Matthew Earnest

Matthew Earnest (b. 30 June1969) is an American theater director. As Founding Artistic Director of New York City's deep ellum ensemble [1], Earnest has created multi-disciplinary performance works from plays, literature, his own original texts and various other sources, and the company has toured them internationally since 1995. In addition to directing at many theaters across the United States, Earnest also directs at English Theatre Berlin (formerly known as Friends of Italian Opera) [2], where he is an associate director.

Early years

Born in Kansas, Earnest grew up in Texas after his family moved there while he was still an infant. His father is an educator, and his mother is a nurse. Earnest apprenticed under directors Richard Hamburger, Lee Breuer and most significantly, Adrian Hall, before founding deep ellum ensemble in New York City (1995).

Currently

Earnest is engaged most of the year as a freelance director at many theaters in the US and abroad, and he continues to conceive and create work with deep ellum ensemble.

Selected works

2007: Peter Pan, or The boy who would not grow up by J.M. Barrie, adapted by Earnest.[3] [4] Porthouse Theatre, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

2007: We Were Civilized Once by Suzan-Lori Parks, from 365 Days/365 Plays. [5] NYSF/Public Theater

2006: A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen, English version by Matthew Earnest. The Warehouse Theatre, Greenville, SC

2005: The Josephine footnote by Matthew Earnest, score by Joseph Troski, choreography by Tina Fehlandt. deep ellum ensemble at Daniel Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA (as part of The Berkshire Fringe, which produced its premiere performance) and Hartshorn Theatre, University of Delaware (2006)

2004: The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare. The Warehouse Theatre, Greenville, SC

2003: Doctor Tedrow's Last Breath by Matthew Earnest, score by Joseph Troski, choreography by Tina Fehlandt. [6] deep ellum ensemble at Trinity River Arts Center, Dallas, Texas and The Ice Factory, Ohio Theater, NYC (2005)

2002: Ch’ien-nü leaves her body. by Matthew Earnest, after a play by Chêng Teh-hui. deep ellum ensemble at The Ontological-Hysteric Theater, NYC

2002: The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare Festival of Dallas, Dallas, Texas

2001 : Saints and Singing by Gertrude Stein. deep ellum ensemble at Washington Square Church, NYC; The Present Company Theatorium, NYC; Midtown International Theatre Festival, NYC; The Bridge (Dance-Theater series) at WAX, Brooklyn, NY (excerpts), (2002)

2001: A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare. deep ellum ensemble at The DStv Performing Arts Festival in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2000: Venus by Suzan-Lori Parks. English Theatre Berlin, Germany

2000: 6 white plates by Matthew Earnest (premiere). deep ellum ensemble at KGB's Kraine Theater, NYC

1999: blood pudding by Matthew Earnest (premiere). deep ellum ensemble at English Theatre Berlin, Germany; and Dublin Festival Fringe, Dublin, Ireland.

1998: Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian-Carlo Menotti. Arlington Opera Association, Arlington, Texas

1998: Puntila and his servant Matti by Bertolt Brecht, English version by Matthew Earnest. deep ellum ensemble at The Ohio Theater, NYC; and Brecht Centennial/NY Internat’l Fringe Festival [7] (1998)

1997: The Jilting of Granny Weatherall by Matthew Earnest (premiere) from the story by Katherine Anne Porter. deep ellum ensemble at The New York International Fringe Festival: BIFF Award; and English Theatre Berlin, Germany (1998); and The FIT Festival, Dallas, TX and UT Arlington

1997: Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss, Jr. Arlington Opera Association, Arlington, Texas

1997: The Purification & The Two-Character Play by Tennessee Williams. deep ellum ensemble at Chelsea Arts Theater, NYC, The Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, New Orleans, LA, English Theater Berlin, Germany

1996: Leonce and Lena by Georg Büchner, English version by Earnest. deep ellum ensemble at NADA, NYC

1996: Wolf at the Door by Erik Ehn (NY premiere). deep ellum ensemble at One Dream Theatre, NYC

1995: Troilus and Cressida by William Shakespeare. deep ellum ensemble at NADA, Inc., NYC

Awards

• "The Cleveland Scene" Best Director and Times Tribute (2007): Peter Pan (Porthouse Theatre)
• Raleigh News & Observer Top 10 of 2007: Elizabeth: Almost By Chance a Woman (Still Water Theatre, Raleigh, NC)
• Roe Green Visiting Director, Kent State University, 2008
• The Cleveland Scene Outstanding revival and Times Tribute: Our Town [8] (Porthouse Theatre, Kent, OH), 2007
• Raleigh News & Observer Top 10 of 2005: Lipstick Traces (Burning Coal Theatre, Raleigh, NC)
• Dallas Morning News Top 10 of 2002: Coriolanus [9] (Kitchen Dog Theater, Dallas, Texas)
• Audience Favourite Award to deep ellum ensemble (blood pudding), Dublin Festival Fringe, 1999
• BIFF Award: Excellence in Ensemble Acting, deep ellum ensemble (The Jilting of Granny Weatherall), NY Fringe Festival, 1997
• Special Interest Residency Grant from The Drama League of New York, 1995
• Dallas Theater Critics’ Forum Award for Outstanding Direction: On The Verge (or The Geography of Yearning) by Eric Overmyer (Moonstruck Theatre Co), 1994
• Dallas Observer's Best of Dallas Award for Outstanding Production: Fen by Caryl Churchill (Moonstruck Theatre Co), 1993

References

http://www.deepellum.org

http://www.thefriends.de/

http://blog.cleveland.com/reviews/2007/07/porthouses_peter_pan_soars_bec.html

http://www.clevescene.com/2007-07-11/culture/nothing-lost-on-this-boy

http://german.lss.wisc.edu/brecht/archive4.html

http://royberkinfo.blogspot.com/search/label/Times%20Tributes

http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/2091

External links

• deep ellum ensemble
• English Theatre Berlin
• University of Delaware Theatre Guest Artists
• Press Reviews
• Peter Pan at Kent State's Porthouse Theatre