Matt Cook
Matt Cook was appointed the artistic and executive director of the award-winning Sierra Madre Playhouse in September 2023. The Sierra Madre Playhouse is a dynamic Southern California cultural hub with a rich history spanning a century that energizes audiences and the community with distinctive theatrical productions, enthralling live music, dance, comedy, and family performances, and captivating cinematic programs.
Under Cook’s leadership, Sierra Madre Playhouse has greatly expanded both the scope and number of programs it presents annually, with more than 70 offered during the 2025 season. He has forged notable creative partnerships with such organizations as Bob Baker Marionette Theater, Wild Up, Street Symphony, East West Players, and Silents Synched. Cook considerably increased Sierra Madre Playhouse’s fiscal growth and operating budget, while significantly raising its institutional profile. In 2024, he helped facilitate a $450,000 General Operating Support Grant from the Perenchio Foundation, which is the largest grant in Sierra Madre Playhouse’s history.
Additionally, Cook helped craft and is overseeing the implementation an ambitious long-term strategic plan that addresses substantial physical and technical upgrades to the 100-year-old performing arts center.
Among other highlights, Cook programmed a major multifaceted celebration to mark the venue’s milestone centennial celebration in February 2024 that included free community events, a silent film festival, and a roaring 20’s-themed gala.
Throughout his multifaceted career in the performing arts field, Cook has consistently demonstrated innovative, distinguished and effective leadership. Before coming to the Playhouse, he served as executive director of the Los Angeles-based Blue 13 Dance Company. Previously, he was executive director of the noted Pacific Opera Project and held development and production positions with the critically acclaimed Wild Up new music ensemble. In the dance field as a producer and artist, Cook has collaborated with Martha Graham Dance Company, Akram Khan Company, Heidi Duckler Dance, among others.
During his tenure as Executive Director of the Pacific Opera Project, Cook nearly tripled the operating budget of the non-profit organization through creative and impactful fundraising efforts and marketing strategies. He also established the company’s first community engagement department, which is now a resident in 15 Title-1 classrooms throughout the Los Angeles region. Cook has produced meaningful social justice work, including the West Coast premiere of “I Can’t Breathe,” which highlights stories from black voices speaking out against police violence. He produced more opera during the global pandemic (2020-2021) than any other opera company in the country. Serving in development and production positions with Wild Up New Music ensemble, Cook was responsible for overseeing operations for all performances, events and fundraising activities. He produced performances at the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Fluxus Festival, the Ecstatic Music Festival in New York City, and led partnerships with organizations such as the Martha Graham Dance Company. Cook also worked with the Los Angeles Percussion Quartet from 2008-2016 in various roles.
Cook is a Grammy Award-winning percussionist and six-time nominee who has toured extensively and whose work is heard on studio and film recordings, such as Aquaman and various Netflix series. He is on the faculty of Fullerton College. Cook has been a featured clinician at Stanford University, Colburn School, and The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, among other institutions. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Cook holds a BA from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts, and a certificate in Marketing Strategy from Cornell University. He is married and has two children.