Meet Madeline! (Viola/Maria)
Only two more cast members to go! (And you know what that means....) We're getting close to opening! We can't wait to bing you this silly, fast-paced, musical romp of Shakespeare's 12th Night - BUT, before we do, we'd like you to get to know Madeline Saidenberg (also known as Maddie). Maddie plays the sick-in-love, disguised as a man, lost twin, Viola who gets caught up in the hijinks and crazy goings on of Illyria, and she also plays the fun loving and spicy gentlewoman Maria. Come see how she tackles the dual-role!
Q. Where are you originally from and what do you love most about your hometown?
MADELINE: I’m originally from New York City! I’ve just moved back and I’m so happy to be home. As a kid with an overactive imagination, it was such a rich place to grow up; so many windows to peek into, so many museums and libraries to wander around. I think my favorite part about living in New York is how much everyone walks—I get my best people-watching in while I’m walking.
Q. In Twelfth Night, twins Viola and Sebastian are shipwrecked on a strange island. What three things would you want to have with you if you were stranded on a desert island?
MADELINE: Books, coffee, and my best friends. Do people count? If not, Netflix.
Q. Many of the characters in Twelfth Night talk about their clothes and style of dress0 - how do you define your personal style? Describe it for us.
MADELINE: I’ve always had a soft spot for retro. I would have loved to be alive in the 1960s in England—what a crazy, fascinating time of freedom and fancy after austerity, when big eyelashes and glamorous silhouettes were all mixed up with rock-and-roll bad boys and ex-pat designers who moved to foreign countries. But I’m a child of my generation—I wear leggings to rehearsals!
Q. You, the actors, will constantly be changing roles and genders within the show - what do you think you'd be like as the opposite gender?
MADELINE: That is the question, isn’t it? Viola just jumps right in and goes for it, which I imagine would be easier if you had a twin brother your whole life. I’m an only child, so I didn’t live with boys and never knew one who looked a lot like I do—lately, I have kept my eyes peeled for any men that look like I might were I born a boy. But besides for physicality, I think I’d still enjoy the same music, choose the same friends, and be a total nerd… Maybe I’d finally live up to my resolution to stop saying sorry so much (but I kind of doubt it).
Q. Twelfth Night features lots of music - who is your favorite band or singer? What is your favorite song by them?
MADELINE: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, and Emmylou Harris are just on constant repeat on my headphones—with the exception of when I’m laughing/crying/dancing along to the Hamilton soundtrack—but I have to say my theme song has always been “Do You Believe in Magic” by The Lovin’ Spoonful.
