MATT DANIELS

Director

I strive to bring an elegant, handcrafted quality to my directing work. From minimalist classics to ultra-theatrical musicals, I try to make sure the audience sees the strings, but still wonders, "how did they do that?"

To view my directing résumé, click here.

James and The Giant Peach

A New Musical based on the book by Roald Dahl

Music by Justin Paul, Lyrics by Benj Pasek, Book by Timothy Allen McDonald

First Stage, Milwaukee 2015

Costume Design by Melissa Torchia

Scenic Design by Kristin Ellert

Lighting Design by Jason Fassl

Choreography by Edwin Olvera

Musical Direction by Paul Helm

With this piece, I started with the idea that James is the little light surrounded by the darkness that fills so much of Dahl's work. Shadowplay — a combination of traditional shadow puppets, live silhouettes, and overhead projected transparencies — allowed for shifts in perspective to illuminate James' discovery of a new family on this epic journey.

"★★★★★" —AROUND THE TOWN CHICAGO

"It is First Stage at its absolute finest... incredibly innovative... —ONMILWAUKEE.COM

"A 'miraculously fantasmaterrific' production under the innovative direction of Matt Daniels... with a little traditional stage magic used in amazing ways. —BROADWAYWORLD.COM

"A peachy-good production... In Dahl's book, a marveling James describes this expanding peach as 'the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.' Daniels illustrates why... What a wonderful concept!" —MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL

Click on an image for larger slideshow view. Photos © Paul Ruffalo

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer™: The Musical

Adapted by Robert Penola from the Rankin Bass Special with music by Johnny Marks

First Stage Milwaukee 2014

Original direction by Jeff Frank

Production Design by Brandon Kirkham

Lighting Design by Jason Fassl

Choreography by Jessica Redish

I directed this remount of a 2012 production (originally conceived and directed by Jeff Frank) for which I was an actor and the movement director. To honor to the handcrafted feel of the original stop-motion animation special, we turned to Japanese theater and the concept of kokens to manipulate the world, including puppets, set pieces, and the actors themselves as Rudolph takes flight.

"The production brings the characters to life in uniquely impressive ways, while remaining faithful to the original show... both an evening of wonderful theater as well as a learning experience for children and adults alike." —SHEPHERD-EXPRESS

"The best music in this show is its snowken-led movement (designed in 2012 by Matt Daniels, who directs this time)... this Rudolph gives us an inspiring glimpse of a tomorrow in which we might overcome, allowing such dreams to finally come true." —MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL

Our Town

A Play by Thornton Wilder

First Stage Young Company Milwaukee 2015

Costume Design by Jaqueline Bjornson

Scenic Design by Brandon Kirkham

Lighting Design by Ross Zentner

Clothed in modern dress and spoken without New England dialect, this production used Viewpoints as a rehearsal tool and modern Americana music as a score. Actors sat in the audience until they made entrances directly to the stage, and windows to the street outside the theater were revealed as the backdrop to George and Emily's ladder scene. As a prologue to the second and third acts, the actors simultaneously repeated their stage business and floor patterns —multiple times at a quick tempo — from the top of the play to that point, to create a live time-lapse video, while the Stage Manager observed. During the third act prologue, the Stage Manager stopped those characters who had died and escorted them to their chairs, one by one.

"[The production has] a modern feel, while remaining true to the original work.  If you don’t walk away with a tear in your eye and a greater appreciation for life, you weren’t paying attention." —OZAUKEE MAGAZINE

Click on an image for larger slideshow view. All Photos © Paul Ruffolo