1:1 Chat with Madison Burkett

The 1:1 Chats are a monthly online interview series delving into craft and process with industry professionals across the spectrum of disciplines. This month’s conversation will be led by Director, Dramaturge & MTW Co-Director, Casey Gould.

Madison Burkett is one of Australia’s best stage managers, having worked on touring musicals, large-scale circus and operatic productions. Currently, she is the Stage Manager for the Australian production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. She is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Australia, where she completed a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts majoring in Production.

Madison spent five years as a stage manager and show caller for resident water circus productions, including The House of Dancing Water at the City of Dreams Casino in Macau, China and Le Rêve – The Dream at the Wynn Casino in Las Vegas, United States. Since returning to Australia in 2017, Madison has been working as a calling stage manager on productions such as: La Traviata on Sydney Harbour for Opera Australia, GWB Entertainment’s international tour of School of Rock The Musical, Gordon Frost Organisation’s Melbourne season of Rocky Horror, and shake & stir’s Australian tour of American Idiot.

Growing up in Wagga Wagga, Madison was fortunate to be surrounded by teachers and mentors who encouraged her love of theatre. She is passionate about giving back to the Australian Stage Management community, through her mentorship of students at NIDA, her position as part of the International Cohort of the Stage Management Association of the United States, and her volunteer work on stage management webinars and training courses.