Meet Madeline Shaffer | Director/Choreographer/Playwright

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

Hi Madeline, how do you think about risk?
There are so many little mantras like ” You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” and ” Shoot for the moon, land among the stars” , and they may sound corny, but I really like to remind myself of these. On a less poetic note, I have always told myself that the only way that things happen, or move forward is because someone decided to DO something. This fuels me to take the initiative and try to make something happen. Without risk we would have no art, no design, no technology. Risk can be scary, but it is totally necessary for growth. Staying in the same place with my career, or my choices has never been an option for me. The risk is what fuels me and motivates me to work harder, and to work better. Risk is definitely a huge motivator for me. When I graduated college, I moved straight to NYC 2 weeks after graduation. i had virtually no money, no friends, and no job prospects. I just knew I had to be there and see what I could make happen. That decision led me to be able to move my career forward with performing in a national tour, working in several off off broadway productions, starting a band, and even workshopping a new musical that I wrote with my brother. The connections and credits I obtained in New York allowed me to move here to Denver and start running a dance department that I feel really passionately about. Ultimately, all these risks and decisions allowed me to meet the right people and have the right experience to write and produce my musical!

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.
For me, it’s incredibly important that my art feels real and authentic. I like the art I create to reflect real people and everyday situations. I love and appreciate dramatic and fantastic plays and musicals, and I love comic book art and abstract paintings, but in my personal expression, I love to show the beauty in the everyday nuances and struggles. A few years ago I did a series of illustrations that were portraits of snap chats that people might send. I like thinking about the little bit of curating and artistry that goes into each moment we are presenting ourselves or showcasing our life to others. When I lived in NYC I did a series of portraits of people who sat opposite me on the train. I only allowed myself to work for the length of time that they were across from me. Sometimes that was 1 stop and sometimes it was 12 so the portraits ranged from the detail of a 1 min sketch to a 30 min pose. I enjoyed capturing how people are in our lives for different amounts of time, and their image can still have a profound effect.
The thing I am most proud of though, is the musical I just wrote entitled ” Late” . It is a full length musical with all original songs by myself and 2 of the songs were collaborations with my former band mate Sam Finn Cutler. The show follows 5 distinct story lines all converging on one day on one subway car. Each character is dealing with something in their life that relates to the theme of being late. One woman is coming out as a lesbian late in life, one woman is hoping for a late period as she tries to get pregnant, one couple has expressed feelings for each other but it’s too late because one of them is engaged, etc. There is nothing overly shocking or exaggerated in the show, but I think what it does well is tell the stories of real people and how they speak and relate to each other. I find it just as beautiful and moving to hear someone work through the nuances of moving forward from a breakup, than to see a couple fight and a throw things on stage. I tried to write the way that I hear people actually speak.
We took a risk and produced the show this past August in Denver by turning a friend’s backyard into a full blown theatre. We had a full lighting rig, a full sound rig, a live band, and the most supportive community I could imagine. It was one of if not the most incredible moment of my life, and it has taught me a lot. Through this experience I really learned that if you trust the right people and keep pressing forward, amazing things can happen. People want to be a part of something, and if you have an idea or a project, like minded people really will rally behind you and work to make it happen. We chose an impossible time line to put this musical together and there were many days when there were simply not enough hours to accomplish all that needed to be done, but by trusting my community and allowing people to help me, we were able to put on a beautiful show.
As a younger artist, I used to always put myself down for not seeming to be able to choose ONE path. I liked to paint and write songs, and dance, and direct, and write short stories. I used to think that weakened my strength as an artist but what I’ve come to find is that by combining these interests and skills, I’m able to make things that I am truly proud of and that seem to be resonating with others. I hope if you’re reading this, that you make something today. Leave a little part of yourself for others to see and appreciate. What you have to say is beautiful and important and your community wants to hear it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love showing friends and family around Colorado! I just moved here 2 years ago, and already I have so many favorite spots! I would probably start off by doing a big hike and then going to a brewery. Lake Isabelle and Blue Lakes are two of my favorite spots, but Royal Arch and the hike to Diamond Lake are definitely front runners as well. After the hike I would take them to one of my favorite breweries. I love Sanitas Brewing in Boulder and I also love stopping by Breckenridge brewery! We’d probably spend a whole day in RINO looking at the beautiful murals, stopping by STEM ciders for a drink and listening to some live music at Mockingbird. I live in Littleton currently, so we would probably spend one day here wandering around the amazing shops and bakeries on Main Street and then catch a sunset on Jackass Hill. I’d definitely take them to one of my favorite restaurants, either Uncle or City or City, and maybe both! I love that I live in a place where you can literally climb a mountain during the day, come home and change and go out to a restaurant or bar downtown and have a totally different experience.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have been helped along by so many people in my life, but in this case I would be remiss if I didn’t give a shoutout to John Boggs, Claylish Coldiron, and Rachel Snyder who were my collaborators on my most recent project. I would also like to give a shoutout to my partner, Ben, who supports me in all ventures and is my safe place to land. Centerstage Theatre Company is also a huge supporter of my new work and was incredibly instrumental is helping it come about this past summer. We will be performing my original musical at Centerstage Theatre Company this coming June so make sure to check out our social media accounts for details!

Website: madelineelizabeth.work

Instagram: @latethemusical

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJiLn6ZZWCU

Other: Instagram: @Madicide @madelineshafferdance TikTok: @Latethemusical

Image Credits
Sam Saliba