Resume | Matthewrkernsmfa

Matthew R. Kerns, MFA |The Late Carol Channing | The Late Patrica Rusk | Benefit Performance
Chicago Academy for the Arts

Matthew R. Kerns, MFA

Experience

2016-Present

President & Artistic Director St Lou Fringe

St Lou Fringe is an independent theatre arts incubator. As the tenacious leader of the Fringe, I transformed the organization from a grass roots startup to an iconic St. Louis cultural institution.

Serve as President and Artistic Director for over 500 works of art for the stage, oversee day to day operations and organizational budgets, and manage a core staff of 6, a fleet of 50+ volunteers, and 250+ artists annually
Governance leader in strategic planning, fundraising, major gifts, grants, and individual contributed revenue. St Lou Fringe has been consistently profitable as a direct result of my leadership
Serve in a dual role as President and Artistic Director. As AD, I create and implement world-premiere productions, St. Louis premieres of cutting-edge theatrical works, professional development opportunities, arts for education, online sales platforms, artist support networks, and curate our stages both in-person and virtually at, The Jill Edmunds Virtual Theatre Experience
Lead communications, public relations, & marketing. Print press recognitions include, The New York Times, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Riverfront Times, St. Louis American, and the St. Louis Business Journal; Radio & Television recognitions include, CNN, FOX-2, Nine Networks, HEC-TV, KSDK, 550KTRS, and St. Louis Public Radio

2019–2022

Director of Emerging Leaders & Member & Alumni Relations

FOCUS St. Louis

Focus St. Louis educates leaders, connects leaders, and facilitates important conversations for the region as a neutral convener. I began as the Associate Director of Member and Alumni Relations and was promoted to Director of Emerging Leaders and Alumni Relations.

Developed contributed revenue strategies engaging new members and stewarding existing supporters, resulting in 20% higher membership growth. As Program Director, my recruitment efforts resulted in doubled-class sizes and significantly increased tuition dollars
Encouraged innovative membership program services and emerging technologies for new and renewed memberships
Lead curricular development for the Emerging Leaders Program and the FOCUS St. Louis community-at-large

2017–2019

Grants and Programs Manager

The Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis

The Arts and Education Council ensures the 16-county, bi-state St. Louis region is rich with arts and cultural experiences for all through programs and services that support more than 70 organizations.

Facilitated the productivity and efficiency of the organization’s grants and program needs, and led the grants and programs board committee in allocating $1.4 million dollars in grants and programs funding
Tracked grant program outcomes and analyzed financial data
Created and executed Catalyst Lab programming, supervised the Katherine Dunham Fellowship Program, and co-managed the Centene Center for the Arts.

1997–Present

Academic Service and Community Programming

During this era, I worked across the sector in a myriad of roles in academic service and community placemaking program roles.

Taught small, medium, and large classes in venues with class sizes ranging from 5 students to 150, managed faculties of 20 spanning middle school, high school, college, and university.
Created and implemented a community arts school, departmental curricular programming, public placemaking, and daily lessons, further sold after school arts programming for public and private school districts as well as professional development through arts training for adults in the corporate sector
Co-created the first high school musical theatre program in the nation, the first arts curriculum for students on the autism spectrum, and am a proven actor trainer, students include, Cecily Strong (SNL Cast Member), Kevin Miles (Jake the State Farm Guy), Britt Mack (Six, Broadway)
Developed and implemented strategic planning and accreditation, securing major gifts totally $2.8 million, recruited students for enrollment totally more than $10 million in tuition dollars, and served on faculty governance committees
Revived the drama program at a Title I public high school.

Education

2011-2013

Naropa University, Boulder, CO

Master of Fine Arts, Contemporary Theatre Performance (MFA – Terminal)

1995-1996

Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, NM (1996)

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Acting (BFA)

1991-1994

St. Louis Community College (1994)

Associates of Arts Degree, Theatre (AAD)

Associates of Communications Degree, Communications (ACD)

2023 - Present

Missouri South State University

Teaching Certification Program

Certifications

The Improv Shop Training Program Graduate (2020)
Inclusive Leadership Certified, Edx (2021)
Designing Virtual Training Certified, atd (2022)
Missouri Teaching Certificate (2022)

Additional Academic Service

2020-Present

Head of Drama Hazelwood East High School

Introduction to Theatre, Acting, Speech, Show Director

2000-Present

Private Professional Actor Coaching

Monologue, Scene Study, Voice Over, Acting for the Camera

Awards & Notable Mentions

St. Louis Business Journal – 2020 Diverse Business Leaders Award (2020)
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - Creative Ticket Award (2006)
Joseph Jefferson Award - Dreamy, Best Production (1999)

Chang, C. (2019, July 2). The Mueller Report is the surprise hit of the summer. American Theatre Magazine.
Scott, C. (2023, June 5). America’s most exciting emerging arts district is in... st louis? Forbes.
Newmark, J. (2016b, December 24). The judy awards: our critic applauds best of st. louis theater. St Louis Post-Dispatch.

Public Speaking

2006, 2008

Workshop Presenter National Association of Independent Schools Annual Conference

2011

Keynote Speaker Youth Writing Conference

2017

TedX Speaker

2018

Featured PerformerTheatre Communications Group National Conference

2021

Nonprofit Marketers Network-STL Spectrum Conference Workshop Presenter

2023

Panelist St. Louis Women's Forum

Organizational Affiliations

National Association of Education
Association of Theatre in Higher Education
World Fringe Congress
North American Association of Fringe Festivals
National Association of Independent Schools
Theatre Communications Group

Representative Theatrical Work

Musicals/Opera

Executive Producer

Pollock: A Frequency Parable, St Lou Fringe & Off-Broadway

Executive Producer

Flame & Shadow, The Passions & Pains of Sara Teasdale, St Lou Fringe

Executive Producer

Big Machine, Fly North Theatricals

Executive Producer

Urine Town, Ignite Theatre Company

Executive Producer

Pencil the Date, St Lou Fringe

Executive Producer

Racecars & Romance, St Lou Fringe

Executive Producer & Director

A Song for Vanya, St Lou Fringe

Executive Producer & Director

Seussical, Waterloo Playhouse

Executive Producer & Director

Cabaret, Chicago Academy for the Arts

Executive Producer & Director

Kiss Me Kate, Chicago Academy for the Arts

Executive Producer & Director

Company, Chicago Academy for the Arts

Executive Producer & Director

The Wiz, Chicago Academy for the Arts

Straight Plays

Actor

An Act of God, God, St Lou Fringe

Executive Producer

HERstory of HIStory, St Lou Fringe

Director

Legend of Sleepy Hallow, St. Charles Community College

Director

In the Tank, St. Charles Community College

Director

1984, University of Missouri-St. Louis

Director

A Murder Is Announced, Waterloo Playhouse

Director

Frost/Nixon, Waterloo Playhouse

Choreographer

For Colored Girls..., Theatre Cedar Rapids

Devised Work

Executive Producer, Devisor, Director

The Final Performance of Midnight Annie, The Life and Times of Chris Andoe