Matt Hoverman  / Writer

 

 

 

 

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matt Hoverman is a TV writer/producer and playwright whose groundbreaking work in children’s animation has been recognized with an Emmy, the Humanitas Prize and the Sentinel Award - as well as nominations for Annie, NAMIC and two GLAAD Awards. He created Disney Junior’s first character on the autism spectrum and first LGBTQ+ kid character (Fancy Nancy), as well as Disney’s first princess with a disability (Sofia the First). He also developed the upcoming series RoboGobo for television, served as head writer/story editor on Firebuds and wrote for Batwheels, Spidey & His Amazing Friends, Goldie & Bear, Arthur and Curious George (for which he wrote a special commemorating the book's 75th anniversary).
 

As a playwright for grown-ups, Matt’s imaginative, farcical comedies include Puck’d: A Middle-Aged Summer Night’s Dream, The Glint, Who You See Here, Thrillsville, In Transit and Christmas Shorts - which have been given starry readings on and off-Broadway featuring actors like Beau Bridges, Jean Smart, Michael McKean, Cecily Strong, Edie Falco, Hank Azaria, Debra Messing, Alicia Silverstone and Christina Ricci. Matt's plays have been produced and/or developed by the La Jolla Playhouse, George Street Playhouse, Huntington Stage, Guild Hall, The Acting Company, Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse, the Transport Group, IAMA Theatre Company, Odyssey Theatre, Ojai Playwrights Conference, the Edward Albee Foundation and theatres across the country - and have been nominated for a Drama Desk Award and won the FringeNYC Best Playwriting Award and the Samuel French OOB Short Play Festival. His mini-musical It’s Okay, Mom! -  with music by Lisa Loeb and starring JoBeth Williams and Josh Hamilton – streamed on Broadway on Demand as part of Together Apart: 10 Mini-Musicals about One Life-Changing Year. Matt also co-wrote magician David Copperfield’s Vegas show and wrote the book for the Disneyland Paris live stage musical Disney Junior Dream Factory. 
 

Also an actor, Matt's credits include the La Jolla Playhouse, Yale Rep, The Acting Company, The Women’s Project, Late Night with Conan O’Brien and many voice-over appearances on the cartoons Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Sonic X, Shaman King, The WinX Club, Sofia the First, Viva Piñata, Dinosaur King, One Piece, The Harlock Saga, Chaotic, Cubix and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

 

A widely respected teacher, Matt has midwived the creation of over 200 solo shows in his popular GO-SOLO workshops, including winners of the 2005, 2009, 2010, 2012 & 2013 FringeNYC Best Solo Show Awards.  His teaching is the subject of a NY Times feature article and the documentary SOLO by Shannon Romines. For more about Matt's classes, visit GO-SOLO.org

 

Raised in West Redding, Connecticut by two transplanted Iowans, Matt studied playwriting at Brown University in Paula Vogel's graduate workshop as an undergrad (BA in Theatre) and acting at the University of California, San Diego (MFA in Acting).  He currently resides in LA with his wife, the fabulously talented actress/playwright Katie Atcheson and their daughter.

 

Member: TAG, SAG-AFTRA, AEA, ASCAP and the Dramatists Guild.
 

Education: Brown University: BA in Playwriting; UCSD: MFA in Acting.