Catch Broadway vet, CCM grad and Piqua native Matt Bogart on stage in “Camelot” starting tonight; on stage at Below Zero Sunday night singing with Shannon Stoeke and Jessica Hendy in a cabaret benefiting STOP AIDS; and come say hi (and see the show) on Monday.

 

Bogart and Stoeke will star in a dinner-show package on Monday with a pre-show chat starting at 6 p.m.

 

Get your questions ready; we asked a couple in advance:

Matt’s best advice for theater students: “Take the time to study privately either with private coaches or at a conservatory program such as CCM. 

“Audition for work at professional theaters in your area and other reputable regional theaters to acquire experience working on the professional level with actors, directors, writers and theatre administrators. 

“Working at regional theaters is a good way to build up your resume and experience for moving to the bigger fish pond, New York City, NY.  Once you arrive in the Big Apple, get an excellent photographer for your picture/ resume and audition for everything including readings, concerts, benefits, showcases, workshops, commercials, film, TV and Broadway productions. 

“Know you will need a solid backbone to withstand the rejection that everyone faces and down time but you are not alone and persistence is key.  Also, find work to fall back on and find time to fall back on it to give your life diversity.  All this said, everyone will have a different journey.  Enjoy yours because it will be unique.”

Matt says he’s been lucky enough to have an “abundance” of “I can’t believe I’m doing this” moments. A couple of them – “working one-on-one with Stephen Sondheim on “Company” at the Kennedy Center's Sondheim Celebration, sharing a dressing room with Burt Bacharach at the Kennedy Center honors paying homage to Elizabeth Taylor, performing with my wife Jessica Bogart in Richard Oberacker's "Ace" and "Romance/Romance."

“And presently having a love affair with the song "If Ever I Would Leave You" in my “Camelot” tour, poetry set to music.  There are so many moments, from quite rehearsal room profundity to playing 5,000 seat

Theaters.

 

“I always say that one of the most wonderful and scary things about being an actor is the variety of people you will meet, places you will go, the lessons you will learn and the metamorphosis that will occur within you.”