MATRIX THEATRE - Key Persons
Joesph Stern is a veteran of theatre film, and television. In the last 40 years he has produced more than 50 plays and over 300 episodes of television, as well as numerous long form specials and films. Joseph Stern's The Matrix Theatre Company has just completed a 10 year cycle of plays dealing with race. No producer has been honored as much in Los Angeles theatre. His productions at the Matrix Theatre and other venues have garnered more awards than any other 99-seat house, including numerous Ovations, L.A. Weekly (39), Drama-Logue and Backstage Garland (130) and L.A. Drama Critics Circle awards (44). Most recently, his multi-ethnic production of Arthur Miller' All My Sons received numerous awards including LA Drama Critics, an NAACP for Best Ensemble, and Asian Pacific American (APAFT) Outstanding Artist Award. 2010's Neighbors was the the recipient of multiple LADCC and BackStage awards, and was nominated for four Ovations, including Best Play. The play also enjoyed a successful run at the Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis. In 2010 his production of Stick Fly went on to win the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for production, as well as L.A. Weekly, BackStage and Ovation awards for writing and ensemble. A new production recently opened on Broadway. LADCC awards include consecutive Outstanding Production Awards for The Tavern (1993), The Seagull (1994), The Homecoming (1995), Outstanding Ensemble for Mad Forrest (1996), and 4 LADCC awards for The Water Children (1998). The Birthday Party (2001) was named Best Revival Production by the L.A. Weekly, and received numerous nominations and awards, including 5 LADCC nominations. The Pulitzer Prize- winning No Place to Be Somebody received 8 NAACP Awards. His world premiere production of Orphans moved to the Steppenwolf and then onto Off-Broadway before becoming a feature film. He is also the recipient of the prestigious Margaret Harford Award given by the LADCC and the Drama-Logue Publisher/Critics Award for Distinguished Lifetime Achievement. He was further honored, along with August Wilson, at the Ovation Awards, receiving the first James A. Dolittle Award for Leadership in Los Angeles theatre. He served as Executive Producer for the first three seasons of Law & Order, as well as producing the pilot, which earned him two of his six Emmy nominations, and two Golden Globe nominations. His groundbreaking CBS special Other Mothers, about alternative lifestyles, was honored with seven Emmy nominations and received three. Mr. Stern's feature film work includes Dad, for Steven Spielberg, which starred Jack Lemmon, Ted Danson, and Olympia Dukakis. In 2004, Mr. Stern produced Our America for Showtime. It went on to receive four Emmy nominations and won the coveted Humanitas Award. Mr. Stern was the Executive Producer for the six-year run of the hit CBS series Judging Amy.