2403 West Eighth Street
Erie, PA 16505
ph: (814) 838-2061
f: (814) 838-0376

Villa Maria Academy is pleased to announce that   DAVID MATTHEWS  and CAROLINE GRANAHAN  will be leading the high school’s Theater Department effective August 2005.

David Matthews, Managing Director of the Erie Playhouse, will become an adjunct Theater instructor at the Academy.  

Originally from New Castle, PA, David attended Westminster College and Youngstown University and joined the Erie Playhouse in 1972.  Previously, he had been active with the New Castle Playhouse. He eventually formed the first dinner theatre in Western Pennsylvania known as The Holiday Players.

Mr. Matthews spent six summers with the Kenley Players of Ohio. At the time ( early 60’s) this was the largest chain of summer theatres in America. The first summer ( 1959) Mr. Matthews served as an apprentice, the second and third as Prop Master. His final summers, he served as Mr. Kenley’s personal assistant, dealing with contracts, star arrangements, publicity, box office procedure, handling apprentices, etc.

The American Association of Community Theatres sponsors theatre competitions. The Erie Playhouse has only been able to enter one time because of its busy schedule.

David’s production of BENT placed first in statewide competition and also in the ESTA (Eastern States Theatre Association) competition among six states. It then went to Racine for the national convention having placed as one of the ten best theatres in the nation.

Mr. Matthews has been credited with the revival of the Erie Playhouse’s standing in the community and the nation. His leadership has been a marvel. He is the longest running Managing Director of the Playhouse in its long history. He has surrounded himself with a staff that reflects a mutual love and respect for “community theatre” and share the same vision.

One of the greatest assets of the Erie Playhouse is the Youtheatre which was begun under David’s leadership. Where schools are failing their students in a scarcity of arts programs, the Playhouse has stepped in with productions, classes, workshops, summer camps, etc. and extended learning experiences throughout the community that has enriched both the Playhouse and Erie as a whole. This has happened because David saw the need and the Playhouse stepped up to the plate and joined the ball game. As a result, literally thousands of young people have been exposed to live theatre on both sides of the footlights.

He has directed the community theatre premieres of:

• THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY
• MAME
• OVER HERE!
• 1776
• DREAMGIRLS
• A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
• FOLLIES

Mr. Matthews has directed over 400 productions in his 44 year history. These have ranged from two character musicals (I DO, I DO) to huge extravaganzas ( featuring a cast of 700). The Erie Playhouse produces between 20 and 25 productions a year under his leadership making it the most active theatre in the Commonwealth.

When asked what his favorite productions are he has directed his answers come quickly:

RAGTIME- I believe it is the finest show I have ever done.

DREAMGIRLS- nobody thought we could do an all-black musical….we not only did it….we did it well.

NINE- one of our towering achievements. One man, all those women…all that talent. I was very proud.

THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY- 7 and one half hours of sheer theatrical magic. To this day I don’t believe we pulled it off. I have never been more proud.

DEATH OF A SALESMAN- this last production was as perfect as theatre gets and showed the world how well theatre can move an audience when it speaks truths.

K2- a show so technically difficult as to be impossible. Everyone pulled together and made it happen. I was thrilled with the result.

FALSETTOS- Nobody came to see it, but I didn’t care. It was worth every heart tugging moment. A proud show in our long history.

Mr. Matthews hosted a “Musical Theatre” show called “Curtain Up” on the local PBS affiliate (WQLN FM) for two years to great acclaim.

He also instituted a “Composer/Lyricist” series at the Erie Playhouse. This has also met with much praise. Mr. Matthews is considered an “expert” in musical theatre history and these concerts have much appeal not only for the music, but the stories and wisdoms and gossip he shares with the audience. What started as an “extra” has turned into a triumph for the Playhouse.

In the past, David has taught Elderhostel classes at Villa Maria Center. These classes have proven highly successful and the ratings from the students have been exemplary.

David has also worked with Maestro’s Peter Bay and Hugh Keelan and the Erie Philharmonic for combined concerts. The highly successful collaboration has been a positive in getting the local arts community to work with each other.

Among his many awards, he values the ELBERT SMITH AWARD presented by the Theatre Association of Pennsylvania as the “outstanding contributor to community theatre in Pennsylvania.” Mr. Matthews is the youngest recipient of this award.

In 2002, he was honored by Villa Maria Center in Erie as Erie’s “Community Treasure” at Villa In Bloom.  A dinner and awards ceremony accompanied the honor.

In 2004, David was awarded an honorary Doctorate from Edinboro University for his years of service to the community.

Associations:

• Past Board Member of THEATRE ASSOCIATION OF PENNSYVANIA
• Past Theatre Panel member for THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE ARTS COUNCIL
• Member CITIZENS FOR THE ARTS IN PENNSYLVANIA
• Past Board Member of EASTERN STATES THEATRE ASSOCIATION
• Past Theatre Panel Member INDIANA STATE ARTS COUNCIL
• Founding Board Member of PA. ASSOCIATION OF COMM.THEATRES

David has directed a multitude of shows at the Erie Playhouse too numerous to mention.

Caroline is a 2000 graduate of Villa Maria Academy.  As a VMA student, Caroline performed in Fiddler on the Roof,  The Pajama Game and My Fair Lady. 

Caroline is also a 2004 Cum Laude graduate of Otterbein College in Westerville, OH with Bachelor of Music Education degree.   As the music and drama director for St. Brendan School in Hilliard, OH, Caroline taught music, gave piano lessons, planned school liturgies, directed church choirs, provided private vocal instruction and directed the school musicals, Guys and Dolls Jr, and  Cinderella.   Previously, Caroline taught at Rutherford B Hayes High School in Delaware,  OH where she assisted with the musical Les Miserables.

The restructuring of the Theater Department comes as a result Villa Alum Almi Clerkin’s resignation.  Almi, from the class of 1981, directed the Theater Department at her Alma Mater for the past 20 years.   Shows to her credit include Oklahoma!, Guys and Dolls,  Secret Garden, The Will Rogers Follies, Good News, Damn Yankees, Cotton Patch Gospel, Brigadoon, Fiddler on the Roof,  and My Fair Lady.  Almi is continuing her full time position at the Erie Playhouse as Youtheatre and Development Director and will now have more time for spending with her family.