Matthew Lombardo

Matthew Lombardo made his professional debut in the 1979 production of Damn Yankees directed by Irene Lewis. Lombardo is a Connecticut native who grew up on Montowese Street in Hartford’s South End and later moved to Wethersfield. He returns to The Hartford Stage Company 23 years after his debut at the age of fifteen as Bat Boy #2 in “Damn Yankees”. “The role was critical to the plot,” laughs Lombardo.

Since he left Connecticut years ago for the bright lights of New York City, Lombardo has garnered himself an impressive resume that includes writing and directing. Lombardo has made his mark in his career and in the gay community with directing plays such as the 20th Anniversary production of “Torch Song Trilogy” at The American Stage Company and most recently the Off-Broadway comedy “End of the World Party” about a group of men on Fire Island at the 47th Street Theatre. He hit close to home when he wrote and directed “Guilty Innocence” about Richard Riehle who was the Wethersfield man killed in the late eighties by two teenagers because he was gay. “Guilty Innocence” ran at the Actor’s Playhouse. He dedicates Tea at Five to his mother, Julia, whom without there would be no words.