Meet 2022/2023 Arts Apprentice: Matthew Cibak

Our season is in full session, so we’re glad to have our apprenticeship in action! It’s a roll-call! Meet one of our three 2022/2023 Arts Apprentice, Matthew Cibak! 

Tell us about yourself!

I was born in Arlington and raised in Reston, Virginia. My introduction to theatre was in an after-school program in elementary school where we put on short ten-minute plays and played drama games. But I really took it up in high school, as an alternative to band which I had done for about five years. I found a great love and appreciation for theatre, and I decided to pursue it. I graduated a Highlander Honors Scholar from Radford University with a Major in Theatre, class of 2019.

Through my experience in theatre, I have performed in multiple productions such as Fiddler on the Roof, Legally Blonde, The Scottish Play, and The Importance of Being Earnest to name a few. I have also had experience backstage as run crew and a props master. I even directed a play that I wrote called A Day at the MAT, about a fictionalized meeting between some of theatres greatest acting theorists and teachers trying to figure out what to teach a group of incoming students. 

Why did you apply for the Encore apprenticeship?

In college my interest in theatre education grew. My honors requirements had me do extra assignments around my major, so I decided to make lesson plans and presentations that went beyond what we were taught in class. Which gave me the opportunity to educate my peers on a couple of different topics. My interest hasn’t gone away, and Encore felt like a good place to grow that interest into a potential career path. As well as learn even more aspects of theatre that I have not experienced yet. 

What shows, classes, or skills are you looking forward to learning during your time at Encore?

Anything I possibly can. Theatre is a multi-faceted business and I’d love to be more well-rounded and knowledgeable in our field.

Can you describe your favorite theatre/performing arts experience and what made it so memorable? 

It’s hard to pick, but two that I really loved were The Importance of Being Earnest and Stuart Little. For they were just very fun productions to work on as an actor. For Earnest our director was a huge Oscar Wilde fan and his enthusiasm just trickled to the rest of us. With Stuart Little, it was handled by a student who had experience in children’s theatre before and he also had a great enthusiasm that filtered to all of us in the cast. Plus, one day of Stuart Little I’ll never forget was when we were waiting backstage to go an and out of nowhere the kids started chanting Stuart’s name! To me you can’t beat experiences like that.  

What’s your favorite play or musical as an audience member? 

One of my favorites that I’ve seen is Anything Goes. I’ve seen a couple productions and they are always funny and a great deal of fun to see. My college did a production of it when I was a freshman and a couple years ago, I saw it at Arena Stage in D.C. and they were both exemplary. 

Why do you think performing arts are important for young people? 

It allows them to use their imagination which itself breeds creativity; it shows them the value of working together towards one goal and to express themselves in a creative way. Each of these reasons are all important for a young person’s development, and it allows them to break out of their shell and make friends. 

What is your dream character role or dream production to work on and why?

One that I would love to play is Gabe in the Donald Margulies play Dinner With Friends. I read the play for an assignment in college, and I loved it. It’s an interesting look at the fragility of relationships and Gabe is caught in the middle trying what he can do to keep the peace between his wife Karen and their friends Tom and Beth who are separating due to Tom cheating. He struggles as he wants to keep his friend Tom despite his wife’s objections but can’t understand the mindset of someone who is perfectly fine leaving his family for another woman. When Beth and Tom move on rather quickly it makes Gabe and Karen question their own marriage in the process. 

What theme day should Encore have at the office?  

I can’t think of a theme day specifically, but I think at any holiday we should have a fun day or small party. Like Halloween and we dress up or Christmas we do a White Elephant gift exchange or Secret Santa. Those would be fun! 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

One thing I absolutely love is movies! While my passion is in theatre, I am a little bit of a cinephile and love to watch movies when I can. I am an Eagle Scout as well, getting the honor in 2015 before I graduated High School. 

Finally, I am looking forward to doing everything I can at Encore to grow as a theatre professional and to work with such kind and intelligent people! 

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Meet 2022/2023 Arts Apprentice: Brielle Perry

Tell us about yourself!

I was born in California, but I moved with my family to Burke, Virginia when I was four years old. The first thing we did when we got to our new house was paint the walls of our basement—we invited grandparents, friends, and neighbors over to help us customize our space with colorful portraits, dragons, oversized turtles, and anything else we could imagine. Growing up, our basement served as a constant reminder of creativity and teamwork, two things that remain extremely important to me today.

When I was twelve years old, I started seventh grade at Lake Braddock Secondary School and quickly found my first theatre family. I auditioned for Storybook Theatre, a program that brought middle and high school students together to perform spoofs of various popular fairytales; I got cast as a mermaid and was instantly hooked. I continued doing theatre throughout high school, where I made amazing friends and got to explore different elements of production. I then went to William & Mary for college and (surprise) participated in more shows there. I also earned a bachelor’s degree in English language and literature and a minor in creative writing. 

Why did you apply for the Encore apprenticeship?

I applied to be an Encore Education Apprentice because my dream has always been to combine my passion for writing and art with my love for people and community. Encore is special to so many people—to students who have found courage and belonging by joining shows, to teachers who have passed on valuable lessons, to parents who have supported Encore for years. I knew that becoming a part of this organization would not only mean getting to create alongside dedicated artists and learners but would also provide me with opportunities to encourage others and contribute to a meaningful and impactful legacy. 

What shows, classes, or skills are you looking forward to learning during your time at Encore?

I’m looking forward to working with a variety of age groups and expanding my understanding of how students at different levels imagine, create, and perform. Sometimes it can be relaxing and liberating to put yourself in the shoes of a child, to get goofy and return to the roots of play. Sometimes it can be enriching and enlightening to dive deep into research and discussion with older students. I feel so fortunate to be able to do a little bit of everything with Encore and develop my teaching skills along the way. I also can’t wait to work behind the scenes as we put together Encore’s fantastic season of shows; following projects from start to finish is always incredibly humbling and rewarding.

Can you describe your favorite theatre/performing arts experience and what made it so memorable?

My absolute favorite theatre memory has to be winning the state championship of the Virginia High School League one-act play competition during my senior year at Lake Braddock. Our school had never won a state title for theatre before, and being the first cast to do so was an amazing honor and a truly unforgettable experience. 

What’s your favorite play or musical as an audience member?

As cliché as this might sound, I absolutely adore Hamilton. The complexity of the music and emotional depth of the characters make the show magical to watch again and again. I haven’t always been a fan, though; for years, I refused to listen to the music because I was convinced that the show was mainstream and overrated (I know, call me a hater). But when Disney Plus released a recorded version of the Broadway performance and my dad corralled us into the living room to watch it, I had no choice but to give it a chance, and I’m so glad I did. About a year later, I was able to see a live performance of the show in England on London’s West End, and even though I already knew the entire story, I cried an embarrassing number of times. 

Why do you think performing arts are important for young people?

The performing arts are crucial for young people because young people inherently possess an extraordinary amount of creativity within them. They need spaces where they can express their imagination and insight, explore and take artistic risks, and most importantly, be their authentic selves, unafraid to try. When I was younger, performing pushed me to gain confidence, make discoveries, and empathize with others by stepping into characters and stories outside of what I was familiar with. Theatre also gave me a home away from home, enabling me to form lasting friendships and realize that our different individual strengths coming together are what make us strong as a whole. My sincere hope is that young people who participate in performing arts classes, camps, productions, and other programs—through Encore or elsewhere—leave with a sense of inspiration, accomplishment, and belonging that they hold close for years to come. 

What is your dream character role or dream production to work on and why?

My dream production to be a part of would either be High School Musical or Mean Girls, simply because I grew up loving those stories. High School Musical is iconic for so many reasons, and I definitely relate to Troy Bolton’s struggle of trying to be both the sporty and artistic kid. Mean Girls is a quotable classic packed with fun and memorable moments. Both seem like they would be a blast to bring to the stage, and I hope I get the chance to work on one of them someday. 

What theme day should Encore have at the office (explain why)?

I think the Encore office should have a decades day! Over the summer, I lived with my grandparents for a few months, and they have a costume room in their basement full of racks of vintage clothing and thrifted treasures. I would love nothing more than to wear a poodle skirt and saddle shoes to work or show up to the office with sequined disco pants on. And with such a broad topic, the possibilities are endless. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

Something else I want to share is that in addition to theatre, another one of my passions is creative writing. I started writing poetry when I was seven years old. I used to carry a red scrapbook around with me everywhere, and anytime I saw something remotely inspirational, I would scribble a poem onto a page. I wrote about everything, from family to seasons to tiny caterpillars crawling through the grass. I still read that scrapbook from time to time, especially when I want to be reminded of what I love doing and how far I’ve come. As I continue my work with Encore, I plan to keep an eye out for opportunities to incorporate more creative writing into our programs. I hope we can explore how creative writing complements theatre and has the potential to shape us into imaginative, observant, expressive storytellers. 

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