Name:
Matthew Herrick
Year Graduated:
2004
Degree:
M.F.A. - Acting
Favorite Memory of T&D:
So many things. But really, I just miss everything about Austin. It's one of the greatest places to live and work.
Influential Professors or Classes:
I particularly loved my work with Lucien Douglas. He was thorough, well-planned, straight-forward, and realistic. The best thing about him was his ability to genuinely care about the individual needs of the students. I always felt I could talk to him about my questions, concerns, and successes, and that he had an "open door", willing to listen. When he's teaching, he lets go of his own ego and agenda, and puts everything he has into uplifting his students' abilities and helping them succeed. He's really cares. Thanks, Lucien.
Current Hometown:
New York, NY
Current Profession:
Actor, Teacher, Resident Voice Coach, Director of Education, Dancer, Secretary, and many others to stay alive.
Biography (or what you've done since graduating from UT):
After graduation, Matthew was able to sign and work with agents in theatre/film, and the commercial world. He has appeared in plays and musicals, concerts and readings, national commercials and even soap operas. And he also managed to add a second child, Cole, into the world with his wife Heather, and daughter Margaret. They love the city, but miss Austin very much. Margaret especially misses the chips and salsa at Hula Hut.
Credits Include
New York: Most recently, Matthew joined Handcart Ensemble as a resident ensemble member after appearing as Haemon in their Off-Broadway and US Premier production of The Burial at Thebes: A Version of Antigone by Seamus Heaney at Theatre 315. Handcart Ensemble is Manhattan's premiere theatre for contemporary adaptations of classical plays, specifically focusing on text written in verse. He also serves as their Resident Voice/Text Coach and Director of Education/Outreach. He also recently made his solo-debut at Carnegie Hall in a benefit concert entitled The Gift of Music.
TV:
As The World Turns, Touched by an Angel.
National Commercials:
principle - Verizon Wireless and The Olive Garden.
While at UT Matthew appeared as Jamie in The Last 5 Years, Moliere/Harpagon in Suzan Zeder's adaptation of The Miser: An Evening at Versailles, Kulygin in The Three Sisters, Demetrius in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Jed in The Fifth of July. During his first year at UT, he was the M.C. for the 20th Anniversary Spectacular for the UT Texas Performing Arts alongside such stars as Tommy Tune and Linda Eder. He also taught undergraduate courses in acting and speech, and maintained a studio of 20 private singing students from the undergraduate/graduate theatre and opera departments. He also worked around the country as a music director for various regional theatres.
