Maddie Schafer plays Rosemary in "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying".

With a life-long love of music and theater, Maddie Schafer is excited to see where her triple-threat training takes her. Currently a high school senior, she fell in love with musical theater at the age of five, and spread her wings through elementary and middle school theater productions and community classes.

But when she found Lundstrum, she was hooked. According to her mother Katie, ’”The other schools we went to only focused on one or two areas, but at Lundstrum, they really embrace the whole person—actually the whole family—and all aspects of triple-threat skills training. Lundstrum teachers have performed at the highest levels, and they just see potential and want to nurture each kid at every level.”

With a natural musical talent and experience on stage, Maddie decided to focus on her third triple-threat skill: dancing. “I was not a dancer at all before I came to Lundstrum, not in the slightest. I liked choreography, and felt I was okay, and yet I never knew how much I could learn and keep learning to this day.” And that training is one of the things Maddie loves best about Lundstrum, noting “I’ve come far, but there’s still so much farther to go, to make sure I keep learning.”

Lundstrum Performing Arts Artistic Director, Kerry Casserly Carter agrees. “You can have all the talent in the word, but you have to keep training. If you put in the hard work, that’s what is most important in this business,” she said, adding that “Maddie is a perfect example of someone who is willing to keep working to improve.”

Maddie has continued to perform at her school, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, and this summer played the female lead, Rosemary Pilkington, in Lundstrum’s summer musical, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, directed by original Broadway cast member, Chrissy Fournier.

“Lundstrum has been such a good foundation for me in so many areas: working behind the scenes, taking dancing, singing and acting technique. It’s been incredible to take so many vigorous classes taught by professionals themselves,” Maddie said. “Here’s one example of the lessons I’ve learned at Lundstrum. When I was a freshman, I was chosen to be an understudy for Little Sally in the spring musical, Urinetown. The day of the dress rehearsal, I was told I was needed on stage as Little Sally. I wouldn’t have been able to go on that night without my Lundstrum training—both the self-confidence and ability to trust myself and let myself do what I love onstage. The hard work and determination I’ve learned from Lundstrum is something I’ll take with me wherever my future may lead.”

Her mother Katie agrees. She notes, “It’s all been a learning experience, but also so positive and so nurturing. Musical theater and triple-threat training is such good training in general. It teaches improvising on the job, problem solving, professional growth---all while still having fun and being joyful too.”
Looking to round out your triple-threat skills in a supportive environment? Lundstrum’s integrated curriculum classes are now enrolling for this fall! Visit our classes page for more information.

Embracing the Whole Person through Triple-Threat Training