Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Madison Montgomery. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Madison, thanks for joining us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

There is an inherent association with pressure and timing in the creative field, specifically in the performing arts. It’s easy to get caught up in the comparison trap as we watch our peers and colleagues progress on their own timelines.. But I believe in the concept of Universal or Divine Timing, and I truly think everything happens when it’s supposed to. To me, the biggest indicator of Divine Timing is the people you meet along the way.

I have been performing and creating almost all of my life. I began singing and performing around the age of 3; I have played instruments from a young age; I always dabbled in performance of some kind. Even as a young child I took on the role of Director with home movies and plays, and choreographed dance numbers with friends after school. I began writing songs in elementary school, competed in Odyssey of the Mind, and had my first lead role in a musical at age 7. While others had imaginary friends, I had imaginary audiences; I “hosted” cooking shows while my mom made dinner, There really wasn’t a question of what I wanted to do with my life.

But, there was a shift of when to take that seriously as a career choice. While I originally intended to study music in college, I shifted to Public Relations, as a more “practical” degree. Out of college, I worked at several jobs that did not feel fulfilling to me, and while I remained connected to my performance background singing and playing in bands and occasionally auditioning for musicals, it was not a viable or serious career choice. In 2012, I found myself feeling lost and disconnected from my craft, and knew I needed to make a change. New York Film Academy was holding auditions for their Conservatory of Musical Theatre in Atlanta, and I auditioned and got in on the spot. Before telling anyone else, I met with my now-agent (Christy Clark at Stewart Talent) in a coffee shop and asked her what she thought about me moving to New York. She encouraged me to go for it, so I did. The following June I made the move, and began studying, performing, and dedicating myself to performance. I haven’t looked back since.

In 2017, I moved back to Atlanta to focus on film and television, signed with Stewart Talent Atlanta, and found a friend and vocal coach in Lucas Tarrant. I also began working as a voice teacher, and as a director/choreographer: something that I had dabbled in but had not seriously considered making a part of my career. Fast forward to 2019: I opened a community theatre called Creative Artists Theatrical Studios (CATS), and became my own boss, something that was deeply fulfilling and freeing to me. However, 2020 quickly brought in a slew of challenges, namely a global pandemic that shut down the performing arts as we knew it. Finding success in the field that I felt so connected to, only to have it come to a complete halt was devastating. So, I tried to adapt and find new ways to continue. During the pandemic, I started my podcast: The Art of Performers, which focused on what it was like to be a creative in the time of uncertainty. It was instantly successful, and I have made so many wonderful connections with other artists, creatives, and appreciators of the arts. The podcast has touched on a range of topics from the Global Pause in the industry to necessary changes in equity among performers and creatives.In its third season, The Art of Performers highlights many of the experiences that we share, from burnout to imposter syndrome, and beyond.

I also began teaching voice online, and CATS continued on with plans for its first musical: Into the Woods, with a virtual rehearsal schedule, and nebulous performance arrangements. My aforementioned friend Lucas helped make that happen, stepping in as Music Director and the balance that I needed. In an ever-changing landscape, we went on to Direct, Music Direct, and Choreograph more shows for various theaters in the Atlanta area and quickly decided to become creative partners, as Montgomery & Tarrant: an all-in-one production team.
We have found immense fulfillment and success together, and most recently helmed Sunday in the Park With George at Woodstock Arts, and are currently working on A Christmas Carol there, which has been a joy. The new Artistic Director, Zach Stolz and his team are entirely brilliant, and find importance in the investment of performers in the same way Lucas and I do. So while adapting to a global pandemic and the challenges that have come with it have been less than ideal, we have learned so much and have come out with beautiful experiences and exciting goals.

There was a weird bit of overlap between the downtime of TV, film, and commercial filming and the resurgence of theatre in the Atlanta area, and during that time I performed as Rona Lisa Peretti in The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee, and also as Titania in Arne Zaslove’s 1950s Rock ‘n’ Roll adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Contemporary Classics Theatre. Performing on a stage again made me feel renewed and like I had come back-to-life. It also connected me with some incredible people, namely the artistic team at Contemporary Classics, who I recently had the pleasure of interviewing on my podcast for their all-BIPOC version of The Importance of Being Earnest. I also participated in a staged reading of Lysistrata with them in September, and I cannot say enough good things about the creative team and leadership within their organization.

All of this is to support that claim that the people make the entire process worth it. I have made best friends within the casts and creative teams these last few years, found places that felt like home, and created successful and wonderful work with amazing human beings. I myself am only human, and as such. I find myself falling into that comparison trap from time to time. And part of me will wonder what would have happened if I had considering a real career in performance sooner, and where I might be now. But while I can play the “what if” game all day long and plug in circumstances that might have changed or accelerated my success story, I wouldn’t have the experiences I have now. And I truly do believe I’m better for it. I get to be a professional multi-hyphenate, doing all of my favorite things, every day.

Madison, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a professional actor, singer, musician, director/choreographer, and the creator and host of the podcast The Art of Performers. As a performer, I am signed with Stewart Talent Atlanta. I am also half of the duo Montgomery & Tarrant: an all-in-one Musical Theatre creative team. I am the owner and Artistic Director of Creative Artists Theatrical Studios: a community theatre for adults and young adults who want to invest in their craft. I teach voice and acting to students, and also provide a service that is a crossover of my background in PR/branding and musical theatre called Book It. Book It helps performers to authentically express their individual brands and talent through their audition repertoire.

I am a proud multi-hyphenate with a deep love of the performing arts and the opportunity to invest in other artists. My podcast also focuses on the experiences of fellow artists and creatives in the industry. I love to highlight people and to help them connect to their passions! I truly believe that those passions are what drive us in life, and that a connection to the craft is one of the most fulfilling experiences that we get as artists.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

THE SUPPORT OF OTHER ARTISTS! One thing I think we struggle to remember is there is room for everyone at the table. One of the most rewarding aspects of my career is getting to collaborate with other creatives and connect them with each other; I want to see people succeed, and help them get where they need to be. Something I truly believe is that if a project or job is meant for you, it will come to you. It’s so easy to slip into this mindset that someone is “stealing” an opportunity from you, when in reality, there are plenty of jobs to go around! Networking is such a huge part of our industry, and in some ways it feels like everyone knows each other. A good introduction between creatives can open so many doors, whether that is with agents, directors, producers, casting directors, or other actors. So many of us have our hands in different projects and are always looking for talent to fill out a cast or a production team. Also, recommending a capable, professional artist or creative is a great reflection on you! It makes you an asset and labels you trustworthy and often indispensable. Plus, lifting each other up is just good karma; what goes around, comes around. It’s good to get on the “lists” of others in the industry!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Art has the power to heal many wounds, and to speak so universally to those who experience it. Theatre, film, television gives us the ability to exist in another space, to connect to the emotions of the characters, to recognize our own experiences in theirs. As an actor, if I’m living my truth in imaginary circumstances, it allows the viewer to recognize their own truths in mine. This last year, theatre saved me.

In June, I unexpectedly lost my grandmother; she was my best friend and my favorite person in the world. When she passed, I felt like I was never going to be okay again. It felt like my heart left my body, and I felt empty in so many ways; without her, I struggled to find joy and purpose in my life. In July, my Creative Partner and I began our contract at Woodstock Arts, where I directed Sunday in the Park With George. While I love Sondheim, I didn’t know the show very well before we began, but I quickly fell in love with the characters and the story. The musical is about art and the connection of the soul through love of artistry and relationships. As Director, I was able to find myself in Young George, and illustrate some of my connection with my grandmother through his relationship with Marie. I got to tell a little of our story through their stories. It healed me in a way I didn’t know was possible, and I got to share that with both the performers and our audiences. That experience made me feel whole at a time I didn’t think I could feel even okay again.

I believe that the performing arts has a unique ability to invigorate, mend, and cure in a way that cannot be found anywhere else. I am so fortunate to make my career as a player, creator, and lover of the arts. Nothing makes my being resonate with a sense of purpose quite like that.

Contact Info:

• Website: madisonemontgomery.com
• Instagram: @mady_kat
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madisonmontgomeryartist
• Twitter: @mady_kat
• Other: Podcast: https://anchor.fm/madison-montgomery Patreon: http://patreon.com/join/madykat

Image Credits
Wes Milton, Libby Williams