
Matthew McCarren is a freelance scenographer and technical director specializing in designs for black box, thrust and found spaces. Matthew currently serves as the Resident Scenic Designer and Technical Director for Cleveland Opera Theatre, the Technical Director for the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival and as the scene shop supervisor and teaching artist for Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA. Matthew has collaborated as technical director and scenographer for Thingamajig Theatre Co., The Crook Theatre Co., Parallel 45 Theatre Co., Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival, Carrickmacross Productions, Evolution Theatre Co. and as the technical director and resident scenographer for the Oberlin in Italy opera program based in Arezzo, Italy. Matthew’s scenographic designs have been featured internationally at the 2007 Toronto Fringe Festival, the 2007 Prague Quadrennial, in Prague, CZ. and in Arezzo and Cortona, Italy at the ICASTICA Summer Arts Festival (2013-2016). Nationally, Matt’s designs have been featured at Mile Square Theatre, Actors Episcopal Guild NYC, Helen Mills Theatre NYC, 59E59 NYC, Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, P45 Theatre Co., Thingamajig Theatre Co and with Cleveland Opera Theatre. Matthew has taught and lectured as faculty with the University of Wyoming, Fort Lewis College in Durango, Co. and Interlochen Center for the Arts. Matthew holds an MFA in Design with an emphasis in Czech/Eastern European design from The Ohio State University and has studied in the Czech Republic with scenographers Petr Matsek and Jaroslav Malina. Selected design credits include: My Fair Lady, Blood Wedding, Spring Awakening, The Man of La Mancha, Frozen,The Blowin of Baile Gall, Stones in His Pockets, Trojan Women 2.0, Cyrano De Bergerac, Night Mother, My Fair Lady, West Side Story Jekyll & Hyde. Operas include: Figaro, La Rondine, Cosi fan Tutte, Gianni Schicci, Elisir, L’0rfeo and Poppea, Madame Butterfly, La Traviata
Qualifications
MFA, Scenic + Lighting Design
The Ohio State University
BA, Theater + English
Wilmington College