Meet Madeline Falco | Actor, Teaching Artist & Arts Administrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Madeline Falco and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Madeline, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Like many little girls, I started taking dance classes when I was 3 and I immediately fell in love. Growing up I thought I wanted to be a professional ballet dancer and I was on the track to do so throughout my pre-teen and teen years. Around 16 years old I had the hard realization that I was not a strong enough ballet dancer to pursue it professionally and I started shifting my focus from ballet to musical theatre. I had grown up doing musicals but had never really considered it as a career path. I went to college where I studied musical theatre and mathematics (an unlikely combination I am well aware). I continue to pursue an artistic career because not only do I love it, but because I believe that theatre and storytelling is important. I think that art reflects importance while simultaneously shaping it which I love being a part of.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I primarily identify as an actor who specializes in musical theatre. I grew up dancing and performing in musicals from young age and I went on to further my studies in college. Post grad, I moved to New York where I have continued my training, mainly in dance at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway. As an Asian-American actor, my journey has definitely not been easy. There are not many explicit roles for Asians actors, let alone ones that portray us in an accurate and/ or positive light, not to mention being overlooked for or criticized for filling roles that are traditionally portrayed by white actors.

I continue to learn daily about where I fit in and how to best navigate this industry but something I’ve realized is that it’s important to know when to “pick your battles” and when to work within the system. By this I mean, I know when to play into my type and when to put myself in the running for something I wouldn’t typically be considered for. I will always go out for a production of Miss Saigon or King and I when I see an audition. These are shows that I genuinely want to do but also recognize and criticize how Asians are portrayed in these stories. However, a couple of bucket list roles of mine are Amy in Little Women and Liesl in the Sound of Music which are typically played by white women. I will challenge casting by still submitting for these roles when I see them because I think that I would be a great character fit.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had a friend visiting who had never been to NYC I would want to have a healthy mixture of tourist and non-tourist sights. One of my favorite foods in the world is a bagel with lox and cream cheese. I would bring them to my favorite bagel spot, Bo’s Bagels in Central Harlem. We would also get a chocolate cookie from Levain Bakery. Even though I find Time Square a bit overwhelming, it’s certainly an experience that everyone needs to have at least once, so I would show them around Time Square and then probably walk up to Central Park and walk around there for a bit. Of course, we’d have to see a show- I can’t say enough good things about the current production of Into the Woods so I’d probably get us some tickets to see that. We’d end the night with some drinks, I’d suggest we go uptown to Hamilton Heights to this cool basement bar called “At the Wallace”.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to give a shoutout to my teachers, without the training and mentorship I have received I would not be the artist that I am today. I’d also like to give a shoutout to my friends and family who have been nothing but supportive of the unconventional career path that I’ve chosen. Their love means the world to me!

Website: www.madelinefalco.net

Instagram: maddie.falco

Image Credits
Chris Macke Photography: headshot, black leotard and boots shots Julia DeMore: White dress *unknown for the remaining photo