M. (Matthew) William Shiner has been stage managing professionally for over 25 years, with experience in educational and professional environments, in theater, opera, circus, events and dance, working with casts from one to over a hundred. Those who have worked with him have considered Matthew’s sense of professionalism and sense of humor an extremely valuable asset to the process. His style, as a strong advocate for every production, makes him a valuable collaborator on every project he works on. He is egoless, a team-player, and has an "irreverent" sense of humor.
Matthew has a BA in Theater from the University of California, Santa Barbara (graduated with honors, emphasis in playwriting and directing). He received his MFA in Stage Management from the University of California, San Diego. He also attended the University of California, Irvine.
Matthew spent three seasons with the La Jolla Playhouse (shows include the first two-act version of I Am My Own Wife and the pre-Broadway production of Jane Eyre – the musical), three seasons with Dallas Theatre Center, and six seasons with the Tony Award winning Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington DC, working on 30 major productions and countless special events (including the Gala for the opening of the Harman Theater, an inaugural event with Sting and Elvis Costello, and an intimate evening with Sir Ian McKellen).
Since relocating to New York City, Matthew was the Production Stage Manager for The 39 Steps for nine months, finishing up the award winning and record breaking run in New York. Since then, Matthew has been the PSM for two productions of Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte - Measure for Measure directed by David Esbjornson (in rep with All’s Well that End’s Well) & Daniel Sullivan’s As You Like It – part of the 50th Anniversary season of the Delacorte – featuring Lily Rabe as Rosalind, Oliver Platt as Touchstone and Stephen Spinella as Jacques – with music by Steve Martin. Downtown at The Public Theater, he also stage managed Michael Sexton’s stark, violent and bloody production of Titus Andronicus at the intimate Anspacher Theater, as well as The Total Bent, a world premiere musical at The Public Theater from the creators of Passing Strange. He also was the production stage manager for Steven Soderbergh's American theatrical debut, The Library, at The Public's Newman Theater, with Chloe Grace Moritz and Lili Taylor.
Spring and Summer of 2013, Matthew was thrilled to be join the stage management team of Franco Dragone Entrainment Group's production of House of Dancing Water in Macau, China – a $250,000,000 water based cirque-style performance.
Continuing his collaboration with Mary Zimmerman, which includes Pericles, Argonatuika, and her production of Candide, Matthew is the PSM and Associate Director for her musical production of Disney's The Jungle Book, at the Huntington Theater Company, transferring it from the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Please stay tuned for more information on future productions.
Matthew has recently continued his relationship with Stew and Joanna Settle, by being the production stage manager for the new musical Family Album, part of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s 2014 season.
Late 2014 / 2015, Matthew will be PSM for Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame at La Jolla Playhouse and Paper Mill Playhouse.
Matthew is a member of AEA, a member of the Stage Managers’ Association, and a community leader with the online forum the SM Network. Matthew has taught at UC San Diego, University of Iowa, and guest lectured on stage management for a variety of different groups.
Information regarding availability for projects should be directed to
