Madeline Sayet is a theatre-maker whose work is shaped by the idea of Story Medicine: the belief that every story we put into this world has the power to do real world harm or healing. What story do you wish you had heard growing up?

How can theatre be used to transcend the world we are in and build a better future?

Known first for her work as a stage director, and more recently as a playwright and performer, Sayet's accolades as a theatre-maker include being named a Forbes 30 Under 30 in Hollywood & Entertainment, a TED Fellow, a MIT Media Lab Directors Fellow, NCAIED Native American 40 Under 40, a recipient of The White House Champion of Change Award from President Obama, the National Directors Fellowship and a National Arts Strategies' Creative Community Fellow.

Madeline is an Assistant Professor in the English Department at Arizona State University, and Executive Director of the Yale Indigenous Performing Arts Program (YIPAP). She currently a Resident Artist at Center Theatre Group and a member of Long Wharf Theatre’s Artistic Ensemble.

“Sayet is a captivating storyteller and an important voice”

Chicago Tribune

Director

Sayet is an innovative director of the stage and film, and her work has been praised by the Wall Street Journal as "enchanting," and the New York Times admired the "transparent and almost weightless" fluidity of the worlds she builds.

“…a wrenching meditation on appropriation, cultural genocide and how to best honor one’s ancestry.

— Washington Post on Where We Belong

Writer

Sayet’s work has been seen on stages across the nation and internationally, including The Public Theater and Shakespeare’s Globe.

Performer

Sayet is an acclaimed performer, nominated for the 2022 Jeff Award for Best Solo Performance.

Upcoming performances and events

February 15 - March 10, 2024

Where We Belong
Written and Performed by Madeline Sayet
Folger Theater
Washington, DC

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Current Press for Where We Belong at the Folger

“As presented in an institution dedicated to celebrating Shakespeare’s legacy, the gimlet-eyed perspective of “Where We Belong” feels right at home” - Washington Post

“A compelling and important work of theater” - DC Theater Arts

“As wonderful as Sayet’s script is, it’s her performance that truly elevates her words. There’s a closeness that comes from the openness in Sayet’s performance that feels entrancing, that pulls the audience in and invests them in her words.” - BroadwayWorld