Member Spotlight: Matt Sneyd
(Photo credit:  David Lawrence)

Board Member, Technical Director

Matt Sneyd first became involved with Center Stage Jackson as the Technical Director for Hello, Dolly! in 2024. For Matt, that production marked his return to theatre after being away from it since high school.

When he stepped into the project, he didn’t know anyone in the local theatre community. He was entering as the newcomer. But Hello, Dolly! quickly became an opportunity to meet and work with a lot of talented people while also giving others a chance to see what he could do. The production helped him establish a baseline for his technical abilities and gave him room to grow and develop his skills.

Since then, Matt has continued to deepen his involvement with CSJ. He became a member in
2025 and joined the Board in 2026.

One of Matt’s favorite projects so far was serving as Technical Director for The Full Monty in 2025. The set for that show stands out to him as one of his best builds so far. He was able to take what he learned during Hello, Dolly! and apply it, improving the design and construction process the second time around. Each production offers a chance to learn something new, and The Full Monty gave him an opportunity to build on that experience.

Outside of theatre work, Matt says one of his strengths is being able to read a room well and notice the underlying things people might not be saying out loud. That ability can be especially helpful during the fast-paced and sometimes chaotic moments of a production. Understanding those dynamics helps him keep things moving forward and maintain positive momentum for the team.

Looking ahead, one show sits at the top of Matt’s list: The Phantom of the Opera. While many people dream of performing in the production, Matt would love the opportunity to build the set. The scale and complexity of that show make it an exciting technical challenge.

For Matt, community theatre is ultimately about people. It creates a space where individuals from different backgrounds, lifestyles, and skill sets can come together to work toward a shared goal. In a time when differences often take center stage in the world, community theatre offers a chance to focus on the best parts of each other and create something meaningful together.