Matthew Decker (born March 6, 1981) is an American theater director, screenwriter, and playwright from

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania King of Prussia (nicknamed K.O.P.) is a census-designated place in Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania, Upper Merion Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The community took its unusual name in the 18th century from a loca ...

. With Erin Reilly, he co-founded Theatre Horizon in 2005, a professional theatre company in

Norristown, PA Norristown is a borough with home rule status and the county seat of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States, in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Located along the Schuylkill River, approximately from Philadelphia, Norristown had a ...

where he served as Co-Artistic Director. Decker has directed regionally at Theatre Horizon, the

Arden Theatre Company The Arden Theatre Company is a professional regional theatre company located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The company includes three theatres: the 175-seat Arcadia Stage and the 360-seat F. Otto Haas Stage, located in the main property at 40 ...

, the Lantern Theatre Company, Cardinal Stage, 11th Hour Theatre Company, and

Villanova University Villanova University is a Private university, private Catholic Church, Catholic research university in Villanova, Pennsylvania, United States. It was founded by the Order of Saint Augustine in 1842 and named after Thomas of Villanova, Saint Thom ...

. For eight seasons, he served as the Associate Artistic Director at the Arden Theatre Company. Decker is a graduate of the

Tisch School of the Arts The New York University Tisch School of the Arts (commonly referred to as Tisch) is the performing, cinematic, and media arts school of New York University. Founded on August 17, 1965, as the School of the Arts at New York University, Tisch ...

at New York University where he studied at the

Atlantic Theater Company The Atlantic Theater Company is an Off-Broadway non-profit theater company based in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 1985 by playwright David Mamet, actor William H. Macy, and a group of acting students, the compan ...

. He is a three-time

Barrymore Award The Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre is an annual, nationally-recognized award program that is sponsored by Theatre Philadelphia for professional theater productions in the Greater Philadelphia area. Each season culminates with an awards ...

winner for Outstanding Direction of a Musical. In 2023, it was announced that he would co-pen with

Ayad Akhtar Ayad Akhtar (born October 28, 1970) is an American playwright, novelist, and screenwriter. He has received numerous accolades including the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama as well as nominations for two Tony Awards. Akhtar is known as a playwrig ...

the libretto for the stage musical adaptation of

Damien Chazelle Damien Sayre Chazelle (; born January 19, 1985) is an American filmmaker. He directed the psychological drama ''Whiplash (2014 film), Whiplash'' (2014), the musical romance ''La La Land'' (2016), the biographical drama ''First Man (film), First ...

's 2016 film ''

La La Land ''La La Land'' is a 2016 American musical romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle. It stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as a struggling jazz pianist and an aspiring actress who meet and fall in love while pursuing ...

'', which will be directed by

Bartlett Sher Bartlett B. Sher (born March 27, 1959) is an American theatre director. ''The New York Times'' has described him as "one of the most original and exciting directors, not only in the American theater but also in the international world of opera". ...

, with

Justin Hurwitz Justin Hurwitz (born January 22, 1985) is an American film composer and television writer. He is best known for his longtime collaboration with director Damien Chazelle, scoring each of his films: '' Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench'' (2009), '' ...

and Pasek & Paul returning as songwriters.

Awards

* 2016 Barrymore Award - Outstanding Direction of a Musical (''The Stinky Cheese Man'') * 2015 Barrymore Award - Outstanding Direction of a Musical (''Into the Woods'') * 2014 Barrymore Nomination - Outstanding Direction of a Play (''Circle Mirror Transformation'') * 2011 Barrymore Award - Outstanding Direction of a Musical (''The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'')

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Decker, Matthew 1981 births Living people Tisch School of the Arts alumni