Matt Sklar is a composer for musical theatre, television, and film. His works have appeared on Broadway, the West End, and many theatres worldwide. He began playing keyboards for the Broadway production of Les Misérables, eventually conducting the show at age 21. He has also been a keyboardist, conductor, and/or arranger for many Broadway productions including Shrek, 42nd Street, Miss Saigon, and Nine. He made his Broadway debut as a composer for the new musical The Wedding Singer, with Chad Beguelin writing the lyrics. He was nominated for the 2006 Tony Award for Best Original Score for The Wedding Singer. He also composed the music for the musical Elf, which broke box office records on Broadway in 2010–11. Other musicals include The Rhythm Club, Judas and Me, and Wicked City. He has contributed original songs/music to Sesame Street, Wonder Pets!, and the NBC Broadcast of The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
We talked about how Matt learned from playing great scores (and how you can also learn from the not-so great ones), as well as . . .
- How he ended up onstage accompanying Marvin Hamlisch at 14 years of age . . . with NO rehearsal.
- What the Mickey Mouse Club had to do with the beginning of his composition career.
- How he bounced back when his first show, The Rhythm Club, canceled its Broadway opening (the posters were even up around town!).
- The secret society of the up-and-coming composers . . . how this group of future legends helps each other, in spite of competing with one another.
- What he does while he waits for shows to get Broadway theaters.
Keep up with me: @KenDavenportBway