About Matt
Matthew Silar- Director, AEA Stage Manager, Acting / Audition Coach
Matthew Silar (Matt) is a Chicago-based, Texas-loving, California born theatre artist and educator. Matt has worked professionally as a director, AEA stage manager, actor and audition coach in both the Chicagoland and DFW theatre communities. He is the co-founder of 24 HR Musical, a non-profit that partnered with charitable organizations to create global change through the arts. His theatre company, Awaken Theatre, opened its inaugural production in June of 2021.
As a director, Matt seeks to reinvigorate cultural classics as well as beloved contemporary staples. He strives to create actor-focused, collaborative environments and his work invites audiences to fully engage their imagination regardless of the story being told. He believes truly transformative work requires audience engagement, empathy and participation. Favorite directorial credits include Kate Fodor’s 100 SAINTS YOU SHOULD KNOW, Lee Blessing’s TWO ROOMS, DADDY LONG LEGS, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, DISNEY’S NEWSIES, DISNEY’S TARZAN, LES MISERABLES, and INTO THE WOODS.
Matt’s college audition students have been accepted into the country’s most prestigious theatre departments including AMDA, Baldwin Wallace University (BW), Boston Conservatory (BOCO), Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (CCM), Elon University, Point Park University, Texas State and Webster Conservatory.