MACT
We welcome new MACT Board member, Matthew Kraft to the Board. He was elected at the June 7 annual meeting.
Since his first audition for a community theatre in 2005, Matthew has spent the last twenty years as a theatre artist in the Twin Cities having worked on projects that were seen across many of the professional and community theatre stages in town including the Guthrie, the Ordway, Penumbra, Latte Da, Theatre in the Round, and Northern Starz.
Starting out as an actor, he has since expanded his experience to include many of the hats, headsets, and hardhats that theatre productions require across such titles as production lead, director, stage manager, carpenter, lighting designer, sound technician, and educator. After graduating from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities having majored in Theatre Arts, English, and Computer Science, Matthew worked full time in the theatre industry as an employee and contractor for many years, often building sets during the day with the Penumbra Theater scene shop, attending rehearsals for another production in the evening, and performing or running tech for another production on the weekends. After almost ten years, Matthew made the decision to take a job in cybersecurity, and while theatre is not his full-time job anymore, he has continued to work with theatres throughout the Twin Cities ever since.
He is looking forward to an opportunity to work with MACT because of their commitment to promoting standards of excellence, both encouraging and providing ways to develop our community through educational offerings, and as a way to connect with other community theatres across the state to foster relationships across MACT members and beyond.
As part of the application process, Matthew was asked about his experience and what he has to offer MACT. Here are his responses.
Community Theatre Experience & Community Theatre Board Experience
My first community theatre experience was in 2005 as a performer in the play I Remember Mama, and I played the character of Nels. (A role a young Marlon Brando originated). Since that time, I have had many opportunities to be involved with community theatres and professional companies across the Twin Cities metro as a production lead, director, actor, stage manager, lighting designer, sound technician, carpenter, educator, and advisory committee member. I’ve worked on shows outdoors and indoors; I’ve worked with stage layouts including proscenium, thrust, black box, and in the round; I’ve worked with artists of all ages from youth through adulthood. All the while sharing the magic of live theatre with audiences and artists alike.
I spent eight years as a member of Eden Prairie Players’ advisory committee (they are a part of the city’s Parks and Recreation department, not a non-profit, so are not technically called a “board”). We advised on show selection and scheduling, discussed budgeting, marketing, and staff selection for productions amongst other things. For the final four years on the committee, I served as the co-chair and chair where I helped lead defining the direction of the theatre, leading speciality meetings, and other advisory services as required.
Thoughts on MACT’s Mission
Having a centralized community for education and sharing of resources and ideas is a great way to foster continued growth and artistic excellence throughout the state of Minnesota. In a world where live, theatre arts are seeing lost and/or diminished funding and a world where artists must compete with streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, and TikTok, it is increasingly important to cultivate and encourage the “community” of community theatre.
What skill sets will you bring to MACT
I will bring over twenty-five years of theatrical experience from the educational, community, professional, and union theatres in Minnesota and around the country. I have spent my theatrical career across all facets of productions and am privileged to be able to discuss technical elements with designers, tradecraft with actors, financial and budgetary requirements with committees and production staff, and make the complex accessible to folks of all experiences.
What would you bring to MACT’s Board (ex: experience, skill set, theatre festival experience)
I am a strong advocate for the arts at all levels and all abilities. I believe in openness and collaboration. I bring experience from on stage, off stage, and near stage. I have helped plan and manage one act festivals, worked with a number of community theatres in the metro, and believe the arts affect and change peoples’ lives every day. As a board member of MACT, I would strive to bring and share this passion with the other board members, MACT individual and company members, and the larger Minnesota arts community.