Hello! I’m Madison Hertel. I’m originally from Traverse City, Michigan, where I very first fell in love with theatre (thank you, local production of Les Mis). Spending my summers growing up at Interlochen Arts Camp and doing regional theatre led to my decision to pursue a performing arts career. I moved to upstate New York to earn my BFA degree in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College, graduating in 2022. I’m now based in Brooklyn, NY, where I’m learning to squash the midwestern urge to smile at strangers.
Since graduating, I have been traveling and performing across the country and internationally. Highlights include West Side Story as Anybodys in Cagliari, Italy, and crash learning four swing tracks in under a week for Songbird at the Kennedy Center starring Ramin Karimloo and Isabel Leonard.
I am a dancer/choreographer as well! I enjoy experimentation and narrative story telling in my work. I recently choreographed the Glimmerglass Festival’s production of Sunday In The Park With George, directed by Ethan Heard, which won the inaugural 2025 International Opera Award for Musical Theatre. I also Associate Choreograph the Francesca Zambello/Eric Sean Fogel production of The Sound of Music which has been produced all over the country. An original work is Inherited by Word of Mouth, developed with support of New York State DanceForce and premiered at The Kitchen Theatre (co choreographed with Aimee Rials).
In the odd hours that I am not creating or performing, you can find me watching horror movies, reading Vonnegut, or trying my hand at a new recipe. Thanks for visiting my site. Don’t be a stranger!
