Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Gittins
Hi Matt, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m originally from Ohio. I started with piano lessons at age 3, violin at 7, and then picked up other instruments along the way. Growing up, I was preoccupied with building LEGO universes, acquiring trading cards (specifically Yu-gi-oh!), and collecting sticks in my yard (to use in the imaginary universes I had created outside). As a freshman in high school, I auditioned to play in the pit band for The Wizard of Oz . Soon after rehearsals had begun, a shooting occurred at my high school; three students were killed and one was seriously injured. I don’t remember much during that time beyond total devastation and despair. But I remember going to pit band practice because it was the only thing I remotely looked forward to. Looking back I’m amazed at the courage and perseverence that it must have taken for my teachers to decide to continue with rehearsals during that time. Opening night of The Wizard of Oz was delayed, but it happened. We were heartbroken, and that show provided us a community, a purpose, and some comfort during an unimaginable few months. In college, I studied musical theater performance at Otterbein University after catching the theater bug, and the highlight of my senior year was getting an internship with composer Andrew Lippa ( The Addams Family and Big Fish ) that resulted in a staged reading of YOU GO ON , an original musical I wrote about living in the aftermath of a school shooting. After graduating, I moved to New York City for a while, came home during COVID, and now live in Cleveland. I work as a professional actor, musician, playwright, and composer. I also teach and work at Pfabes Music in Painesville.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has been unpredictable, but I’m grateful to be on it. There have been struggles, including disappointments, money worries, and a general feeling of unsettledness at times. But I love what I do, and I’m fortunate to have a good support system. Living as an artist is both a privilege and a roller coaster. I’m learning to be more comfortable with it and now I enjoy the ride most of the time.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m most proud of the musical I wrote: YOU GO ON. After years of writing, rewriting, performed readings, and more rewriting, it’s finally ready to be staged. And I feel ready to share.
Regarding other work, I enjoy gigging around Northeast Ohio as a musician and performing at professional theaters around Cleveland. Last summer, I was cast as Judas in one of my favorite musicals: Jesus Christ Superstar at Porthouse Theater. I recently got to music direct a production of Scrooge at Near West Theater, and I’m currently directing a production of The Little Mermaid at the high school where I used to attend, which has been awesome!
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
You can support me by supporting the arts. We need to continue to fund the arts. I can’t imagine where I would be now if there had been no pit band to look forward to in high school. Also, please consider getting involved with or donating to organizations like Sandy Hook Promise, Everytown, and Project Linus.
If you want to support YOU GO ON, thank you! You can catch excerpts of YOU GO ON at the BorderLight Fringe Festival in Cleveland this summer, 2025 (details to be released by BorderLight Festival soon). You can also listen to the album and read some of the script; both are on my website: matthewgittins.com. And if you are interested in helping me stage YOU GO ON, there is a SUPPORT section at the bottom of the webpage titled: YOU GO ON. You will also see a wish list of things that are needed to stage the show. Thank you!
Please reach out to me – I’d love to hear from you. You can find my email on my website: matthewgittins.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://matthewgittins.com
- Instagram: mgittins54 and you_go_on_musical
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@YOU_GO_ON_Musical
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-170786783
Image Credits
Remembering Tree: Elliot Miller
Headshot: Lindsey Poyar
Judas in a Silver Suit: Bob Christy
Cabaret at Eugene O’Neill Center: Eugene O’Neill Staff
Write Out Loud Composers: Rebeccas J Michelson
