Invasion! The Musical
Attack of the Penis Snatchers! 
  
Date: August 20, 2007
Author: Lovell Estell III 
 
A more apt title for Aaron Matijasic’s hilarious musical satire would be “attack of the penis snatchers.” After a mysterious light appears in the sky, the inhabitants of Tucker County, New Mexico, panic and demand answers. The weight of the investigation rests on the shoulders of Sheriff Brewster (Will Harris), a potbellied mountain of a man who loves liquor and X-rated jokes. Things get stranger when old man Fletcher (Ben Giroux) turns up missing his genitals, walking like a zombie and chanting the names of menu items from a Mexican restaurant as if they were a sacred mantra. Among the populace joining the hunt for the terrifying, dick-pilfering aliens is an alcoholic, lecherous priest (Matt Falber), a blond bimbo (Kate Feld), two “ghetto hoochies” (Whitney Vigil and Nicole Gemma), Jesus (Al Rahn), Satan (Giroux), and even Dan Brown (Scott Burman), author of the Da Vinci Code. This nonstop comic orgy is freighted with ethnic jokes, scatology and gloriously disgusting ditties such as “Aborted Fetuses” and “Toxic Shock Syndrome.” Matijasic’s book and lyrics leave no room for any ethnic group’s dignity. The playwright also directs, keeping his fine ensemble’s shtick and physical comedy at just the right pitch. Hats off to composer/music director Billy Thompson for a beautifully crafted score. HUDSON BACKSTAGE THEATRE, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hlywd.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.; thru Sept. 23. (323) 960-7612 (Lovell Estell III)

Hey everyone! It’s been a phenominal month for me. Laughs on Demand has been recieved with great enthusiasm, and we’ll soon be moving on to a better venue. But today I’m writing to tell you about my most recent excitement, I’ve been cast as a lead in a new musical called Invasion. This will give you a chance to see me play a really fun character, Father Riley — a real sleezeball of a priest. It will tickle your funny bone plus you’ll get to hear me sing. Check out the info below:

During our current period of political discord and moral uncertainty, audiences crave not just entertainment and escapism, but rather innovative material that is going to challenge contemporary social constructs. Invasion! The Musical doesn’t just make you laugh, it often makes you think. A provocative musical satire reminiscent of Little Shop of Horrors and The Rocky Horror Show, with a dash of “South Park” and a spritz of Mel Brooks, this piece deals with themes of discrimination, social immorality, and political hypocrisy.

Invasion! takes place in the cozy hamlet of Tucker County, New Mexico, during one hot summer night in 1952. The residents of Tucker County are at a moral crossroads, as each preposterous archetype of small town America has desires, doubts, and dirty laundry they are too afraid to air in public.

When suddenly, ALIENS ATTACK. Faced with their impending doom, our characters seize the opportunity to do and say all of the things they’ve bottled up inside. Inevitably, all hell breaks loose, as religion is blasphemed, sexual orientation is ridiculed, gender roles reversed, and racism explodes like a teenager’s oily face. Whether you’re a fan of schlocky science fiction movies of the 1950′s, or simply a fan of cross-dressing, catchy tunes, and sodomy, this kitschy spectacle will have you rolling in the aisles.

Invasion! The Musical, originally workshoped in the Spring of 2006 at USC’s Massman Theatre, is set for its world premiere at the famous Hudson Theatre in Hollywood, CA.

The Hudson has been, for years, Hollywood’s best springboard for upcoming, original, daring new musicals. The theatre was home to Reefer Madness (Best Production Award LADCC) which opened on Broadway in 2001, the multiple award winning The Master and Margarita, and smash hits The Diva is Dismissed (5 major awards including NAACP) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding written and starring Nia Vardolas. With a location specifically designed for black-box musicals, the Hudson is particularly impressed with Invasion’s previous successful workshop period. They are enthusiastic about Invasion’s momentum and potential, and it is the perfect space to compliment the insanity of the show.

Invasion! The Musical will run for six weeks, 3-4 shows per weekend, closing on September 24th, 2007.

Hey guys,

You may have noticed that the news is no longer being covered by a third party. I kind of like actually saying hello to all of you. The world is too formal as it is. Anyway, tonight is a big night for me. After four months of blood, sweat and tears, my new comedy group, Laughs on Demand is performing for a live audience. We are entering into previews which will be presented to the public free of charge. These performances will be tonight, May 18th and May 25th at 10:30pm. There will be refreshment and lots of great sketch and improv comedy. If you’re feel like seeing it, scoot on over to 4348 Tujunga Avenue in Studio City. Come and join me on this monumentus occasion.

Love and life,

 Matt

Hey guys,

Just wanted to briefly tell you about my recent experience working with Sean Penn in his new movie “Into the Wild”. He’s directing this one and I was honored to play the part of young Walt McCandless. Meeting Sean was such a cool experience. He is so cool and confident and has such a strong vision of what he’s looking for. At one point he asked me to take off my socks for a shot and Mary in wardrobe thought that I had forgotten to wear socks. It was a trip. The movie is about young Christopher McCandless who has everything going for him when he gives all his possesions to charity to travel to the Alaskan Wilderness. I played his father Walt when he was young. The older Walt is played by William Hurt. Look for it on the big screen on September 21st. It was so exciting!

Love and life, 

 Matt

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to say a quick hello to all of you. There are lots of exciting things going on for me right now. I’m currently under consideration for a lead role in an Equity production. Sorry, I don’t want to tell you which one — it could be bad luck — but check back for more news soon. Let me just say that it’s a musical and one which I’m very familiar with. Things are heating up on the comedic side too as I venture into sketch comedy with some close and funny friends. I also wouldn’t be suprised if I have some other very exciting news for you all in about a month. Lots is brewing so stay tuned. ;)

Love and life,

Matt

“It’s not a giant move, or anything that will significantly change things,” say Falber on Friday after putting his name on the dotted line. Uncut is a service that handles talent for feature spots, auditions, print and promotional opportunities. “Essentially they will be doing for me what Networks Casting did in the past. The difference is subtle. My goal is not to build a career doing feature spots. They pay the bills and I always seem to learn a little each time I do one. Uncut realizes this and will provide me with additional opportunities. I’m cutting back the amount of work I do in this area and so they will help me to find only the best of what’s out there as well as sending me out on auditions and getting me print work.”

The film One Step at a Time‘s title has been changed to Existence. In this film Matt is murdered by a woman he has cheated on.

Matt’s note: As this page gets a lot of hits from people searching Google for “Danny Sussman”, I thought I would expand on this post (particularly since it’s quite vague). Aside from being a manager for top talent, Danny teaches at USC and UCLA and also teaches some classes specifically geared at actors in L.A. He helped me find my acting coach Lesly Kahn who I learned a lot from and she in turn introduced me to my current NYC acting coach Joan Rosenfels (I love her). Danny always had great advice and great stories. To this day I constantly remind myself that “nothing is the be-all and end-all,” an important thing to know in this business and one which Danny repeated on several occasions. If you’re looking to study with Danny because you want him to manage you, it’s probably not going to happen. He’s been in the business for years and he works with A-listers who probably aren’t taking group classes anymore. But don’t let that stop you. Danny was a huge advocate, an inspiration, and added to my life and my career in a very positive way. — August 28, 2009

Matt Falber is absorbing all that he can about the entertainment industry from one of the most passionate talent reps in the business. Danny Sussman, former William Morris agent and current manager at Brillstein-Grey, impressed the importance of understanding the inner-workings of the entertainment industry in a seminar he recently gave. “Danny has so many helpful things to share,” says Falber. “I appreciate his advice and am excited about my future as a performer here in LA.”

Sussman was raised in New York for most of his childhood, and attended Ithaca College as a History and Journalism major. After graduating from college, he worked as a journalist for Financial Wire Services during the years of 1985-1987 at Shearson Lehman Brothers. During his tenure there, Sussman covered OPEC, the United States Defense Industry and the Pennzoil vs. Texaco litigation in 1987.

In August of 1988, Sussman ventured out to Los Angeles to join the William Morris Agency as a member of its training program. He swiftly moved through the ranks and served as a talent agent there for ten years. Sussman’s client roster included such actors as Steve Buscemi, Jeff Goldblum, Scott Glenn, Chloe Sevigny and Lili Taylor. At Morris, he also helped to cast and finance several independent features, including Buscemi’s Trees Lounge and Stanely Tucci’s films Big Night and The Impostors. Sussman left William Morris in 1998 to join Brillstein-Grey Management, where he has been working as a talent manager with clients such as Noah Wyle, Jimmy Smits, Chloe Sevigny, John Ritter, Tara Reid, John Stamos, Michael Madsen and Robert Sean Leonard since that time.   

On January 20th, Matt will join the leagues of other talented actors such as Matthew Perry, Sharon Lawrence and Kato Kaelin as he opens a new season at the Los Angeles Connection Comedy Theatre. Details on performance time and tickets will be available in weeks to come. Tickets will be made available for purchase on MattFalber.com.

Matt has been cast as a character who’s involvement with the mafia and his cheating ways get him killed. The horrific death occurs while he is enjoying a nice glass of wine and playing the piano. The film is called One Step at a Time and will be directed by Travis Brown. Look for more details in the future.