Hawaii Performing Arts Festival 

Directing Fellow, Matthew Greenberg
Kamuela, Hawaii
Program Head(s), Justin John Moniz, Beth Dunnington, Scott Skiba

Cabaret Sauvignon

Director, Matthew Greenberg
Music Directors: Tina Change and Elise Lawrence

Company

Book by George Furth
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Directed by Beth Dunnington
Assistant Director and Fight Choreographer: Matthew Greenberg
Musical Director/Conductor: Kirk Severtson
Choreographer: Debra McGee
Scenic Design: James Jackson
Costume Design: Michelle Hartman
Lighting Design: Steve Shack
Projection Design: Brittany Merenda
Production Stage Manager: Shayna Leahy
Photos by Steven Roby, Big Island Music Magazine

From HPAF’s Website: Hawaii Performing Arts Festival’s Directing Professional Fellowship Program will award Fellowships to two outstanding young directors who are aiming for careers in the opera and/or musical theatre directing field.

Fellows will work closely with our directing faculty and receive regular one on one sessions. Each fellow will be assigned to one of our two MainStage productions, working under the guidance of our world-renowned stage directors. Fellows will also have the opportunity to work one on one with the festival’s singers during dramatic coaching.

I was a 2019 Directing Fellow and my primary duties included Directing Cabaret Sauvignon at Kona’s Aloha Theater, Assistant Directing, Assistant Stage Managing, and Fight Directing Company at Hilo’s Palace Theater and Waimea’s Kahilu Theater. Moreover, i taught workshops to the young singers program, coached opera and musical theatre scenes and taught movement-based workshops.

Collaboration: It can be hard at times, fun, and rewarding when done effectively. I am so thankful for this fellowship for teaching me the wonderful ways to collaborate effectively as a director amongst cast and creative teams. I learned how to ask questions of the work, search for truth in the art, and most importantly, how to be a true team player in various positions of leadership.

This fellowship was intense, rewarding, and brought me lifelong memories, mai-tai’s, and skills to apply into my future directing endeavors.