Company Leadership

Matthew is an NIETF award-winning actor and director and serves as the director of Highland Theatre Company at Highland High School in Highland, Indiana. A proud graduate of Ball State University's School of Theatre and Dance, he brings both artistry and educational passion to his work.

At Highland Theatre Company, Matthew directs student-driven productions that emphasize inclusivity, creativity, and community engagement. Under his leadership, HTC has staged a wide range of plays and musicals, from contemporary dramas like Radium Girls to family favorites such as Frozen Jr. He also manages Monbeck Auditorium, a 1,400-seat venue that serves as a cultural hub for both the school and the wider Highland community.

Matthew also served as co-creator and co-producer of The Unity Event Productions, a collaborative partnership with the Carnegie Arts Center of East Chicago and the South Shore Orchestra. The initiative brought together professional, community, and amateur artists in large-scale productions of Evita, Miss Saigon, and Ragtime, creating opportunities for performers from across Northwest Indiana to share the stage.

In addition to directing, Matthew has worked extensively as a scenic and production collaborator, guiding teams of designers, carpenters, and student leaders. His work has been recognized not only for artistic quality but also for cultivating a supportive, educational environment where artists can thrive.

Matthew’s guiding belief is that theatre has the power to bring people together, spark conversation, and inspire future generations of storytellers.

Mr. David Markley is a graduate of Valparaiso University where he received a Bachelor of Music Education Degree. While a student he sang with the Concert Choir and the University Chorale under Eldon Balko, Marcia Lewis and Christopher Cock. He studied voice with Ralph Klapis and Christopher Cock, Organ Performance with Martin Jean, and conducting with Dennis Friesen-Carper.

Mr. Markley has performed with Laudate, the Valparaiso University Bach Choir, and the Vocal Camerata Ensemble. Mr. Markley has also worked extensively with community theatre companies throughout Northwest Indiana and Northeast Illinois on a variety of productions and has been nominated for Outstanding Vocal Direction for Into the Woods, Ragtime, Why Do Fools Fall in Love?, Follies, and Assassins and is the recipient of the 2011 Outstanding Musical Direction award for Grey Gardens from the Northwest Indiana Excellence in Theatre Foundation.

In addition to his work in the community, Mr. Markley is the Minister of Music and Organist at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Highland. He also serves as the co-sponsor for the Highland (HS) Theatre Company where he is vocal director for musicals including Into the Woods, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, The Fantasticks, Hairspray, Little Shop of Horrors, Les Miserables, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, and Little Women.

From 2011-2013, Mr. Markley co-produced the Unity Event Productions partnering with the Carnegie Arts Center of East Chicago and the South Shore Orchestra that presented combined professional, community and amateur performers in productions of Evita, Miss Saigon, and Ragtime.

Mr. Markley also served as the Department Chair for Fine and Performing Arts at Highland High School. For his work in education, he is the 2004 Crystal Apple Award recipient for excellence in teaching as well as a recipient of the “Realizing the Dream” Lilly endowment professional development grant.