Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Muns.
Hi Matthew, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
The earliest age I can remember dreaming of this moment was as young as 4. From my earliest memories, I can only view the performing arts as a synonymous part of my existence. I have always loved the stage, dancing, singing, and being upside down.
At 4 years old I told my parents I was gonna run away and join the circus because of my long-held obsession with Cirque du Soleil. It wasn’t until I was around 10 that they would finally let me be a gymnast so that I didn’t “break my neck in the basement,” according to my mother.
In 2015, I took over the Performing Arts Ministry at my church, where I had the opportunity to train, teach, and create performances that were all faith-based. It’s been a beautiful experience and journey being able to express my faith for these past several years, but I could never completely ignore the burning passion that I had to grow something even bigger.
In 2022 I discovered Riverbank Theatre in Marine City, MI where I have since been cast in multiple productions and had the privilege of working with such a wonderful, professional theatre. It was because of that working relationship that my long-time dream was sort of revived to start a production company of my own.
I’ve always managed to sort of see a multi-faceted company that would be a full-fledged dance studio while producing Broadway-caliber shows and aerial instruction as a way to equip performers with decked-out resumes that made them truly stand out at any audition. Earlier this year (January 2023) I couldn’t hold back the dream any longer, and I decided to risk it by forming an LLC, which would become Arsène Performing Arts.
While our company is a bit of an anomaly in the sense that we have no true home or base of operations, we have been fortunate to rent space from the church where the company’s spiritual successor first called home, Christian Life Church in Macomb, MI. Although our company has no association with the Church, it is nice to maintain a friendly relationship with our landlords and to feel supported in our endeavors by allowing us to build the company.
The dream is huge, it always has been, and I feel that it only continues to go bigger from this point. We’re currently slated to debut our inaugural show, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown this July, co-running alongside the launch of our Dance Studio and soon-to-be-announced Youth Theatre Program. Pair this with in-house Voice Lessons and a Photography Studio outfitted to build portfolios for our performers; we can’t help but feel the rush of excitement.
Every single dollar spent thus far has been from my own pocket and it makes me feel like Walt Disney in an obscure sort of way. Nothing about my dream seems to make logical sense. Nothing in its nature seems smart or wise. Yet I can’t seem to ignore it. Regardless of my own voice of doubt, the surrounding support from my friends, family, and industry professionals has been astounding. If there’s any reason to believe that the impossible has just become a reality, it’s the love I’ve been shown from the people who matter most.
Arsène is just beginning. We hope to acquire a space of our own in the near future and build our network of talent and notoriety. Our services that we offer continue to build into a larger database of classes and curriculums. And we don’t want to stop there.
It’s exciting for my team and I to see what we had quite literally just discussed only half a year ago, now blossoming into a tangible reality. There’s many obstacles to go. There’s many paths to be traveled. But we are simply intoxicated with the hope, dreams, and ecstasy of knowing there’s a bright future ahead.
When I truly take a step back, I can’t help but imagine 4-year-old me with starry eyes thinking, “We did it.”
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Nothing worth doing is ever easy in my opinion. It’s no secret to anyone in this industry that it’s EXPENSIVE. Every single element of this business is expensive: rent, costumes, set, props, wages, salaries, repairs, licensing fees, etc. It all adds up, albeit way too quickly, and at times it feels impossible. Again, that’s where the community deserves a shoutout; without the support from our patrons, students, and families, the business won’t succeed. And yet at every turn, where we’ve found ourselves sort of saying, “Now how are we gonna do this?” There’s an angel waiting just around the corner with the answer.
In March (2023) we had put an offer in a building of our own and had sort of built our year around the intention that we were going to acquire that space. For the sake of a long story drawn on, things ended up not working out after the inspection report came through. We felt as a company; there was no way we could financially sustain what the building would need. While it was discouraging to us, we knew it was just a hurdle to guide us one step closer to where we’re supposed to be.
I think the other notable challenge that comes to mind is being unknown. It’s hard to brand yourself as a company to be taken seriously when there’s already so many other fabulous production companies, both professional and community, that we respect: Riverbank Theatre, Enter Stage Right, Port Huron Civic Theatre, and the list continues – Port Huron Civic Theatre deserves an immense amount of praise for their undying support of us from the very first day. And it takes a community and word of mouth to really put yourself on the map. We’re thankful for our friends that have helped us grow, and we’re hoping that it continues to build momentum.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At our core, Arsène Performing Arts is a multi-disciplinary, Professional Performing Arts company that aims to revolutionize the arts in the state of Michigan by providing professionals with additional working opportunities. We produce shows, both plays, and musicals, we teach dance, we teach aerial, we offer fitness classes and voice lessons. We also have a partner photographer to help build portfolios via headshots, images, and editorials.
I think what makes us different is that we strive to be the highest caliber of professionalism that we can possibly acquire. We want to be more than a 1-tricky pony for lack of better terms by allowing performers to develop themselves as professionals when they work with us. There may be someone who is known for their vocal talent but struggles with their dance ability. It is our desire to help provide the necessary tools to industry professionals to help carve out those missing skills on their resumes the best we are able to.
In terms of our spirit, I am most proud that are brand seeks inclusivity. Our Creative Board is composed of a diverse team that helps facilitate this vision. Among the board, Tamarie Willis is our Inclusion & Diversity Advisor whose main role is ensuring we are selecting material and communicating in ways that are both respectful and inclusive of people of all kinds. It is our desire that every performer feels invited, welcome, and wanted within our company regardless of age, race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, height, weight, socioeconomic status, geographic location, or any additional trait.
Theatre has always been a place of unification, and we intend to keep that spirit alive and true.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
What a fabulous question! We are always looking for new people to work with! I believe it would be easiest for me to break it down by category:
Teachers/Instructors can email us their resumes to arseneperformingarts@gmail.com – we are always considering teachers/instructors for dance, voice, and aerial classes – if positions are not currently available, we will hold on to your application
Set builders/Prop designers/Tech/Costumers/Directors (etc.) can email their resumes to arseneperformingarts@gmail.com – if positions are not currently available, we will hold on to your application
Performers/Actors/Dancers are welcome to submit self-tapes/reels to arseneperformingarts@gmail.com, but we would prefer that interested talent waits for our General Season Audition that we plan to do at the end of the current season in preparation for the next (October 2023 in consideration of 2024)
We also invite our audience members to attend our shows! Tickets can be purchased on our website: arseneperformingarts.com
Students/Parents/Adults interested in dance/aerial/fitness classes can register for classes on our website: arseneperformingarts.com
Pricing:
- 2023 Season Tickets – $20
- Classes – $60/class per (varies by class)
Contact Info:
- Website: arseneperformingarts.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/arseneperformingarts
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091126441741
Image Credits
Sherita Levi
Dominique Levi
