Ridgefield, Conn., sophomore grabs lead in University of Richmond production of "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"
By Ashley Cyburt
April 10, 2009
Only a sophomore, Matthew Plotzker has already wowed University of Richmond's theatre professors and audiences with talent, endless optimism and fierce passion for musical theatre.
It's hard to see when the Ridgefield, Conn., student has time to sleep, let alone study. Plotzker plays the lead in the university's spring musical, "How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying," which opens April 11. He's also musical director of a campus a capella singing group, Off the Cuff, sound crew member for campus dance concerts and a student government senator at Richmond's Jepson School of Leadership Studies.
Plotzker is ambitious, but he doesn't forget his past. He attributes his accomplishments to growing up in Ridgefield, speaking fondly of his first lead role in a third grade play and of high school performances in "West Side Story," "Anything Goes," "Kiss Me Kate" and "Grease."
But, he says, people, not plays, have made the greatest impact on his desire and ability to perform — especially teachers who encouraged and shaped his talent.
"I attribute most of my enjoyment in theatre to a choreographer, Shannon Eagen, who really made it fun to do musicals, and also to my voice teacher, Diana Knova," he says.
Plotzker credits what Walter Schoen, a Richmond theatre professor and "How to Succeed... " director, calls his "beautiful singing voice" to his parents. He says that throughout his childhood they surrounded him with music and "encouraged me to go out and do things that could be beneficial to my learning experience."
Plotzker recognizes that he and Finch — his character in the upcoming Richmond show — share "a genuine motivation and determination that I can recognize and admire," noting a number in which Finch talks and sings to himself in a mirror, "I Believe in You."
"[In the show] it's all a joke, but I really, sincerely believe the idea that if you believe in yourself you can achieve great things and you can succeed," he says.
Asked to offer some advice to young people eager to achieve, he responds, "Try a lot of new things and keep searching for the things that you love doing. Have fun. That's why I do theatre, because it's fun."
Perhaps Plotzker has learned how to succeed in theatre and have fun doing it.