Brooke Matthews
I first saw Brooke Matthews a couple years ago in the ensemble of NTPA’s RENT and I asked the director who she was. He replied, “That’s Brooke. She’s incredible.” Time passed and I did not see Brooke on stage again until Garland Civic Theatre’s I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. I was blown away by her performance and her presence and wondered why I haven’t been seeing Brooke in lead roles all over DFW. It didn’t hit me until later that she was the same Brooke from RENT. The words “she’s incredible” are an apt description of Brooke Matthews. I saw her again recently in a supporting role in Garland Civic Theatre’s Follies and there is no denying that Brooke is a star. She is a singing, dancing, acting wonder whose career is on the rise. Take a few moments to read about Brooke’s journey in theater so far.
When was your first time on stage?
I’ve been performing for as long as I can remember: maybe 4 or 5 years old? I grew up in a musical family, and I’ve been doing school and community theatre and dance since my mom put me in my first children’s theatre production in kindergarten.
When did you know you wanted to be an actor?
It took me a while to get there, but I finally felt my true calling my senior year of high school. I cycled through a LOT of career aspirations in my young life: ballerina, chef, painter, singer, surgeon, and finally actor (yes, one of these things is not like the others!) The role that solidified my dream to become a professional actor was the Witch in my high school’s production of Into the Woods.
Who is your greatest mentor?
I went to a lot of different schools growing up, so I had a lot of amazing people who influenced growth and professional achievements, but I’d say my top two are my high school theatre director Susan Manst and my college voice coach and professor Guilherme Almeida (sic ‘em Bears!). In very different ways, they both encouraged my passions, enabled my development, and prepared me for my future.
What role have you enjoyed the most in your career so far?
I can’t even begin to express how much I loved playing Bridget Sullivan in the musical Lizzie. It’s a hard rock musical about the true story of Lizzie Borden, the notorious axe murderer from 1890s Massachusetts. Not only did I get to learn and sing in an Irish accent, I got to do a powerhouse all-female musical with my Baylor classmates that’s in one of my favorite styles of music. It is an absolute tragedy that hardly anyone does the show or even knows it exists, so it is SO worth a listen!
Do you have a dream role?
I’m so lucky that I’ve already checked off my top dream role: Cathy Hiatt in The Last Five Years. I have never encountered a more challenging and rewarding character before, both vocally and acting-wise, and some of my best memories yet are from that show. Next on my list is Euridice in Hadestown.
What person(s) would you like to be on stage with?
Derek Klena, my ultimate Broadway crush. Any time, any day, you name it Mr. Klena, I’m there.
What performances have you seen that impressed you?
I saw Beetlejuice at Fair Park a few weeks ago and I was BLOWN away. I’ve found in my experience that touring productions can be hit or miss, but this one was stellar. A Dallas local production I saw recently that impressed me was Something Rotten! At Firehouse Theatre. I had several good friends in the show and the overall quality was wonderful. I love working at Firehouse and I hope to get to again soon.
What are your career goals?
When I was getting my BFA in theatre at Baylor, I constantly encountered the question of what the definition of “success” in the theatre world is, and what I wanted my future as an actor to look like. My goal is to have a full-time career in acting in New York. However long that takes and however many hoops I must jump through, I’m willing to do what it takes. Dallas still has a lot to offer me and I’m not ready to leave quite yet. So from here, I’m going nowhere but up!
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I’m a military brat! My dad served 28 years in the Air Force, so I knew nothing but the military for my entire life until I was 22. God took my family all over the country and the world, and I’m very fortunate to have seen so much of the world already. It also made me really close with my parents and older sister. They are my strongest supporters and I would never have made it this far without them.
