American Theatre Roll Call: Evelyn Matten

By Caitlyn Halvorsen and Steph Golub, American Theatre Magazine, May 2, 2019 

From a choreographer in California to a stage manager in Wisconsin, from a lighting designer in Alaska to an actor in New York, here are some theatre workers to have on your radar.

Profession: Production stage manager/artistic associate

Hometown: Multiple places, with high school years spent in Boalsburg, Pa., a.k.a. “Happy Valley”

Current home: Spring Green, Wisc.

Known for: Having worked at American Players Theatre for 28 seasons, she has seen the company grow from four to nine shows a season. A contributor to the theatre’s growth, she takes a collaborative role on productions and is known for mentoring many stage managers during their time at APT.

What’s next: This season Matten will stage-manage APT’s production of Macbeth, directed by Jim DeVita. She is also looking forward to welcoming the new designers and directors on staff at the theatre this season.

What makes her special: “Evelyn’s incomparable work ethic, her organizational genius, her sheer strength, her patience, her integrity, her selflessness, and her exacting discernment have made her indispensable,” raves Brenda DeVita, APT’s artistic director. DeVita, who has worked with Matten for more than two decades, especially praises her colleague’s dedication to storytelling. “She has given her life to the theatre because of her deep belief in the power of great stories.”

Appreciate the service: “For me it’s all about feeling like I am in service to the art and the artists,” says Matten, who was introduced to theatre at the beginning of her college career, and who had stage-managed her first production by the end of her freshman year. “I relish being in the rehearsal room. I like working with and watching artists do their craft, and I appreciate the collaborative nature of the profession that we do.”

Read the full article here!