Matt Fotis is an award winning playwright whose plays have seen stages from coast to coast. He is a Playwrights’ Center Core Apprentice Grant Recipient and a two time Illinois Arts Council Grant recipient for his work with Shantz Theatre. His plays have won The Sonoma County Repertory Theatre’s SCRipts Festival, the Minnesota Shorts Play Festival and received a Donna Award at the Pittsburgh New Works Festival. His work has been a finalist for numerous other awards including the Guthrie Theatre Fringe Encore and Robert J. Pickering Award for Playwriting Excellence. His plays include The Van Gogh Exhibit, The Candid Biography of a Single Chess Table Chosen at Random on an Ambiguous Spring Day in Central Park, Pittsfield, The Book of Adam and Burying Mom. He is also the author of two solo performance pieces, Potpourri Potluck Kitchen Sink Meatloaf and My Fragile Family Tree. His works have been published by Original Works Publishing, JAC Publishing & Promotions, Smith & Kraus, and Meriwether Press. Among others, his plays have been produced by Emerging Artists Theatre (NYC), Ten Grand Productions (NYC), Curan Rep (NYC), Theatre on the Square, The Sonoma County Repertory Theatre, Shantz Theatre, The Bryant Lake Bowl Theatre, Anvilhead Theatre, The Pegasus Theater Co., The Chameleon Theatre Circle, Acme Theatre Works, The Pittsburgh Summer Company and Gorilla Tango Theatre.
Improv Bio
Matt Fotis is the founder and nominal figurehead for MU Improv. He has been performing and teaching improv for over ten years, and has studied at i.O. Chicago and The Brave New Workshop. At some point in time he has been a member of Anvilhead Theatre, Scotch Tape, Fingergun, and The Jerry Azumah Players, and was the coach for Illinois State's Improv Mafia. He was also the head writer for the critically acclaimed sketch shows Requiem for a Department Story, or how Jesus Taught me to Shop at Macy's and No-EL, or how The BlagojeGrinch Stole Christmas.
Sort of Personal Bio
Matt Fotis is currently a doctoral student at the University of Missouri studying theatre. He holds a Master of Arts from Illinois State University and a BA from Monmouth College. He is the founder and executive director of Shantz Theatre in Chicago. He has won numerous awards in various fields and pursuits, but balances these accolades with his social awkwardness. He currently lives in Columbia, MO, with his wife and two young sons.