Matthew was fortunate enough to catch the eye of theater critics as a member of the Children’s Chorus in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat November 2011, as a member of Fagin’s Gang in Oliver! April 2013, as Young Shrek/Baby Bear in Shrek the Musical July 2013, as Gavroche in Les Miserables April 2014, and as Prince Chulalongkorn in The King and I in both October 2014 and April 2016. He and his brother have also been subject of a feature story in Chicago Sun-Times for their work in Chicago area theatres.
Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune—“Verily, the place went nuts Friday night. Here's why. The skilled director Stacey Flaster is in charge of a fun, warm and eye-poppingly huge show — an Equity-dominated adult company of 26 and a children's choir of 12, featuring a diminutive but zestful young fellow named Matthew Uzarraga, whose cute moves nearly brought the house down on opening night.”
Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune—“Matthew Uzarraga, kid extraordinaire, is the world’s most enthusiastic Gavroche.”
Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune--"In most productions of this piece, Prince Chulalongkorn, here played by the terrific juvenileMatthew Uzarraga, is generally a mini-adult. Bowling lets him be a little kid, which makes the end of the show yet more poignant, and terrifying for all concerned."
Hedy Weiss of Chicago Sun-Times—“The children’s chorus here is full of fabulous kids who contribute much charm from the moment they come down the aisles singing and setting the story in motion. For pure star quality, keep your eye on tiny Matthew Uzarraga.”
Hedy Weiss of Chicago Sun-Times—“….19 boy wonders dazzle yet again, with tiny, gymnastics-trained Matthew Uzarraga, grabbing your eye and your heart at every moment. Irresistible.”
Hedy Weiss of Chicago Sun-Times—“Matthew Uzarraga (Baby Shrek/Baby Bear) is a tiny, highly skilled force of nature you just can’t keep your eyes off.”
Hedy Weiss of Chicago Sun-Times—“Matthew Uzarraga seizes the spotlight to irresistible effect as that indomitable street urchin, Gavroche.”
Hedy Weiss of Chicago Sun-Times——“Brothers Zachary andMatthew Uzarraga are heating up Chicago-area stages”
Hedy Weiss of Chicago Sun-Times—“And from the moment he enters in 'The March of the Siamese Children,' Uzarraga, an uncanny young actor, nails his character with his priceless facial expressions and bearing, and is backed by seven other enchanting little performers in what is surely one of the most beguiling sequences in musical theater.”
Kris Vire of Time Out Chicago— “a passel of adorable child actors, led by Matthew Uzarraga's precocious Crown Prince Chulalongkorn, help make Marriott's production a Siamese dream.”
James Murray of Showbiz Chicago——“special acknowledgement for Matthew Uzarraga who is marvelous as the young Prince Chulalongkorn,( played much younger than usual which provides greater pathos with the ending when he becomes King).”
Anthony J. Mangini of Chicago Critic— “…Rockwell’s inventive stagings of “Pick a Pocket or Two” and “I’d Do Anything” make especially tremendous use of her pint-sized assets (keep a particularly keen eye on the delectable little scene-stealer,Matthew Uzarraga).”
Alan Bresloff of Around the Town Chicago— “…I have to say that I was quite impressed by young Matthew Uzarraga as Gavroche…what stage presence from a young actor!”
Dan Zeff of Chicagoland Theatre Reviews— “The staging is especially fortunate in its selection and use of Asian children, who are not just cute little tykes but active participants in the action. They take Bowling’s direction beautifully, especially a lad named Matthew Uzarraga as the king’s heir to the throne."
Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune—“Verily, the place went nuts Friday night. Here's why. The skilled director Stacey Flaster is in charge of a fun, warm and eye-poppingly huge show — an Equity-dominated adult company of 26 and a children's choir of 12, featuring a diminutive but zestful young fellow named Matthew Uzarraga, whose cute moves nearly brought the house down on opening night.”
Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune—“Matthew Uzarraga, kid extraordinaire, is the world’s most enthusiastic Gavroche.”
Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune--"In most productions of this piece, Prince Chulalongkorn, here played by the terrific juvenileMatthew Uzarraga, is generally a mini-adult. Bowling lets him be a little kid, which makes the end of the show yet more poignant, and terrifying for all concerned."
Hedy Weiss of Chicago Sun-Times—“The children’s chorus here is full of fabulous kids who contribute much charm from the moment they come down the aisles singing and setting the story in motion. For pure star quality, keep your eye on tiny Matthew Uzarraga.”
Hedy Weiss of Chicago Sun-Times—“….19 boy wonders dazzle yet again, with tiny, gymnastics-trained Matthew Uzarraga, grabbing your eye and your heart at every moment. Irresistible.”
Hedy Weiss of Chicago Sun-Times—“Matthew Uzarraga (Baby Shrek/Baby Bear) is a tiny, highly skilled force of nature you just can’t keep your eyes off.”
Hedy Weiss of Chicago Sun-Times—“Matthew Uzarraga seizes the spotlight to irresistible effect as that indomitable street urchin, Gavroche.”
Hedy Weiss of Chicago Sun-Times——“Brothers Zachary andMatthew Uzarraga are heating up Chicago-area stages”
Hedy Weiss of Chicago Sun-Times—“And from the moment he enters in 'The March of the Siamese Children,' Uzarraga, an uncanny young actor, nails his character with his priceless facial expressions and bearing, and is backed by seven other enchanting little performers in what is surely one of the most beguiling sequences in musical theater.”
Kris Vire of Time Out Chicago— “a passel of adorable child actors, led by Matthew Uzarraga's precocious Crown Prince Chulalongkorn, help make Marriott's production a Siamese dream.”
James Murray of Showbiz Chicago——“special acknowledgement for Matthew Uzarraga who is marvelous as the young Prince Chulalongkorn,( played much younger than usual which provides greater pathos with the ending when he becomes King).”
Anthony J. Mangini of Chicago Critic— “…Rockwell’s inventive stagings of “Pick a Pocket or Two” and “I’d Do Anything” make especially tremendous use of her pint-sized assets (keep a particularly keen eye on the delectable little scene-stealer,Matthew Uzarraga).”
Alan Bresloff of Around the Town Chicago— “…I have to say that I was quite impressed by young Matthew Uzarraga as Gavroche…what stage presence from a young actor!”
Dan Zeff of Chicagoland Theatre Reviews— “The staging is especially fortunate in its selection and use of Asian children, who are not just cute little tykes but active participants in the action. They take Bowling’s direction beautifully, especially a lad named Matthew Uzarraga as the king’s heir to the throne."