Artist Spotlight Series: Matt Reines
We are excited to launch our "Spotlight on Rising Talent" series, a unique initiative aimed at celebrating the remarkable artists at Are We Delicious?. Over the next several days, we invite you to join us as we illuminate the extraordinary individuals who bring their talent, dedication, and passion to our stage. #ArtistryUnveiled
Matt Reines
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Oh boy are we excited for this one! Fresh off a thrilling and triumphant stint directing the hit production of The Birds at Mercury Players Theatre, Matt Reines is no stranger to the world of entertainment. With a diverse background that includes roles as an artist, musician, actor, and director, he's a driving force in the local arts scene.
Matt's impressive resume is a whirlwind tour of the Madison arts community, having lent his talents to numerous acclaimed organizations, including Mercury Players Theatre, Strollers Theatre, Broom Street Theater, Are We Delicious?, Forward Theatre, Madison Shakespeare Company, Piles of Cats, and many more. With such a wide range of experiences under his belt, we can't wait to see the creative sparks fly as he joins us at Are We Delicious?.
How do you help the cast develop their characters, especially with this theme?
I like letting the actors develop their own characters and highlight the parts find funny or interesting and have them explore those parts. I also like pointing out all the potential ghost puns (there will be a good amount).
How do you provide feedback and support to the cast during rehearsals?
I give my main notes at the end, but will interject in real time if I find something hilarious or maybe if something doesn’t work. I try to listen more than speak and offer as much encouragement as possible.
What's your favorite part of working with AWD? What makes it unique compared to other AWD? productions?
I love AWD because I get to help make art with my friends. It’s unique because of how fast paced it is, so there’s not a lot of time to spend scrutinizing and that is somewhat freeing. This AWD is fun to work on because there are so many different scenes. Sometimes I feel like I’m watching SNL.
How do you approach creating a collaborative and creative atmosphere in your rehearsal process?
I try to help create a collaborative and creative atmosphere by being open to all ideas and being supportive. I try to come in with a team player mindset and do whatever I can to get the best outcome possible. It’s impossible to do alone and I try to let that be known immediately so we can all work together.
How do you plan to balance the creepy and comedic elements in the show?
Finding the humor in the creepy I think will work best to find balance, although with a cast like this is will be really hard not to laugh. The creepiness will come in through the stoles told. I get major “scary stories to tell in the dark” vibes.
