“This time, receiving the Robe was even more special and sentimental. I never dreamed I would ever get it, much less receive it again on the very same stage as last time, The Marquis. Plus, I had this overwhelming memory of watching my first Robe ceremony back in 2002 for Oklahoma! at the Gershwin. An amazing dancer/singer/actor named Harvey Evans received the Robe, and I couldn’t believe the joy on his face. His career was an amazing one, and at that point in his life he had done so many things. He was as proud of that Robe moment as he was at being an original cast member in the movie of West Side Story. I did my best to explain to the folks on stage that I was dedicating this ceremony to Harvey, but I did a bad job of explaining it, and got too emotional to continue.”
Photo by Jeffrey Bateman.
Name: Matt Allen
Hometown: Jerseyville, Illinois
First Broadway Credit: Annie Get Your Gun in 2001.
Professional Training: I got my Bachelor’s degree in Music-Jazz Performance (Trumpet) with a minor in Dance at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.
Year Joined Equity: I joined in 1998.
How I Got My Equity Card: I got my Equity card with a TIA Pow Wow industrial.
Broadway Chorus Contract Credits: Annie Get Your Gun, Oklahoma!, The Wedding Singer, Honeymoon in Vegas, Something Rotten!, Escape to Margaritaville and Once Upon a One More Time.
Fun Fact: "My wife and I have a new eight-month-old Portuguese Water Dog named Vixen! Also, this is now my third show at The Marquis, The first time, when I was in Annie Get Your Gun in 2001, Saturday Night Fever was across the street at The Minskoff. My wife, Paula Wise, was over there in the cast, but we didn’t know each other at the time. Although I am sure we would cross each other’s paths at the popular Ooh La La coffee joint under The Marquis’ breezeway (now it is a Starbucks)."
Photo by Jeffrey Bateman.
Matt Allen visits his castmates backstage. Photo by Jeffrey Bateman.
Watch the video of the ceremony
