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Shannon Matesky

Story time. Griot. This is a ritual. Tradition. To heal. Inform. Erupt. Evoke. Press. Push. Change. Move. Grow. Share. Love. Mourn. Grieve. Conquer. This is Sacred. Same service. Different church. Holy. Matrimony to the stage. Mistress to the page. Bound to text. For the honor of history. To build for the future. They need us now. Time to work.

Shannon Matesky hails from Berkeley, California. She started as one of the youngest poetry slam champions in the Bay Area at age 14. She’s since been published in Youth Speaks Anthologies, national magazines, featured on the Brave New Voices College Tour, the final season of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, and numerous stages across the country. She has performed with many talents such as Talib Kweli, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Danny Hoch and more. Shannon also features in the award winning documentary 2nd Verse: The Rebirth of Poetry (Corduroy Media).

Shannon is an alumni of Depaul University’s Theatre School where she received her BFA in Acting. Her theatrical credits include, Arab- Iraeli Cookbook (TTS), Vinegar Tom (TTS), Blood Wedding (TTS), A Clockwork Orange (TTS), Bud, Not Buddy (Chicago Playworks), A Raisin in the Sun (Merle Reskin), Electricidad (Merle Reskin), Welcome to Arroyo’s (ATC), Chicagoland (The Inconvenience), Zulu Fits (MPAACT), Sonnets for An Old Century (UrbanTheatre Co.) Alice in Wonderland (Chicago Playworks) and Sophocles: Seven Sicknesses (The Hypocrites). Shannon also has written a solo performance entitled She Think She Grown. Shannon is an Artistic Associate with Urban Theatre Company and is signed with Paonessa Talent.

Shannon is also an activist and teacher that encourages forward movement toward enlightenment of consciousness. She works independently to develop curriculums that fit the demands of the current youth culture. Shannon has worked for organizations such as Young Chicago Authors, Youth Speaks, Step-Up Women’s Network, Kuumba Lynx and others, aiding young adults in technical and life skills.