TV Art Director Stays in Touch with His El Cerrito Roots

Keen-eyed Contra Costa Civic Theatre regulars may notice something familiar in the “Andy’s Play” episode (Season 7,  Episode 3) of The Office in which character Andy Bernard, played by Ed Helms, appears in an amateur production of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The framed photos on the walls of the fictional theater’s lobby are of CCCT productions such as Little Shop of Horrors, Deathtrap,  My Sister Eileen and The Music Man.

There is also a definite authenticity to the fictional theater’s set. The series’ art director knows a thing or two about community theater.

The son of CCCT founders Louis and Bettianne Flynn, Matt Flynn grew up in the theater.

Still, he said, “I never thought it would be wise to try to make a living in the theater.” 

While he never sought the spotlight, he did take note of the skill and artistry of people such as the carpenters, set designers and graphic artists who gathered together to do behind-the-scenes work like create the sets for the shows and keep the operation going.

“It’s great to spend Saturdays working with talented people,” he said as he drew sketches, painted, and held quick conferences with people like set builder Henry Perkins and theater production manager Dana Zook in preparing the set of CCCT's , which runs through March 13. As he worked, he recalled some of the theater volunteers who inspired him when he was younger.

One person he remembers is Sheila Schaeffer, who worked as a window dresser for New York City’s Bonwit Teller department store before moving west. While her husband and children acted on the CCCT stage, she contributed for many years by designing sets.

Flynn was impressed with the creativity that went into not only envisioning a great set design but also being able to adapt it to the budget of a community theater and the director’s vision. “It’s always interesting to see someone pull it off with style and economy, working with volunteers.”

Another inspiration was Flynn’s grandfather, Guy Foster, who did carpentry work around the theater, including building the stage. 

David Hughes utilized another kind of skill to contribute to the theater, providing the logo still in use. Flynn said his mother, the late Bettianne Flynn, approached Hughes after the theater lost use of its previous home, the building that now houses Atlas Liquors.

“We didn’t have anything but we had the logo,” Flynn said.

Flynn has been involved with more than 50 CCCT productions. About 15 years ago he moved to Los Angeles to get a master’s degree in scenic design at UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television. He began getting offers for work soon after graduating and stayed in southern California. Currently he works as art director for The Office as well as working on other projects such as HBO’s Big Love.

He continues his involvement with the theater his parents founded by serving as set designer for about one show a year, which is what brought him back to El Cerrito Jan. 29. He comes to town for a couple of weekends, supplementing his help with phone calls, for each production he works on, timing the work to coincide with when The Office is on production hiatus.

As a set designer, he said, “You have to do your homework.” If you’re doing a Dickens show, for example, you have to research that historical period. If the next show is The Pajama Game, then it’s time to brush up on the 1950s.

Flynn has also helped with improvements to the theater building, such as serving as project manager for remodeling of the kitchen, which hadn’t been updated since the building's days as a Boys Club.

For Flynn, staying involved with the theater is a way to maintain a connection to his late parents.

“It’s what the Flynn family did. My parents had large personalities, a strong presence. People say they can still feel their presence in the building.”

For more about the Contra Costa Civic Theatre, see about the troupe's founding and development under the guidance of Matt Flynn's parents.