KAYLA MATTERS (she/her) is a multidisciplinary theatre artist whose philosophy is rooted in creating brave and safe spaces, emotional expression, and inclusivity. She believes strongly in practicing social emotional learning and culturally responsive teaching and desires to create art that instigates, inspires, and sparks conversation and change. As a larger bodied, neurodivergent, queer woman in today's society, Kayla is acutely aware of the dearth of representation within the theatrical industry, as well as the deeply negative impact these images can have on young students who desperately want to pursue a career in the arts, but have no one reflective of their lived experience to look up to. Her hope is to spark deep change in order to create a theatrical industry that is reflective of the world we live in, as well as educating and empowering the next generation of theatrical artists. 

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Born and raised in NEW YORK, Kayla began performing at an early age, and fostered her passion for theatre through voice lessons, dance class, and performing in musicals and plays inside and outside of school. She attended LONG LAKE CAMP FOR THE ARTS as a teen - an overnight performing arts camp where she spent six weeks each summer performing and studying. In 2014 Kayla was accepted to RIDER UNIVERSITY BFA MUSICAL THEATRE class of 2018. During her first semester at Rider, Kayla was cast as Bobby in the world premiere production of ZM, a new original musical by writers Kotis and Hollmann, of Urinetown fame. Kayla would go on to star in several more productions while at Rider, including playing the role of Gallathea in Gallathea. In 2017 she traveled to Croatia with her cast to perform the show at the DIONYSUS THEATRE FESTIVAL, making her cast the first students from America to perform at the festival. During her time at Rider, Kayla was also active in the development of new works through play festivals, as well as student work, such as the annual CaBRAret, raising money for breast cancer research, and as a cast member and writer of the first annual Rider University Me Too Monologues.

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Post-graduation, Kayla discovered her passion for theatre education, and was accepted into the Fall 2022 entering class of NEW YORK UNIVERSITY MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATIONAL THEATRE. During her first semester at NYU, Kayla was cast in the Educational Theatre Fall Mainstage, a production of the VERBATIM THEATRE LAB (VPL) - Whatever You Are, Be A Good One - which studied the issue of political polarization across America. During her second semester, Kayla co-directed Paper and Glue, working with two high school age actors from across the New York City area. In Spring of 2023 Kayla starred as Cathy in a student production of The Last 5 Years, and presented her research on Autism Spectrum Disorder and Representation in Theatrical Casting at the 2023 NYU EDUCATIONAL THEATRE FORUM. 

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Kayla has also been a member of the Education Committee at BAY STREET THEATER since beginning her work there in 2021. At Bay Street, Kayla has played several key roles, including Customer Experience Manager, House Manager, Spotlight Operator, and has worked with Head of Education Allen O'Reilly in the development and marketing of new educational programming.