New Plays, Classics, Opera

Check Out the Fantastic New York Times review of Madeline's production of The Magic Flute at The Glimmerglass Festival here: At Glimmerglass Festival, Magic Flute is Among the Reimagined

Most Recent

Workshop Production of
The Neverland
Written and Directed by Madeline Sayet
Krannert Center, Illinois

An indigenous centered re-imagining of Peter Pan
Original Music by Ed Littlefield
Set by Emma Brutman
Costumes by Kelsea Andrade
Lighting by Zack Saunders
Media by M Ospina Lopez
Sound by Kayla Sierra Lee & Abbey Nettleton
Photos by Darrell Hoemann

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Antigone

(or And Still She Must Rise Up)

Adapted and Directed by Madeline Sayet

November 2020

Butler University

Based on Antigone by Sophocles, re-imagined for our 2020 moment.

Set by Rob Koharchik

Costumes by Megan Wiegand

Lighting by Bram Sheckels

Sound by Kelly Schmidt

Stage Management by DJ Barrett

Photos by Zach Rosing

Shakespeare's

Henry IV 1 & 2

Adapted and Directed by Madeline Sayet

Connecticut Repertory Theatre

Scenic Design by Kristen P. E. Zarabozo

Lights by Samuel Biondolillo

Costumes by Jessica Haswell

Sound by Katie Salerno

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"Connecticut Repertory Theatre is fighting the good fight with its fresh, spirited and raw production of “Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2.” Sayet, CT Rep and a strong cast lift a history play into modern political theater territory."

- Review: Henry IV Wages Spirit War (And Practices Gender Equality) at CT Rep The Hartford Courant

The World Premiere of

Whale Song

by Cathy Tagnak Rexford

Perseverance Theatre

Directed by Madeline Sayet

Choreography by Hali Duran

Lights by Art Rotch

Sets by Akiko Rotch

Costumes by Asa Benally

Sound by Rory Stitt

"I’d argue the concept alone means the play written by Cathy Tagnak Rexford and directed by Madeline Sayet deserves to sell out Madison Square Garden"

"Uniformly strong performances from the cast mean that it absolutely should draw full theaters in Juneau."

- Juneau Empire

She Kills Monsters

by Qui Nguyen

Connecticut Repertory Theatre

Directed by Madeline Sayet

Puppets by Zachary Broome

Lights by Teddy Carraro

Sets by Anna Brewster

Costumes by Darby Newsome

Sound by Mitchell Prescott

"There are many laughs to be had. . . Light entertainment with dungeon dark themes."

"These are marvelous puppets, moving in ways you don't expect and adding a shiny frenzy to the show."

- The Hartford Courant

Opera

Sayet has directed critically successful new productions of The Magic Flute and the Coronation of Poppea

Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea)

Music by Claudio Monteverdi

Lyric Theatre at Krannert Center

Directed by Madeline Sayet

Costumes by Sharne Van Ryneld

Lights by Chris Wood

Scenic by Amber Shue

Projections by John Boesche

"The singing, scenery, and subject matter made this show especially helpful at the end of a particularly tough day." - Smile Politely, Illinois

Full Smile Politely Review Here

"The Stage action was adroitly directed by Madeline Sayet" - John Frayne, News Gazette

More on Poppea Here in News Gazette

Poppea Video Interview

Mozart's The Magic Flute

Glimmerglass Festival

New English Translation by Kelley Rourke

Director: Madeline Sayet

Conductor: Carolyn Kuan

Choreographer: Eric Sean Fogel

Scenic Design: Troy Hourie

Costumes: Kaye Voyce

Lighting: Mark Mcullough

"It was itself magical. With the goals of the spiritual trials now being self-discovery, self-possession and self-sufficiency, most of the pseudo-religious mystical baggage simply fell away.

Ms. Sayet’s direction is transparent and almost weightless. Once she sets her bold concept in motion, with Tamino in a business suit, lifted from his urban setting and dropped into the forest unawares, the rest of the action follows naturally." - James R. Oestreich, The New York Times

"Madeline Sayet’s enchanting production of “The Magic Flute,” taking its cues lightly from Native American tradition, is about finding wisdom and clarity in the natural world. Kelley Rourke’s charmingly fresh English translation sets the tone, eliminating the libretto’s anachronisms and the sexism but preserving its Enlightenment themes." - Heidi Waleson, The Wall Street Journal

Magic Flute at Glimmerglass Festival

Photo by Karli Cadel

Magic Flute at Glimmerglass Festival

Photo by Karli Cadel

Magic Flute at Glimmerglass Festival

Photo by Karli Cadel

Magic Flute at Glimmerglass Festival

Photo by Karli Cadel

New Plays

Sayet has a nationally recognized career developing new plays that has included work at The Public Theater, The Lark Play Development Center, O'Neill Theater Center, TheatreSquared, Orlando Shakespeare, Perseverance Theatre, 59E59, HERE Arts, Ars Nova

DAUGHTERS OF LEDA

As the seasons change and Persephone returns to the underworld, a mortal girl arrives at the same time asking questions that turn history upside down. The Fates have a game up their sleeve - they are tired, they need a vacation. But in order to leave, they have to give the stories they exploited back. In a whirlwind of events, Adam & Eve, Leda & the Swan, Helen, Clytemnestra, Iphigenia, and Electra all come together to choose their own destinies and finally tell their side of the stories that have instilled fear of feminine knowledge for far too long.

Written and Directed by Madeline Sayet

Starring: Lauren Annunziata, Alexandra Bailey, Andi Bohs, Claire Burke, Brett Hecksher, Michelle Honaker, Megan Lee, Pamela Weingarden

Set - You-Shin Chen

Costumes - Lux Haac

Lights - Evan Roby

Sound - Emily Auciello

Stage Manager - Jenn Jacobs

Photos by Isaiah Tannenbaum

When Philbert, a local misfit, is asked to travel with Buddy to rescue Buddy's sister from jail, the unlikely pair set out on a roundabout journey from the Cheyenne Reservation in Montana to New Mexico. POWWOW HIGHWAY is a funny and heartfelt story about being there for each other and finding ones faith where you least expect it.

Powwow Highway, by William S Yellow Robe Jr,

Based on the novel by David Seals

Directed by Madeline Sayet

HERE Arts

Katie McCartney is 18 and sick. After just one semester away at college, she is forced to return to the family home in the Tri-State Mining District to grapple with a debilitating illness. While in the hospital, Katie meets a member of the Quapaw Tribe, who encourages her to reclaim her own Native American roots. Katie learns that her illness and her identity are inextricably woven into the soil of the land. Set in and inspired by an EPA Superfund site in the Midwest, MISS LEAD is a cautionary tale of environmental malfeasance built on the back of a broken American dream.