Gaten Matarazzo of "Stranger Things" Fame Excites Students at Edgerton
Actor speaks candidly, answers questions of enthusiastic fans
Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo, 20, took the stage at Sacred Heart University’s Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts on Sept. 27 to enthusiastic cheers from students and staff.
The actor, who was born in Connecticut, visited SHU as a guest of the student affairs lecture series soon after the close of his latest endeavor as co-star in the Tony-winning Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway. Moderator Brad Hutchison, a junior in SHU’s Jack Welch College of Business & Technology, talked with Matarazzo about his Broadway appearances and the making of Netflix’s Stranger Things, a popular science fiction show. Then the actor answered students’ burning questions.
Matarazzo reflected on his time playing Jared Kleinman in his most recent Broadway show, originally set to run until December. It closed recently because, according to Matarazzo, “Sometimes these things happen.”
The conversation moved on to details about Matarazzo’s most popular role as Dustin Henderson on Stranger Things. He had plenty to say about the cast and the show’s fourth season, which aired in May. Matarazzo spilled details about his castmates and how season four of Stranger Things was produced.
The highlight of Matarazzo’s visit was when an enthusiastic student joined him on stage to sing Never Ending Story, a song Matarazzo’s character sang during the finale of Stranger Things’ third season.
At Hutchison’s request, Matarazzo answered a series of trivia questions about the University, including which of the University’s on-campus residence halls he might like to live in, and what did he think 63’s (one of SHU’s many dining halls) was, based solely on the name.
The event ended with Matarazzo answering questions from students who quickly lined up behind two microphones. Their questions varied from his experience working with Winona Ryder, a well-known actress who also stars on Stranger Things, to advice for acting auditions and whether the star had any games on his phone.
When the event ended, Matarazzo’s star quality obviously left impressions with the audience. “I’ve never seen an episode of Stranger Things in my life, so I never knew he was such a great singer,” said Keelin Mauser, an undergraduate student in SHU’s Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing (DHCON).
Annie Wunsch, another undergraduate in DHCON, said her favorite segment “was when he was talking about how he became an up-and-coming actor when he was so young. It’s so cool to see how he has grown up to become a bigger actor, taking on new experiences on Broadway and on TV.”
After weeks of anticipation resulted in an entertaining and interactive event, SHU students are hopeful they will get to see another celebrity walk through the Edgerton doors again soon.