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MADISON New World. New Ways. New Works
New World. New Ways. New Works. Discovering What’s Next with Music Theatre of Madison
By Ryan Albrechtson
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When Randolph started company in 2006, she noticed that there weren’t many paid opportunities for performing artists in the Madison area. At only 23, she decided to do something about it.
Fifteen years later, MTM has become a staple of professional theatre in the Madison area, focusing on developing new works and producing lesser known pieces. “The market for well-known theatre was covered,” said Randolph. “And so we found what came to be a real niche for us. People know when they come to an MTM show they aren’t really sure what they are going to get.”
One of the things MTM is most known for now is their Wisconsin Musical Cycle, started in 2017. Through this endeavor, new works are given the opportunity to grow and develop with a reading of the musical, a workshop of the show, and then a full production. In doing so, the cycle gives audiences a chance to have a stake in the process. They have the chance to see renderings and research, give feedback, and see how the musical develops at different stages.
Most recently, MTM had been working on a new show called Ten Days in a Mad House. Slated for a workshop production in 2020 and a full production in 2021, things shifted in light of the pandemic. Instead of abandoning the piece, MTM developed a podcast around the musical and presented the piece that way, with much help from new Associate Artistic Director Adam Qutaishat.
Qutaishat first auditioned for Randolph in 2019, responding to a casting call for Music Theatre of Madison. At the time, Qutaishat was serving as the Director of New Works Development for Milwaukeebased theatre company All-In Productions. “I saw the casting call, and I was interested because new works are what I do,” shared Qutaishat. “What I liked about the call was that Meghan didn’t just ask performers to sing, but to ‘prepare two songs that showcase how you can tell a story.’ And that was in my wheelhouse.”
From his audition, Qutaishat was cast in two productions that season. From that, they developed a strong working relationship that continued past the season. “We share a passion for new musicals,” said Qutaishat.
Together, the team has planned a 2021 season for Music Theatre of Madison that showcases their skills, their mission, and all that MTM has
to offer in these new times. “The world as we know it is totally different,” said Randolph. “For our fifteenth anniversary, we’re getting back to the heart of our mission: New musicals, paid local artists, and demonstrating ways that musicals can inspire and ignite our empathy and passions.”
Music Theatre of Madison’s 2021 Season
An American Mythology: A concept album
Myths are traditional stories explaining histories, beliefs, or lessons. Myth is also a fallacy. In America, who are the mythological characters? The characters we so often hear of as good or evil? The people who set our sometimes false belief systems? BBIPOC composers from all over Wisconsin explore this idea through stories from their own cultures and points of view. As is true with all myths, there is more than meets the eye. Tentative Release Date: May 15, 2021
The Yellow Wallpaper A New Horror Musical
In the late 1800s, a woman is brought by her husband to a country home to recover from an unspecified mental illness. Confined to a room with hideous yellow wallpaper, and repeatedly told she is not well enough to leave, the woman descends into madness and finds a disturbing secret beneath the paper’s seams. Based on Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s terrifying novella, The Yellow Wallpaper is a trifecta of horror, madness, and feminism, performed by one woman. Streaming in August, 2021
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Micro: A reading of a new musical for the Wisconsin New Musicals Cycle
A microbiology graduate student, at wit’s end due to the constant pressures and abuses she faces working in academia, turns to music as her refuge. This unexpectedly leads to an incredible scientific discovery about microaggressions. After forging a bond with a music student, the two face infuriating biases that stall any attempts they make at progress. Can they overcome a system designed to hold them back and create something that will change the world? December, 2021
In MTM’s biggest project to date, the company will create a musical children’s book, aimed at grades two through four, featuring songs that move the narrative forward, as in a musical. The theme? Loving who you are, accepting differences, and believing in yourself. Extensive participation activities, numerous accessibility options, and a unique arts experience that illustrates the power of music and imagination to help kids celebrate everyone’s unique identity. Released in fall, 2021 in print, e-book, and video read-aloud formats.
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Watch our video interview to learn more about Music Theatre of Madison, Meghan, Adam, and the future of performing arts in Madison!
Help Your Local Theaters By Going Green
By: Amanda Finn
If your pocket book lately isn’t so green, or even if it is, there are some simple ways you can help your local theater companies and the environment at the same time. Theaters are usually in need of something besides funding that you can help them out with, but do reach out to them first before making any physical donations. Also be sure to keep an eye out on their social media to see if there are any more immediate needs, especially now that shows are largely still not in person and staff are (generally) a little more available.
Don’t forget to ask for a receipt for your taxes if your local theater is a 501c3 non-profit!
Paint
This might be a surprise to some, but theaters are often in need of paint of any color. Even if it’s a bizarre shade of auburn, theaters can always make what’s referred to as “garbage paint” to cover the floor or any other surface that will need to be covered over. Primary colors are especially useful as they can be mixed to more specific shades later on.
A company may be able to make use of wood stain too, but again, be sure to call before dropping off a bunch of any painting or modifying materials.
Old appliances
Particularly if an appliance is in good shape but doesn’t work, save it from the scrap heap or a dump by calling around to area theaters. Kitchens are not uncommon spaces for a play to take place and that old Fridgedaire might come in handy.
Other items that might be thought less of as an appliance would be an old television set, record player or desktop computer. Many kinds of appliances cost money to have someone come and recycle them for you when your nearby playhouse could take it off your hands for free.
Uniforms
If you’re clearing out your closet and find an old cheerleading uniform or you inherit military uniforms you don’t know what to do with, chances are a theater could use them. These kinds of specific uniforms would otherwise likely have to be made if the costume crew can’t find one second hand or rented.
Fabric
Is there a pile of fabric in the corner from an abandoned quarantine sewing/quilting hobby? Fabric is an amazing donation item for theaters because it can be made into anything and everything.
Even sheets in good condition can be repurposed as fabric, so keep those in mind when you’re spring cleaning.
Wigs
Whether or not you have a Moira Rose kind of wig collection, wigs can be a real commodity for a theater. If your Halloween costume collection has gotten out of hand, consider donating the wigs to have a new life on the stage. They can always be recut, fashioned and styled to another character, so let the theater staff decide if they’re acceptable or not.
Kitchen items
Have your kitchen cabinets become a cluttered mess? That tableware overstock could become the next Kowalsky dining room table ensemble or a living room tea set to serve Lady Bracknell her finger sandwiches in “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Just because some things no longer hold a place in your kitchen doesn’t mean they can’t have a spotlight elsewhere.
Furniture
This category is huge, particularly if you have furniture that clearly belongs to a certain time period. Victorian chaise lounge? Gold. Velvet farmhouse chic couches? Brilliant. Overstuffed papasan chair? It’ll do. Furniture is the cornerstone of dressing a set and can eat up a lot of budget, especially period specific pieces. Share a photo with your local thespians and see if your beloved chair can be a treasure.
Jewelry
Costume jewelry has that name for a reason. Huge jewelry pieces can be pivotal costume pieces for performers. They’re large enough to be seen offstage easily, they say something about their character and there is plenty of costume jewelry out there to go around. Chunky, affordable jewelry was popular throughout many of the last few decades and when they go out of style they take up space at the local thrift. Send them somewhere they can be appreciated.
Tchotchkes
Even knickknacks have a place on the stage. After all, Laura’s glass animals in “The Glass Menagerie” have to come from somewhere. There are often bookshelves or tables or other areas of a set that need to be filled with bric a brac. Save the props team a lot of trips to the store and finally give up that wooden duck collection.
