"A versatile playwright-lyricist-composer."
 
The Ne
w York Times


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OH, GASTRONOMY!

By Carson Krietzer, Michael Golomco, Steve Moulds, Tanya Saracho and Matt Schatz.

One of five writers commissioned to write a series of short plays for Actors Theatre of Louisville 22 Member Apprentice Company

The only composer/lyricist on this year’s Project, will also write original music and lyrics

Project will be produced in spring 2012 as part of the 36th Annual Humana Festival of New American Plays and will be published by Playscripts Inc. in 2013

 

GEORAMA, a Musical
Book by West Hyler and Matt Schatz, Music and Lyrics by Matt Schatz

2012 Worskshop scheduled at the Great River Shakespeare Festival

Possible 2013 Production at the Great River Shakespeare Festival

 

LOVE TRAPEZOID, a Musical

Book, music and lyrics by Matt Schatz

Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) Workshop production scheduled for February, 2012

EST Workshop and Concert at Southampton Arts as Part of the Southampton Writers Conference, July, 2011

Semi-Finalist O’Neill National Music Theatre Conference, 2011

Concert at the Laurie Beechman Theatre to benefit ASTEP (Artists Striving to End Poverty), October, 2010

Finalist, O’Neill National Music Theatre Conference, 2010

Finalist, Yale Institute for Music Theatre, 2010

Staged Reading with Page 73 Productions at Manhattan Theatre Club, July 2009

Staged Reading presented at the Ensemble Studio Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan FIRST LIGHT FESTIVAL, January, 2009

Commissioned and developed by EST/Sloan

Ensemble Studio Theatre/Sloan Commission 2008

 

THE TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD, a Play

World premier production with Luna Stage, spring 2011           

“‘The Tallest Building in the World,’ having its world premiere at Luna Stage, is a witty, entertaining and even somewhat illuminating piece of theater.  ‘The Tallest Building in the World’ looks at bigger issues, as the best theater does.” --The New York Times

Gifted playwright Matt Schatz... is a master of snappy dialogue... Matt Schatz reminds us that today’s playwrights can still fashion sturdy and effective two-act dramas.”  --Newark Star-Ledger

October 2009 Reading with Luna Stage

Semi-finalist for 2009 Princess Grace Award

EST’s First Light Festival 2007, workshop and staged reading

EST’s Octoberfest 2006, staged reading

Pittsburgh Summer New Play Festival 2006, residency, workshop and staged reading

Developed and workshopped at the Lexington Center for the Arts residency

Ensemble Studio Theatre/Sloan Commission 2006


EXCHANGES, a original young adult musical

Book and lyrics by Matt Schatz, Music by Michael Kooman

Semi-Finalist, O’Neill National Music Theatre Conference, 2011

Presented at “An Evening of Elegance” Altoona, PA, April 2010

Reading at Manhattan Theatre Club’s space, April 2010

Commissioned  by the American Cancer Society, Altoona PA

 

SECRETS & LIES, a Musical

Book and Lyrics by Matt Schatz, Music by Dina Pruzhansky, based on the film written and directed by Mike Leigh, written on spec (have not secured rights).

Finalist, 2009 Fred Ebb Award

Developed with the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop

 

OH MY! a Musical
Book by Maggie Surrovel, Music by Lilly Maase, Lyrics by Matt Schatz

  • Workshop Production Interborough Repertory Theater, NY, 2009

 

THE BABY IS BLUE, a Play

Produced by the Incumbo Theater Company in association with Emileena Pedigo and the Midtown International Theater Festival, 2005

Produced by as part of Carnegie Mellon University’s Playground Festival, 2003

Pittsburgh Summer New Play Festival 2003, residency, workshop and staged reading

 

NOTABLE SHORTER MUSICALS & PLAYS:

 

RICHIE FARMER WILL HAVE HIS REVENGE ON DURHAM

Book by Diana Grisanti, music and lyrics by Matt Schatz

Produced at Hyde Park Theatre’s FronteraFest

Named “Best of Fest”

Scriptworks Commission

 

ROANOKE

A play by Michael Lew

Music and Lyrics by Matt Schatz

Heideman Award Finalist

Presented at the Actors Theatre of Louisville (Humana Festival Ten Minute Plays) April, 2009

Presented at the Actors Theatre of Louisville (Apprentice Tens) January, 2009.

Published in 2010

 

PINNING HOPE, a Musical

Book, music and lyrics by Matt Schatz

Commissioned by Creative Destruction as part of Obama Drama (a collection of ten-minute plays about the democratic nominee).

Produced as an Equity Showcase at The Gallery at Access Theater in October, 2008.

Remounted at The Tank 45th Street Theater, January 15-17, 2009.

Included in the inaugural edition of The New York Times, January 2009

 

…BEFORE THE MOMENT, a Musical

Music and Lyrics by Matt Schatz, Book by Jihan Crowther

Featured at the AFI Sloan Summit in Los Angeles, November, 2008

Presented at Cabaret Scientifique, the closing event of EST/Sloan’s First Light Festival 2008

Produced by Ensemble Studio Theatre at The Youngblood Sunday Brunch 2008

Ensemble Studio Theatre/Sloan Commission 2008

 

CO-OP, a Musical

Music and lyrics by Matt Schatz, Book by Courtney Brooke Lauria

Produced by Ensemble Studio Theatre as part of Youngblood’s Thicker Than Water 2008

"Tuneful"--The New York Times

"Witty"--David Cote, Time Out New York

"One of the best songs I've heard in a long while"--Nytheatre.co

Produced by Ensemble Studio Theatre at The Youngblood Sunday Brunch 200

 

PROJECTS in PROGRESS (Selected):

 

DUNKFEST ‘88
A hip hop musical by Matt Schatz

  • Project proposal is currently a Semi-Finalist for 2012 Page73 Playwriting Fellowship

BEFORE THE MOMENT, a Musical

Music and Lyrics by Matt Schatz, book by Jihan Crowther

Ensemble Studio Theatre/Sloan Commission 2009

 

COMMISSIONS and HONORS (Selected):

Semi-Finalist, Page 73 Playwriting Fellowship, 2012 (winner still pending)

Humana Anthology Project Commission from the Actors Theatre of Louisville, 2012

Southampton Writers Conference Residency, 2011

Double semi-finalist, O’Neill National Music Theater, Conference

Roanoke published in Humana Festival, Complete Plays by Playscripts, INC.

Finalist, O’Neill National Music Theater Conference, 2010

Finalist, Yale Institute for Music Theater, 2010

Finalist, FRED EBB AWARD for Excellence in Musical Theater Songwriting, 2009

Semi-Finalist, Page 73 Playwriting Fellowship, 2008

Semi-Finalist, Princess Grace Playwriting Fellowship, 2008

Finalist, Page 73 Playwriting Fellowship, 2007

Three EST/Sloan New Play Commissions, 2009. 2008, 2006


INTERVIEWS and PRESS (Non-Reviews, Selected):

'The Tallest Building in the World' preview: A play about how the World Trade Center got built
Published: Friday, April 08, 2011 By Peter Filichia for the Newark Star-Ledger

Up Close With Playwright Matt Schatz — A Funny, Shy Guy; his 'The Tallest Building in the World' is Currently in Previews at Luna Stage April, 16, 2011 By Carol Seleman for the West Orange Patch

Sloan Group Is Lab Partner to the Arts, May 6, 2011 by Patricia Cohen for The New York Times

 

AFFILIATIONS and MEMBERSHIPS:

Ensemble Studio Theater, Elected Lifetime Ensemble Member (2011-)
Lehman Engel BMI Musical Theatre Workshop (Advanced 2008-)

The Dramatists Guild (2002-)

Interstate 73 Playwright’s group at Page 73 Productions, one year residency (2008-2009)

Youngblood, Under-thirty Playwrights Residency at EST, (2006-2008)

 

TRAINING and EDUCATION:

The Lehman Engel BMI Musical Theater Workshop, New York, 2007-Present

Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, MFA, Dramatic Writing, 2004

University of the Arts, Philadelphia, BFA, Writing for Film and Television, 2001

 


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