GETTING TO KNOW MATTHEW WEEDMAN
EMMA DRTINA CHATS ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE
DIRECTOR OF ANDREW LIPPA’S THE WILD PARTY.
THE MUSICAL STARTS THE NEW YEAR OFF AT
TCR THIS JANUARY.
ED: How did you get started in theatre?
MW: When I was very young, my family took a trip to
England which included a visit to the Royal Shakespeare
Company in Stratford to see a production of As You Like It.
It was, for me, a life changing event. Even though it was
long ago, I can remember vivid details about the costumes,
the set and stage combat, and especially the actors. The
actor who played Jacques was so funny and sad and good
that I walked out of the theatre knowing that I wanted to
do that myself (really, I wanted to be him).
ED: Give a brief description of your theatre
background.
MW: I’ve been a professional actor for most of my life. I
took a rambling path through my undergraduate education
partly because I often dropped out of school in order to get
an acting job. I ended up getting a degree in theatre from a
school (my fifth college) in Tennessee and then moved to
Los Angeles to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Acting at
UCLA. I then worked in L.A. as an actor, director and coach.
ED: How long have you been at UNI and what do you
teach?
MW: I am the Assistant Professor of Voice and Movement
at the University of Northern Iowa and have been here
for almost five years. I teach courses in the voice and
movement sequence for our performance students.
Much of the work that I do is grounded in Fitzmaurice
Voicework® — a full-body approach to voice training.
FALL MARQUEE | theatrecr.org
ED: What excites you about directing at TCR?
MW: I’m very excited to come to TCR because I love
how important this theatre is to the community and the
arts culture in Cedar Rapids. I’m very happy to get to
collaborate and know a new group of artists.
ED: What excites you about directing Andrew Lippa’s
The Wild Party specifically?
MW: I really, really like Wild Party. It’s a show that has so
much. It’s edgy and sexy and the music is powerful.
ED: Do you have a favorite past show that you’ve been
a part of? What was your role?
MW: I was in a production for the Los Angeles Theatre
Ensemble called The Heretic Mysteries. It was a nearly four
hour-long show about religious heresy in medieval France. I
know that doesn’t sound awesome but believe me, it was a
fantastic experience and a great, great show to be a part of.
ED: If you could direct any show, what would you
choose?
MW: Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party
ED: As a new-to-TCR director, what do you hope to
bring to the experience of participants?
MW: I love to work and I love to direct. I approach every
project first with a great sense of humor. It’s important to
me that we can laugh and together create a space that is
open and receptive to creativity and collaborative support.
I also like to jump in and work with rigor and passion. I’ve
given my whole life to theatre and I love to share it and to
watch people grow.
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