Matt Blank is a multidisciplinary theatre professional who has most recently come off of a 10-year run as one of the Editors of Playbill.com and Editor-in-Chief of PlaybillArts.com. His work as an arts journalist, designer, educator and lecturer has taken him across the United States, as well as Madrid, Manila, Mumbai and Seoul. Matt handled social media for the Playbill brand for nearly two years, and published over 7,000 articles on their platform. He sits on the Advisory Board for Ripple Effect Artists, serves as a Theatre Bay Area Awards Adjudicator and provided live on-site media coverage at 5 Tony Awards ceremonies. After a 13-year retirement, Matt made his return to the stage in CMTSJ's Marquee production of SWEENEY TODD and South Bay Musical Theatre's concert staging CHESS. It was a huge mistake. He now resides in Manhattan with wife Alex Chester and a fucking cat.
August 12, 2017
We catch up with the often-employed Maria-Christina Oliveras, who is taking on Young Jean Lee's solo piece WE'RE GONNA DIE at Ancram Opera House.
July 26, 2017
This past weekend, as the Isle of Man's Samantha Barks made her much-anticipated United States solo debut, I saw a performer whose presence and voice created a thrill.
July 9, 2017
We catch up with young actress Caitlin Cohn, known for her star turn in the Cincinnati Playhouse-Baltimore Center Stage revival of THE SECRET GARDEN.
July 3, 2017
June 28 at Feinstein's/54 Below was one of contrasts, honesty, and raw emotion. When Alexandra Socha took to the stage in FINDING HOME, her venue debut, at 9:30 at night, the house was already noticeably buzzing with a remarkable energy from her friends and fans.
June 22, 2017
Meet new leading lady Taylor Quick, starring in the title role of Goodspeed's THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE!
June 15, 2017
A chat with KINKY BOOTS' Blair Goldberg, who made her Broadway debut as a child opposite Bernadette Peters in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN.
June 13, 2017
The New York cabaret scene has found itself a new star, whether or not anyone was asking for it. Broadway album designer and social media demagog Robbie Rozelle, who has previously created solo shows for Melissa Errico and Kate Baldwin, decided it was finally Robbie's Turn and brought us SONGS FROM INSIDE MY LOCKER. When he regally ascended to the stage at Feinstein's/54 Below on June 9 as though he were the goddamn mayor's wife, it became immediately evident that this was a man set to lay it all out there for the enjoyment of the masses.
June 9, 2017
Raymond J. Lee talks about GROUNDHOG DAY, his experience as an Actor-of-Color and newest gig as a Disney Daddy!
June 6, 2017
Stage veteran Orville Mendoza, currently starring in Classic Stage's revival of PACIFIC OVERTURES, opens up on a number of provocative and essential topics.
May 25, 2017
South Bay Musical Theatre, a renowned Bay Area company for over 50 years, will present CHESS IN CONCERT May 28 and June 3. We speak with the creatives about the show's appeal and have a little fun with the material.
May 19, 2017
We talk to Grace McLean, who dazzles audiences nightly in her show-stopping turn as Marya in NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812.
May 8, 2017
An interview with Emily Borromeo, making her Broadway debut now in SCHOOL OF ROCK!
April 14, 2017
I have met Master Sondheim exactly three times in my life. Twice was just in passing at various press events. But the third time, I found myself sidled up next to him at the Glass House Tavern on 47th Street and actually got a chance to chat with the man.
March 27, 2017
Alex Chester, Diane Phelan and Rebecca Lee Lerman get real in this discussion of diversity and what it means to be 'Other' in America. We So Hapa stages its second cabaret March 27 at 8 PM.
March 22, 2017
Matt Blank shares his experiences with suicide, depression and tragedy, and sits down with the stars of the March 26 performance of 54 LOVES YOU: A CONCERT FOR MENTAL HEALTH. The evening features the best of stage and screen… and a few teen stars of our generation you just might want to see while supporting a vitally important cause.
March 10, 2017
Over the years, as we all orbit in the same Broadway Asian community, I got to know Ali Ewoldt and see her perform various roles, including Carrie in CAROUSEL, Tuptim in THE KING AND I, and Luisa in THE FANTASTICKS. Always happy to be supporting part of the Tribe and seeing someone who looked like me starring in these iconic shows, it became evident that Ewoldt possesses one of the most pristine soprano voices out there today. I knew that it would only be a matter of time before her next big Broadway break, and that brings us to today. She stars as Christine in the long-running mega-hit THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and will be making her solo debut at Feinstein's/54 Below with FROM PHANTOM TO PHANTOM on March 12. Ahead of the show, Ewoldt was kind enough to take time to answer a few questions for us.
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