Daniel Matisa

Daniel Matisa

Associate Professor, Theatre Arts

    Hartmann Center 207
    (309) 677-2658
   dmatisa@bradley.edu

 

Biography

After 17 years in New York City, and several years teaching acting at Elon University in North Carolina and at Emporia State University in Kansas, Dan is now Associate Professor at Bradley, since 2017. In addition to performing in many Off- and Off-off-Broadway venues in NYC, Dan has performed regionally at Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Asolo Rep, Tennessee Rep, American Stage, Florida Studio Theatre, Hudson Valley Shakespeare, Pennsylvania Centre Stage, Vermont Shakespeare, Stonington Opera House, The Public Theatre of Maine, and many more. Dan has also spent over 10 seasons performing and directing at Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre in Conway, Arkansas.

Dan teaches all levels of Acting, The Actor’s Instrument, Acting for the Camera, Dialects for the Actor, Professional Development Seminar - Performance, and Senior Capstone. At Bradley, he has directed productions of English Made Simple and Other Plays by David Ives, the American classic Picnic by William Inge, Kate Hamill’s Sense and Sensibility (adapted from the beloved Jane Austen novel), Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, Agatha Christie’s The Mouse Trap, and Jaclyn Backhaus’s Men On Boats.  Some favorite roles Dan has played professionally include: “Leontes” and “Autolycus” in The Winter’s Tale, “Falstaff” in Henry IV, Part 1, "Richard" in Richard III, “Shylock” in The Merchant of Venice, "Bottom" in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, “Claudius/Ghost" in Hamlet, "Max" in The Producers, “Jane/Edgar” in The Mystery of Irma Vep, and right here at Bradley, “Black Stache” in Peter and the Starcatcher.

Dan earned his MFA from the Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, and his BA from Hofstra University. He hails originally from New Jersey, and is married to his beloved wife, Taylor.