Matt is currently the Artistic Director of Theatrical Outfit in Atlanta, Georgia (www.theatricaloutfit.org)
DIRECTING (Partial List)
The Price by Arthur Miller - Theatrical Outfit, Atlanta
The Lehman Trilogy by Stefano Massini - Alabama Shakespeare Festival
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams- Theatrical Outfit, Atlanta
The Honey Trap by Leo McGann - Irish Repertory Theatre, New York (Off Broadway)
***New York Times “Critic’s Pick”
The Lehman Trilogy by Stefano Massini - Theatrical Outfit, Atlanta
***Winner of 3 Suzi Bass Awards including ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Production’
Business Ideas by Milo Kramer - Alliance Theatre, Atlanta (World Premiere)
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee - Theatrical Outfit, Atlanta
***Nominated for 6 Suzi Bass Awards including ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Production’
The Honey Trap by Leo McGann - Solas Nua, DC (World Premiere)
***Nominated for 10 Helen Hayes Awards including ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Production’
The Humans by Stephen Karam - Theatrical Outfit, Atlanta
***Nominated for 4 Suzi Bass Awards
The White Chip by Sean Daniels - Theatrical Outfit/Dad's Garage Co-production, Atlanta
***Nominated for a Suzi Bass Award for ‘Best Director’
An Iliad by Lisa Peterson and Denis O'Hare - Theatrical Outfit, Atlanta
***Nominated for 2 Suzi Bass Awards including 'Best Production'
A Hundred Words for Snow by Tatty Hennessy - Theatrical Outfit (streaming)
Doubt by John Patrick Shanley - Studio Theatre, DC
***Nominated for 3 Helen Hayes Awards including 'Best Production'
If I Forget by Steven Levenson - Studio Theatre, DC
***Nominated for 3 Helen Hayes Awards including 'Best Ensemble'
Translations by Brian Friel - Studio Theatre, DC
The Hard Problem by Tom Stoppard - Studio Theatre, DC
Motherstruck! By Staceyann Chin - Studio Theatre, DC
***Nominated for 2 Helen Hayes awards, including ‘Best Production’
Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen in a new version by Mark O’Rowe - Studio Theatre, DC
Jumpers For Goalposts by Tom Wells - Studio Theatre, DC
***Nominated for 2 Helen Hayes awards, including ‘Best Ensemble’
The Twelfth Labor by Leegrid Stevens - Loading Dock Theatre Company, New York
***Nominated for 4 NYIT awards, including ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Production’
Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme by Frank McGuinness - PICT
Stop The Tempo by Gianina Carbunariu - Origin Theatre, New York (Off Broadway)
Meeting at Menin Gate by Martin Lynch – The MAC, Belfast (World Premiere)
Digging for Fire by Declan Hughes - Rough Magic Theatre Company, Dublin
Sherlock Holmes and the Crucifer of Blood - PICT, Pittsburgh
***Named 'Best Ensemble' of 2013 by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Paisley by Ron Hutchinson - Belfast International Theatre Festival (World Premiere)
Tiny Dynamite by Abi Morgan - Origin Theatre Company, 59E59 Theatres (Off Broadway)
***Winner of a 2012 Drama Desk Special Award for Design
Plaza Suite by Neil Simon - Rough Magic Theatre Company, Dublin (National Tour)
A Bright Room Called Day by Tony Kushner - NYU (Atlantic Acting School)
Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov - NYC (Atlantic Acting School)
Luca and the Sunshine by Nick Lee - Dublin Fringe (World Premiere)
***Nominated for 2 Fringe Awards and shortlisted for the Stewart Parker award
The Walworth Farce by Enda Walsh - Studio Theatre, DC
***Nominated for two Helen Hayes Awards including “Best Ensemble”
The New Electric Ballroom by Enda Walsh - Studio Theatre, DC
Improbable Frequency by Arthur Riordan - Solas Nua, DC
***Nominated for a Helen Hayes award for 'Best Choreography'
The Dudleys by Leegrid Stevens, Theatre for the New City, New York (World Premiere)
The Angel of History by Matt Torney and Ian Russell - HERE Arts Centre (NYC)
The Last Days of Judas Iscariot by Stephen Adly Guirgis - Project Arts Centre, Dublin
***Nominated for two Irish Theatre Awards including 'Best Director'
Paper Tigers by Ben Schiffer - Edinburgh Festival, Pleasance Theatre (World Premiere)
***Winner of Best Production at the ISDA festival
Woyzeck by Georg Büchner, adapted by Matt Torney – Dublin Fringe Festival, Rough Magic Theatre Company
***Nominated for a Fringe Award and selected for Prague Quadrennial 2007
Matt has also directed readings and workshops for The Alliance Theatre, Studio Theatre, Chamber Dance Project, The Abbey Theatre, Rough Magic Theatre Company, Solas Nua, Origin Theatre, Prime Cut Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, and many others.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Theatrical Outfit, Atlanta Artistic Director - 2020 to present
Institutional Leadership
Co-led Theatrical Outfit through the pandemic, pivoting to digital programming, maintaining all full time staff positions, and investing in commissions and new work developement
Delivered a 5 year Strategic Plan focused on diversifying art and audiences, developing new work, and deepening relationships with core artists
Co-led a $3.6M capital campaign and directed the design process for the building renovation
Led a full company rebrand in partnership with REBU, a bilingual, Brazil-based agency
Programming and Artistic Model
Produced Main Stage seasons that represent the full diversity of Atlanta, with a focus on Contemporary theatre and great ensemble acting. Achieved 70 award nominations across the past five seasons
Created a new co-production/partnership model diversifying revenue and expanding artistic reach, including current-season partnerships with Alabama Shakespeare Festival and the Atlanta Opera
Directed acclaimed mainstage work personally, including The Lehman Trilogy (3 Suzi Bass Awards) and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (6 Suzi Bass nominations)
New Work & Artistic Model
Founded the “Made in Atlanta” new-work program, producing world premieres of FLEX! By Candrice Jones, and Bleeding Hearts by Steve Yockey
Commissioned and developed new hip-hop musical Young John Lewis (Community tour, and subsequent production at Mosaic Theater)
Initiated LAUNCHPAD, a new work festival to premiere work by Atlanta artists (including Venus by Yockey, now headed to Woolly Mammoth) establishing a new model for artist-led, tour-ready productions
Community Engagement and Partnerships
Built programming-linked community partnerships, including the Breman Museum (The Lehman Trilogy) and the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation (Young John Lewis)
Opened the building to the community through shared-space initiatives and launched a new apprentice program
Selected as a core partner for the Leadership Atlanta Community Capacity Project
Studio Theatre, Washington DC Associate Artistic Director - 2015 to 2020
Served as right-hand to Artistic Director David Muse, leading day-to-day artistic operations across casting, creative team assembly, supporting season planning, and producing immersive elements for Studio X
Directed six mainstage productions across the building's stages, gaining multiple award nominations
Served as local casting director and coordinated with NYC casting directors
Worked closely with Production Manager on annual budget, housing for out of town artists, and achieving artist vision
Maintained relationships with community partners, such as Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts, and Howard University, and supported community engagement for mainstage shows.
Origin Theatre Company, New York Director of Programming 2012 to 2015
Programmed readings and workshop series focused on European work, including “Mondays in May”, and partnerships with embassies and consulates
Directed main stage productions, readings, and workshops
Associate producer on all of the company’s work, with emphasis on casting
Supported fundraising and marketing, and was associate producer on annual gala
Rough Magic Theatre Company, Dublin Associate Director 2008 to 2015
Directed main stage productions
Directed Readings and workshops
Supported Artistic Director with creative and season planning
Mentored emerging artists
Freelance Art Director, National (Film/Television/Photography) 2006 to -2018
Led creative direction for film, television and photography projects
Collaborated with lead creatives to achieve specific visual aesthetics
Split focus between editorial and commercial work
Created budgets, hired crew, and led logistics for the Art Department
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Columbia University New York - MFA in Theatre Directing, 2009
***Dean’s fellowship, Bank of Ireland Millenium Scholarship, Arts Council Award
Trinity College Dublin - BA in Drama and English Literature 2003 (First Class Honours)
***Entrance Exhibition Scholarship
National Theatre Studio London - Young Directors Course. Worked with Katie Mitchell, Nicholas Hytner, Deborah Warner, Declan Donnellan.
Rough Magic Theatre Company Dublin - SEEDS Program. 18 month directing apprenticeship, which included work at Rough Magic, the Abbey Theatre, The Stockholm Stadsteatern, The Vigszinhas in Budapest, and the Schaubuhne in Berlin
Accademia Dell'Arte Tuscany -Intensive training in Commedia Dell'Arte and physical theatre
REFERENCES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST