Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew MacDermid.
Hi Matthew, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Ensemble Company (in residence at Penguin Point) formed from an opportunity presented by James Brendlinger, who was opening Penguin Point Productions within the Oviedo Mall. He’d seen a production I directed in Volusia County and was so impressed that he asked me if I would be interested in producing theatre in his new venue.
Tired of directing the same standard community theatre repertoire at various theaters in Volusia County (THE ADDAMS FAMILY may. have been the straw that broke the camel’s back), I was desperate to produce theatre that told stories that matter, with rich material that challenges both actors and audiences.
With a venue in hand, and the desire to change the world, The Ensemble Company was born–and the first production took the stage in the still blossoming Penguin Point space in April of 2019.
A bit about myself, the founder and producing artistic director of The Ensemble Company: Matthew MacDermid has over thirty years’ experience as a professional actor, director, stage manager, and educator. He holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and English Literature. Founding The Ensemble Company in the spring of 2019, he has been responsible as director or producer for four Orlando Sentinel Critic’s Pick Top Productions (THE NICETIES; VANYA & SONIA & MASHA & SPIKE; THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT; and CLYBOURNE PARK); a two-time directing nominee (for THE NICETIES and TORCH SONG); a lead actor nominee (for THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT); and a featured actor winner (for CLYBOURNE PARK). Matthew is an advocate for performing arts education in schools and is active with both the Florida State Thespians organization as a state-wide adjudicator and the Florida Association for Theatre Education as a longtime member and workshop presenter.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The performing arts are never a smooth road, and anyone who has experienced the journey of doing theatre without bumps in the road is either deluding themselves, or they are some sort of miracle artist.
Two weeks before our first production opened at Penguin Point, the space itself was still under construction. Being a modified space, James Brendlinger was converting what was once a mall pet store into a black box theatre space. Until the week before, there wasn’t even a door to block out the noise of the shoppers in the main mall. Rehearsing in that atmosphere was particularly grueling for the actors who had to contend with lapses in concentration from the ever-changing space around them as well as the noise outside the space.
As we’ve continued to expand our productions, so too have we had to learn the space’s limitations. Thanks to our brilliant resident scenic designer, I’ve been blessed to be able to produce productions that are typically reserved for larger spaces. Bonnie probably wants to smack me with some of my choices, but once she figures it out, the magic she creates only enhances the work we are able to do.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
The Ensemble Company tends to excel in producing new approaches to classics as well as the area premieres of recent Broadway and Off-Broadway plays.
The Ensemble Company has presented the Central Florida premieres of THE NICETIES, MOTHER OF THE MAID, THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT, the revised version of TORCH SONG (Harvey Fierstein’s masterwork TORCH SONG TRILOGY), PERFECT ARRANGEMENT, and next season’s production of the epic two-part Tony-winning THE INHERITANCE.
I am most proud of the critical acclaim that has come to us in such a short time, and I think part of that success comes from the choice of material we are choosing to do as well as the quality of the productions themselves. No one expects to walk into a theatre inside a brick-and-mortar mall and expects to be challenged by the topics brought about by the plays we are doing.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I’d love to see The Ensemble Company enter the non-profit sector so we can achieve the funding necessary to continue to grow while not solely relying on ticket revenue to support production.
There are so many theatre companies in the Central Florida area, and I want us to remain relevant and exciting.
Pricing:
- Tickets currently range from $16-20 but may need to see an increase in 2023.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theensemblecompany.com
- Instagram: @theensemblecompany
- Facebook: @theensemblecompany
Image Credits
Mike Kitaif
