Matt Ritchey is a director, writer, actor, and acting coach. He holds a BFA in Acting from NYU'S Tisch School of the Arts, a Certificate in Shakespeare from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and is a recent graduate and Associate Producer at Director's Lab West. Recent directing credits include the new drama American Conspiracy (Winner of the “Encore Producer's Award” at Hollywood Fringe Festival 2018, “Best Director” nomination by TheTVolution), Angel's Flight (winner of “Best Cabaret/Variety” at Hollywood Fringe Festival, “Best Director” nomination by Rogue Shakespeare Company), Martha Washington Killed a Redcoat (nominated for “Best Comedy” and “Short and Sweet” Awards), We Are Traffic, This Is Our Youth, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. His mystery thriller Nevermore had it's third production in Halloween of 2016 at Theatre Unleashed and his screenplay Christmas Academy has been a Semi-Finalist in both the Fresh Voices and Stage 32 screenplay competitions. As a film director, his short Poker Night won "Best Comedy Short" at the Culver City Film Festival and was nominated for Connect Film Festival's "Apollo Award" for "a compelling exploration of masculinity" in filmmaking. He teaches How To Direct a Fringe Show at Studio C in Hollywood, coaches acting privately, and is a freelance theater and film reviewer.