World Premier Musical for IT’S A STEVIE WONDERFUL LIFE (2004) at the Falcon Theatre.
As an Ovation Award Nominee, LA Stage asked Matt the following questions:
What was the moment that first inspired you to pursue working in the theatre?
Saw Annie on Bdway in 1977ish…
What do you feel made the production you were nominated for particularly successful, either overall or for you specifically?
The people involved!
What project or projects are you currently working on?
Directing a show with USC MFA students for Spring 2010. Reworking a production of Oedipus the King, Mama! for the Carpenter Center in Long Beach, April 2010
What do you love most about theatre in Los Angeles?
Its diversity and risk taking.
What’s your dream project?
I live my dream project. To be able to create and perform with your friends is a dream.
Biography: As artistic director of The Troubadour Theater Company since 1995, Matt has directed over 20 shows and received the O.C. Weekly Theater Award for Career Achievement, and the 2007 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Sustained Excellence in Theater.
Walker has trained with notable performers and organizations including; Bill Irwin, Second City Improvisation, The Royal Shakespeare Co., and The San Francisco Mime Troupe. Walker is also a graduate of Ringling Bros. Clown College.
Walker was adjunct professor of Clowning and Commedia at the University of California at San Diego, and now teaches clowning and advanced movement to MFA students at USC.
Most recently he has; written and directed a show for Universal Studios/Orlando, featuring Chris Walken and Dywane Johnson, served as associate director to Garry Marshall on Happy Days the Musical, and directed the world premiere production of Million Dollar Quartet at The Seaside Music Theater in Daytona, FL.
For television, he has directed numerous shows including, Dinner & A Movie(TBS), Dude Room(Discovery), Saturday Night Solution(Court TV). And he just finished work as on-set-writer for Garry Marshalls’ film , Valentines Day, set for release in February 2010.
Thanks to my beautiful Mother and Grandmother.
For a full list of Ovation nominees, or for information about the Ovation Awards Ceremony on January 11th, click here!
