Ken-Matt Martin has established himself as a preeminent theater director, cultural worker, and collaborator who has worked with some of the industry’s most formidable artists. Notable directing credits include productions of August Wilson’s Fences and The Piano Lesson (Pyramid Theatre Company), Chicago Premiere of How I Learned What I Learned (Congo Square Theatre Company, Starring Harry Lennix), A Son, Come Home and Brotherhood at Williamstown Theatre Festival, Nia Vardalos’ adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s Tiny Beautiful Things (Baltimore Center Stage), the world premiere of NANCY (Mosaic Theatre Company), Hello, Dolly! (Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Starring Amber Iman), and the World Premiere musical adaptation of Jason Reynolds’ Long Way Down at Olney Theatre Center and New York’s Apollo Theatre.  Martin’s directorial work has been honored with three Cloris Leachman Excellence in Theatre Awards, Michigan’s Oscar Wilde Award for Best Director, and Chicago’s BACA Black Excellence Award for Outstanding Director. His work as a Producer was recognized with a Bravo Greater Des Moines Standing Ovation Award, amongst others.

In addition, Ken-Matt has been praised as an innovator in the modern American theater; he created the 20/50 New Play Festival, the Ignite Chicago Festival, Goodman Theatre’s Live @Five Show, and was the co-founder of the Pyramid Theatre Company in Des Moines. A highly sought after thought leader, he has served in key positions at Victory Gardens Theatre, Goodman Theatre, and Williamstown Theatre Festival. He is currently the Producing Director at both Baltimore Center Stage and Arkansas Repertory Theatre. As a collaborator, he was part of the team to help orchestrate the Broadway transfers of The Sound Inside and Grand Horizons, and the Off-Broadway transfers of Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Moscow, Seared, Oh Happy Day!, and Selling Kabul. He’s also brokered partnerships with Chicago State University, The Black List, Des Moines Performing Arts, EquiTrust Life Insurance, and others, to bring unique theatrical experiences to the general public.

Martin holds a M.F.A. in Directing from Brown University and degrees in Musical Theatre and Journalism from Drake University. He has served on the selection committees for the Venturous Theatre Fund, the Princess Grace Awards, the Jonathan Larson Awards, and the National Musical Theatre Conference at the Eugene O’Neil Center. He’s the recipient of a New Harmony Project Artist in Resident Fellowship, a “Keep Going” Commission by Baltimore Center Stage, a Drake University Guest Artist in Residence Fellowship, and the Bill Foeller Directing Fellowship.  He is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and SDC.