Judges: Theatre Performance

Erik Meixelsperger is a professional actor, writer, and teacher in the Kansas City area. Erik completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he was a two-time Irene Ryan regional finalist in the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), as well as a national finalist in the Gary Garrison Ten-Minute Play competition. Erik later received his Master of Fine Arts in Acting at the Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training. During his time at FSU, he became a company member of the celebrated Asolo Repertory Theatre, where he trained and collaborated with various theatre professionals. Erik’s acting work in Florida comprises numerous productions, including the Asolo Repertory’s touring productions of The Tempest, Oedipus Rex, The Rehearsal, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Crucible, to name a few. Additionally, he spent a summer abroad in London training with renowned vocal coach Patsy Rodenburg. Most recently, Erik was seen as Paris in Heart Of America Shakespeare’s production of Romeo & Juliet.

Matt Schwader Harbor, MFA has been a professional actor since 1998. Notable stages include the Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare, Indiana Rep, Actors Theatre of Louisville, ACT Theatre in Seattle, American Players Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Old Globe and more. Currently he performs and directs with Kansas City Actors Theatre (KCAT), where he is a core company member. You can hear him in KCAT’s radio plays on the Kansas City Actors Theatre Podcast. Matt has an MFA from the University of Delaware’s Professional Theatre Training Program and is a member of SAG/AFTRA and Actors Equity Association. He is the Director of Performance Studies at Avila University in Kansas City, MO, where he teaches acting.