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Matthew Earnest (born 1969)[citation needed] is an American theater director. He has also written plays, as well as adapted plays from novels, non-fiction books, short stories, and essays, and he has translated works in other languages for his direction.
He grew up in Texas and began his career under Richard Hamburger at Dallas Theater Center. He graduated with a BA in Drama from The University of North Texas, and he holds an MFA in Theatre Directing from York University in Toronto. A skilled writer, Matthew's first job after graduating from college at age 21 was writing the monthly newsletter for The Dallas Buyer's Club, working alongside eccentric founder Ron Woodroof.
Relocating to New York City, Earnest spent a season as assistant director to Lee Breuer at Mabou Mines. With a fellowship from The Drama League, he gained the position of assistant director to legendary American Artistic Director Adrian Hall, a position he held for many years.
Earnest was Founding Artistic Director of New York City’s deep ellum ensemble. With them, he created original works and adapted classics and literary works that garnered international acclaim from 1995 until the company disbanded in 2007. Since 1999, he has been an associate artist at Germany’s English Theatre Berlin where he was the company's first Director in Residence, directing the European premiere of Suzan-Lori Parks' Venus. Since 2001, he has been associated with the University of Delaware’s PTTP/REP theatre company.
Earnest has also worked as an independent director around the United States and abroad. He has directed his own plays, as well as plays he adapted from literature, and his own translations of foreign playwrights. In 2012, he co-founded an international touring company, The Lunar Stratagem, now disbanded. He currently serves as Head of the MFA Directing program at The University of Southern Mississippi.
(Original plays and adaptations are also indicated.)