Matthew Olsen was born and raised in small town Staples, Minnesota. Olsen said, “I grew up in the same town where my dad grew up. Our family has roots there.”
That legacy also included his father’s love of theatre. “I grew up watching my Dad on stage in our local community theatre. I have such clear memories of watching him, thinking to myself, ‘I want to do that,’” Olsen said.
“I don’t know that I even fully knew what that meant at the time. But, the connection between an actor and audience was something that resonated with me then and continues to be a driving force for me now,” he explained.
He added, “Before I left for grad school, I produced Lee Blessing’s ‘A Walk In The Woods.’ It’s a two-person show that I performed with my Dad. It’s one of my
most cherished theatrical experiences.”
After high school, Olsen went to UMD where he received his BFA in Acting in 2008. “I am proud of the training I received here, and it’s one of the things that drew me back to Duluth,” he noted.
A significant mentor to Olsen came about during his time at UMD. “If my father shaped the early part of my career, then Tom Isbell (UMD Professor Emeritus) shaped the latter. Tom has been a mentor for nearly my entire career. He was a huge influence on the kind of artist I am today.”
Olsen added, “And now, I sit in the same office that Tom had during his time at UMD. It’s a surreal moment. I think about standing in the doorway of his office and talking about theatre (or anything really) and now I sit in that office while my students stand in my doorway, and we do the same thing. Mentorship is a lifelong partnership. Tom modeled that for me. I’m deeply grateful to have a
mentor and friend like him.”
After graduating from UMD, Olsen moved to Chicago before deciding to continue his education and apply/audition for graduate programs. He chose to attend Florida State University– Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training, and after earning his MFA in Acting in 2015, he did both acting and directing for several years.
Olsen was hired at UMD in 2024 and is now an Assistant Professor of Acting and Directing in the Theatre Department. Returning to Duluth and becoming part of the theater community again, he is excited about the arts community in the area.
“The arts landscape here has changed dramatically since my time in undergrad. The community is more vibrant than ever. I love small theatre spaces like Zeitgeist and the Lab space at the Playhouse. I think there is even more opportunity for storefront/found space theatre and that is exciting to me. We have a strong arts community and strong universities in our Twin Ports area. I think this community will only continue to grow.”
Partner in Life and In Theater
Sarah Lynn, Olsen’s partner, has also been instrumental in his theatrical life. “Sarah is my best friend and closest collaborator. She knows more about Shakespeare than I’ll ever know. I am so fortunate to learn from her. We met doing Shakespeare. We’ve done over 15 productions together (mostly Shakespeare. Honestly, this production of ‘Tempest’ I am directing wouldn’t exist without her. She challenges me, asks hard questions, and supports me when I need it most.”
The Tempest Blows Into UMD
About the “Tempest” and his directorial concept, Olsen said, “I really focused on building our own world for this show. But it steals inspiration from so many things that I love. It feels very ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Lord of the Rings,’ I think you’ll be able to see and feel that in the costume design. We talked a lot about what the ‘island’ is… I see the island as a place that is necessary. Everything is lining up in this way because it must. There are lessons to be learned about forgiveness, love, change, and a possibility for the future.”
He noted that the intimate setting of the 100-seat Dudley Experimental Theatre will allow audiences to feel fully immersed in the action. “Design choices that fuse ship sails and natural elements build the world of the play, which is filled with characters that embody storms and spells. Audiences will feel almost like participants in the act of creation,” he added.
Olsen concluded, “For ‘The Tempest,’ much of our team are students. I think because they are new to the process, learning, and growing moment to moment it makes their work really vibrant. There are many things about this production that would not exist if it weren’t for the students who have shaped it. I love when someone presents something (costume, props, music) that I would never have imagined. I think I try to encourage that in the collaboration. I want their ideas to build and shape the story. I am better for it, and the work is better for it.”
Information about “The Tempest”
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Matthew Olsen
Feb 7 & 8 | 7:30 PM
Feb 9 | 2:00 PM
Feb 12, 13 & 14 | 7:30 PM
Feb 15 | 2:00 PM (ASL interpreted) & 7:30 PM
UMD’s Marshall Performing Arts Center | Dudley Experimental Theatre
tickets.umn.edu
