On the scene with Twan Matthews

Hawaii has been Twan Matthews’ home since he was 13. He graduated from Radford High School and later studied theater at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Matthews was in his 20s when he discovered musical theater. His debut performance in 2000 in the Army Community Theatre’s production of “Funny Girl” was the first of more than 25 musicals he has performed in through 2019. The list includes several more at Army Community Theatre and one at Manoa Valley Theatre, but Matthews has done most of his work at Diamond Head Theatre.

He was last onstage in DHT’s production of “Kinky Boots” in the fall of 2019. The entire run was sold out by opening night.

This month, Matthews, 44, is performing far outside his comfort zone, making his debut in non-musical theater playing Terrell Brown, a young Black man who flees the violence of a Black Lives Matter protest and is confronted by a white police officer and a radical white BLM supporter, in Hawaii Pacific University’s fall production of American playwright Michael Hagins’ contemporary drama, “A Shot Rang Out.”

The final performance is 4 p.m. today; the show is free to stream. To watch, go to twitch.tv/hputheatre.

Congratulations on a tremendous, award-worthy performance. Until this show Hawaii has known you strictly as a musical theater performer. What got you interested in doing a drama with this subject matter?

It kind of fell into my lap, and I felt it was my duty to do it. It wasn’t so much, “I want to do this,” it was like, “I need to do this, and I had better do this.”

How was it?

It was difficult because I’m always doing musicals, playing a very funny or comic relief character, and I was really, “Am I going to be able to do this? Who is this guy? Where does he come from?” Over time, as you begin to understand the story, it manifests itself in you. I didn’t find Terrell, I think Terrell found me.

Have you ever felt like Terrell?

I can’t say that I have, only because I’m from Hawaii and we’re so far removed from the mainland and we’re such a melting pot. Not to say that it doesn’t happen, but I myself personally have not been in that particular situation. But as a gay person and being a Black man you feel like you’re treated a certain way by people no matter what their ethnicity is. That’s what I tapped into (when getting into the character).

Looking back over your career to date, do you have a favorite musical?

“Kinky Boots.” The messaging is very on brand for what was going on pre-COVID, but I think it is even more relevant now because people are depressed and sad, and the show is just very uplifting. And not only was it a great show, but the people in the show could not have been more amazing.

Going back to 2000, what got you interested in musical theater?

I saw “Center Stage.” It came out that year with Amanda Schull, and I was, like, “I want to do it,” and I went out, and I got in (“Funny Girl”) — I think they needed bodies and I could sing — and I never stopped. The people who have really inspired me have been (DHT Artistic Director) John Rampage — and Andrew Sakaguchi and Melina Lillios. They have all been very instrumental in my development as a performer.

What are you looking at doing next?

I’ve already done two one-man shows, and I have an idea for a third one.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working a day job or doing theater?

I go swimming, and I meditate and reflect on the day.