Ken-Matt Martin Appointed As Producing Director At Baltimore Center Stage And Arkansas Repertory Theatre

Preeminent theater director, cultural worker, and collaborator Ken-Matt Martin has been appointed as Producing Director at both Baltimore Center Stage and Arkansas Repertory Theatre. In his new roles, Martin's duties and responsibilities include producing Main Stage shows, shepherding commercially enhanced projects, directing shows, and executing special fundraising projects.

"It's particularly exciting to provide leadership and guidance to both of these incredible institutions at this pivotal time in our society where art and theater have the opportunity to create significant cultural impact," said Martin. "Both Baltimore Center Stage and Arkansas Repertory Theater have been creative homes for me, and I'm excited to amplify the artistic and producing teams at both companies."

"Ken Matt-Martin is an incredible creative and masterful producer," said Stevie Walker-Webb, Artistic Director of Baltimore Center Stage. "His years of varied experience at every level of our industry makes him a unique unicorn. And I couldn't be more proud to have him at my side as Baltimore Center Stage's Producing Director."

"We're all trying to operate like we have twice our headcounts, but under a summer season model, creative staffing approaches are even more important. With Ken-Matt, we benefit from multi-functional expertise- production management, creative development, and external relations," said Will Trice, Executive Director of Arkansas Repertory Theatre. "We're also able to leverage his ongoing relationships with other companies and artists across the country."

Ken-Matt Martin has worked with some of the industry's most formidable artists. Notable directing credits include productions of August Wilson's Fences and The Piano Lesson (Pyramid Theatre Company), the Chicago Premiere of How I Learned What I Learned (Congo Square Theatre Company, Starring Harry Lennix), A Son, Come Home and Brotherhood at Williamstown Theatre Festival, Nia Vardalos' adaptation of Cheryl Strayed's Tiny Beautiful Things (Baltimore Center Stage), the world premiere of NANCY (Mosaic Theatre Company), Hello, Dolly! (Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Starring Amber Iman), and the World Premiere musical adaptation of Jason Reynolds' Long Way Down at Olney Theatre Center and New York's Apollo Theatre. Martin's directorial work has been honored with three Cloris Leachman Excellence in Theatre Awards, Michigan's Oscar Wilde Award for Best Director, and Chicago's BACA Black Excellence Award for Outstanding Director. His work as a Producer was recognized with a Bravo Greater Des Moines Standing Ovation Award, amongst others.

In addition, Ken-Matt has been praised as an innovator in the modern American theater; he created the 20/50 New Play Festival, the Ignite Chicago Festival, Goodman Theatre's Live @Five Show, and was the co-founder of the Pyramid Theatre Company in Des Moines. A highly sought after thought leader, he has served in leadership positions at Victory Gardens Theatre, Goodman Theatre, and Williamstown Theatre Festival. As a collaborator, he was part of the team to help orchestrate the Broadway transfers of The Sound Inside and Grand Horizons, and the Off-Broadway transfers of Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Seared, Oh Happy Day!, and Selling Kabul. Additionally, as a producer he gave early development opportunities to Primary Trust (Pulitzer Prize) and the musical Mexodus. He's also brokered partnerships with Chicago State University, The Black List, Des Moines Performing Arts, EquiTrust Life Insurance, and others, to bring unique theatrical experiences to the general public.

Martin holds a M.F.A. in Directing from Brown University and degrees in Musical Theatre and Journalism from Drake University. He has served on the selection committees for the Venturous Theatre Fund, the Princess Grace Awards, the Jonathan Larson Awards, and the National Musical Theatre Conference at the Eugene O'Neil Center. He's the recipient of a New Harmony Project Artist in Resident Fellowship, a "Keep Going" Commission by Baltimore Center Stage, a Drake University Guest Artist in Residence Fellowship, and the Bill Foeller Directing Fellowship.

Upcoming projects in his new roles include artistic leadership on a new production of James Baldwin's The Amen Corner at Arkansas Repertory Theatre, producing the world premiere of John Wilkes Booth: One Night Only! by Matthew Weiner at Baltimore Center Stage, along with producing Center Stage's 2025 gala.