Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Drago
Hi Matt, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in rural Virginia, realizing from an early age that I loved imagining my own stories & acting them out with my friends. Much of my childhood was spent on the community theatre stage, and then branching out to my first paying gigs in dinner theatre in high school.
With much of my extended family from New York City, I spent countless nights going to Broadway shows & dreaming someday to be on them. I moved there after high school, training at college & with the great Terry Schreiber amongst many great teachers & voice coaches.
One winter I decided to venture west for pilot season, and well I never came back. California and the TV/Film world captivated me & does to this very day.
I’ve been lucky enough to continue working as an actor in smaller roles for many years, and now I have my first lead role in a feature film coming out later this year. It is a project I’m very excited about called Somewhere in Montana. We filmed that movie on location in the beautiful state of Montana, and it was an amazing experience. I’m really excited for what’s to come for that project, and can’t wait for people to be able to see it soon.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not many if any roads are smooth, but they have given me perspective. When you fight through the bumps you tend to be more grateful for the wins.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I tend to work as a dramatic actor because people I audition for see me as an intense, passionate, and engaging type. This of course can go the good guy or the bad guy route, which I love.
I remember fondly working with the great Sam Christensen (the original casting director of Mash), and he had an very pivotal workshop that opened my eyes to unlocking my unique power as a storyteller. By really leaning in on how I was perceived, not necessarily who I am in real life. This gave me a lot of freedom in understanding where I fit into the industry and helped me pursue my career in a more educated and systematic way.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My grandmother took me to my first broadway show, Cats at the Winter Garden. We had seats right on the stage.
I instantly started interacting with the performers on stage, and even during the show. I remember vividly growling at one “cat,” and the cat looking at me spooked & scurrying off, and then later in the show one coming up to me & tying my shoes together.
I was truly in my element & completely captivated. I fell in love with theatre and performing after that experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mattdrago.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattdrago
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattcdrago
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mattdrago
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@matt-drago
- IMDb: www.IMDb.me/mattdrago
- Other: https://www.reverbnation.com/mattdrago
- Other: https://linktr.ee/mattdrago
Image Credits
Cameron Radice
Beth Hawkes
