About
Who.
Matthew-Lee is a writer, actor, and filmmaker from Chicago and New York. He is also an organizer and policy writer, working with Congress on legislation to make America’s 5.2 million arts and culture workers, who drive over $919 billion into our economy, an economic and legislative priority. He loves pudding.
Current.
Matthew-Lee will make his Broadway debut as a playwright with REVELATIONS, a political drama, directed by Tony Award-winner Anna D. Shapiro. She is also directing their new comedy series, KARA, featuring Chris Rock. Both are produced by Highwire Media and Seaview Productions. Deadline.
His psychological opera thriller series, DOLL, based on his experience as an opera singer, will be directed by Tony Award-winner Ivo van Hove and designed by Jan Versweyveld; the project is set up with Warner Bros and John Wells Productions. Deadline. He is also developing a sci fi feature with Sony/TriStar.
Writer.
Matthew-Lee has written for TELL ME LIES/Hulu; the new Adam McKay/Amy Adams series KINGS OF AMERICA on Netflix; MASTERS OF SEX/Showtime; GYPSY/Netflix; WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS/Netflix; and for WWE, MTV, and Nickelodeon. He is also the writer/director of HUMAN INTEREST, which won “Best Digital Short Series” at SeriesFest, watchable here.
He is currently working on a new play commission for Steppenwolf Theatre, where he developed his political dramas REVELATIONS and RADICAL, as well the world premiere of his play THE DOPPELGÄNGER (an international farce), starring Rainn Wilson and directed by Tina Landau.
His plays have been developed/ produced with The New Group, Steppenwolf, Vineyard, Ars Nova, MCC, Williamstown, NYTW, the New Harmony Project, the Orchard Project, and SPACE on Ryder Farm, among others. Other recent productions include the critically-acclaimed Off-Bway world-premiere of his solo play HANDBOOK FOR AN AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY at the GYM at Judson (Tony Speciale, dir.); EAGER TO LOSE, extended Off-Bway at Ars Nova/nominated for Off Broadway Alliance Award (Wes Grantom/Portia Krieger, dirs.); the NY premiere of SEX OF THE BABY (Michelle Bossy, dir.), and RADICAL for Steppenwolf. Other plays include KEVIN LAMB, KING GEORGE III, and A NEIGHBOR IN THE AREA.
He has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Edgerton Foundation, Laurents/Hatcher Foundation, Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, Puffin Foundation, was a member of Ars Nova's Play Group, MVMNT Theatre’s Play Group, is a HUMANITAS New Voices recipient, and is a proud member of the Dramatist’s Guild, WGA, and SAG-AFTRA.
Actor.
Matthew-Lee most recently appeared in HUMAN INTEREST. Other TV/ Film: Host of MTV’s Epic Fail pilot; Another Earth (Sundance/FOX Searchlight); Important Things with Demetri Martin(Comedy Central); Law&Order:SVU; Roger, the Chicken, and many characters for Rockstar Games Coors Light, Dairy Queen, Levi’s, and Nickelodeon. He has acted extensively Off-Bway and regionally, with his critically-acclaimed solo play Handbook for an American Revolutionary performing an extended run Off-Bway.
Citizen.
Matthew-Lee is the co-founder of Arts Workers United, a 501c4 committed to making America’s 5.2 million Arts and Culture Workers, who drive $919 billion into our economy, an economic and legislative priority. With AWU and independently, he has created and led multiple national campaigns, written and advanced policy at the state and federal levels (including the DAWN Act), and worked to secure the first-ever congressional hearing on Arts Workers in the House. He also serves on the Arts Leadership Council for Arts Alliance Illinois.
For his national and state grassroots efforts, he has been interviewed/featured in multiple national media outlets, including NPR, MSNBC, CNN, PBS, WGN, Washington Post, New York Times, Harpers, Chicago Tribune, Crain’s Chicago Business, Chicago Reader, and Playbill, among others. He is also featured in the Emmy-nominated ARTBOUND: A New Deal for Los Angeles on PBS, hosted by David Kipen.
A proud graduate of the public school system from K-College, Matthew-Lee created a writing program for single mothers transitioning out of homelessness and prison and is a team leader for Habitat for Humanity, locally and globally.