Matt Okin’s success in establishing Black Box Studios (founded in 2008) as one of the longest-running theater schools in Northern, NJ is rooted in his passion for empowering emerging artists and fostering a deep understanding of theater for kids, teens, and adults alike. As a teaching artist, he has directed fully produced, all-student productions of complex and celebrated plays such as The Curious Incident of the Dog in The Night-Time, Into The Woods, Heathers, Detective Story, Clifford Odet’s Paradise Lost, Les Miserables, Legally Blonde, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest and over 50 more. He has developed ongoing proprietary theater curriculums for schools throughout Bergen County and the tri-state area, providing unique educational opportunities that challenge students to engage with professional-level material. Matt’s teaching philosophy emphasizes collaboration, nurturing creativity, and pushing students to excel by working with high-quality texts that elevate their learning experience.