Matthew Stocke
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Matthew Stocke (born on December 21, 1971) is an American stage and television actor. His hometown is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He moved to New York City in 1996 as he began his professional career and educational company. He graduated from the Carnegie Mellon College of Fine Arts in 1995 with a BFA in Acting/Musical Theatre, where he occasionally returns as a guest instructor.
[edit] Professional career
In 1998, Matt Stocke made his Broadway debut in the musical production of Titanic and later went on tour with the show's National Tour Cast. He was in the original production of The Full Monty in 2000, where he was a swing and understudied the role of Jerry Lukowski. Jerry Lukowski was played by his college roommate and current close friend Patrick Wilson. At Great Britain's Royal Variety Performance, Matt bared it all as Jerry for Queen Elizabeth II during The Full Monty's final number, "Let It Go". In 2003, he joined the original cast of The Boy from Oz, in which he kissed leading man Hugh Jackman. In 2006, he was a part of the original cast for The Wedding Singer. He understudied the roles of Sammy, Robbie Hart, played by Stephen Lynch, and Glen Guglia, played by Richard H. Blake.
Starting in 2007, Matt originated the role of the Witch's Father/Ozian Official (Frexspar the Godly) for the Los Angeles company of Wicked. He understudied for both John Rubinstein as The Wizard and Timothy Britten Parker as Doctor Dillamond. He shared his two understudy duties with Brian Munn, who also understudied for him. His track in the show included the new Shiz University professor who takes over for Doctor Dillamond (Doctor Nikidik), the Yak at the train station, the "Big Green Guard" in the Emerald City who shouts "The Wizard will see you now!", and an Ozian Official. Matt also led weekly tours of Wicked LA's Behind the Emerald Curtain, which takes fans behind-the-scenes to see what the making of musicals is all about. Matt left the Wicked LA company on February 10, 2008, exactly a year after Wicked LA (previews) began.
Throughout his career, he has made numerous appearances on the Tony Awards and The Today Show and has performed on stages all across the country. Matt's voice can be heard on the original recordings for The Wedding Singer, The Boy from Oz, and The Full Monty, plus The Dirty Sock Funtime Band's debut album "The Search and Rescue of Genius Backpack" by Create-A-Play and BC/EFA's "Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure" Volumes 3, 5, & 8. Matt has traveled to 42 different states to perform in Regional and summer stock theatre shows and has golfed in 22 of those states. In early 2007, he appeared in Donnie Kehr's show Rockers On Broadway: Jersey Style and participated in an informal reading of Grumpy Old Men: The Musical. He has made guest appearances on the television shows "30 Rock", "The Sopranos", "Conviction", "Law & Order", "Law & Order: SVU", and "Chappelle's Show".
Matt recently finished a musical version of the 1985 film Mask, which world premiered at the Pasadena Playhouse from March 12-April 20, 2008. He originated the roles of Barstow, Mr. Simms, Dr. Vinton, and Camp Director in the production.
[edit] Moveable Arts
Matt Stocke, along with Adam Pelty and Justin Greer, founded and launched Moveable Arts, an educational company based in New York. Moveable Arts focuses on teaching young individuals, who seek professional careers, about the performance industry. The company hosts retreats and workshops throughout the year which guide individuals through everything from the audition process to getting headshots to financial topics. Professional performers in TV, film, and Broadway are brought in as educators during these events.
