Matt Ripa

matt@matt-ripa.com

410.430.9909

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WORK EXPERIENCE

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Visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre, Lycoming College, 2023 - Present

• Courses: Understanding Theatre, Modern Drama, Theatre of Professional Wrestling (upcoming), Performing Arts Management (upcoming)

• Director: Doubt, Stupid Fucking Bird (upcoming)

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Operations Coordinator and Lecturer, The Catholic University of America 2014 - 2023

• Manage registration and advising for undergraduate drama majors

• Manage box office operations and patron relations for the Hartke Theatre

• Recruit undergraduate students

• Produce the Theatre Lab discussions and workshops

• Undergraduate Courses: Acting for Non-Majors, Fundamentals of Acting, Theatre Production and Management, Directing 1,

• Graduate Courses: Educational Theatre, Elements of Directing 1, Acting/Directing Workshop (online/hybrid)

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Founder and Artistic Director, DC Queer Theatre Festival 2012-Present

• Curate and Produce yearly theatre festival that features LGBTQ+ playwrights and artists 

• Fundraise for The DC Center for the LGBT Community

• Collaborate with various in DC area theatre companies to advocate for LGBTQ+ artists and greater diversity in casting

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Teacher, Various 2007-Present

• Special Education Drama grades K-12 at the Katherine Thomas School and The Kingsbury Day School

• Taught classes in improvisation, acting, and director for Imagination Stage

• Director of the Pegasus Performing Company, an acting company for students with special needs at Imagination Stage

• Lead workshops in Audition Preparation for The Actor's Center and the National Conservator for the Dramatic Arts

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Board President and Artistic Ally, Ally Theatre Company, 2017-2021

• Serve as President of the Board of Directors

• Lead an initiative to produce plays by local playwrights

• Assist with season selection

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DIRECTING EXPERIENCE (selected)

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Birdseed                                                                       JL Smith New Play Festival

Mixtape**                                                                      Catholic University

American Divide                                                           Transformation Theatre

War of the Worlds                                                       Catholic University

The War Boys                                                              Ally Theatre Company

The Laramie Project                                                   Catholic University

Our Town                                                                     Catholic University 

Mack, Beth**                                                                Keegan Theatre

A Bright New Boise                                                    Silver Spring Stage  

KJRC & Sign Language**                                           Source Festival    

Morning, Miranda**                                                    Doorway Arts Ensemble

Godiva Dates & One Night Stands**                        Doorway Arts Ensemble

Benched**                                                                   Pinky Swear Productions

Bleed**                                                                         Pinky Swear Productions

We Tiresias* **                                                             Forum Theatre

A Great(er) Depression**                                            Source Festival

Klecksography/ Myth Appropriations                    Rorschach Theatre Company

A Thousand Paper Cranes                                       Hub Theatre

Sex and Education**                                                  Doorway Arts Ensemble

A Perfect Ganesh                                                       Catholic University 

Flowers for Algernon                                                 Landless Theatre Company

The Scams of Scapin                                                Traveling Players Ensemble

Maricela de la Luz Lights the World                       Imagination Stage, Acting Conservatory

The Music Man                                                            Imagination Stage, Summer Theatre Campus

Once on This Island                                                   Imagination Stage, Summer Theatre Campus

Magic of Beauty and the Beast                               Imagination Stage, Pegasus Ensemble

Tragedy: A Fairytale**                                                Misfit Theatre Company

 

* Washington City Paper Award for Best New Play, 2013 and TheatreMania’s Award for Best

Drama at Capital Fringe Festival

 

** Denotes a World Premiere Production

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Acting Experience (Selected)

Lumberjack of All Trades (film)                                 Sam                                  Dimension 5 Productions

A Great(er) Depression                                               Unemployed                   Source Festival 

How to Succeed in Business...                                  Bud Frump                      Community Players of Salisbury

Hamlet                                                                        Rosencrantz/ Osrick      Salisbury University

ART                                                                              Serge                                Salisbury University

Sweeny Todd                                                              Beadle                              Salisbury University 

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EDUCATION

Master of Fine Arts in Directing, The Catholic University of America

Bachelor of Arts in Theatre/Performance and History,

 

Training

Directing: Jeffery Sichel and Robert Smith

New Play Development: Jon Klein, Michael Kinghorn and Gregg Henry

Acting: Gary Sloan, Marietta Hedges, and Robert Smith

Stage Combat: Robb Hunter (Rapier/Dagger and Hand to Hand)

Movement: Paata Tsikurishvili (Georgian Mime and Physical Theatre)

 

Special Skills

Improvisation (long form and short form); Working with children; Special Education, Experimental Production and Devising, New Play Development, Solo Performance, Arts Administration 

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