Cathy Madden is Principal Lecturer for the University of Washington’s Professional Actor Training Program, Director of the Alexander Technique Training and Performance Studio in Seattle, and Associate Director/Research Director for ATA/BodyChance (Japan, Australia). Her book Integrative Alexander Technique Practices for Performing Artists : Onstage Synergy was published by Intellect Ltd. in 2014.
She is a regular guest teacher for Alexander Technique training schools and Arts organizations in Australia, England, Germany, Japan, Scotland, Switzerland, Japan and the United States. She was a founding member of and is a former Chair of Alexander Technique International and currently serves as a Sponsoring Teacher and as Chair of the Vision/Mission committee.
Madden studied the Alexander Technique with Marjorie Barstow for nearly 20 years and served as her assistant in workshops in the U.S.A. and Europe. She has a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Penn State, and M.A. from Washington University in St. Louis in Drama and Literature, and did additional graduate study at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her published articles on Alexander Technique pedagogy appear in Congress Papers, Direction Magazine, and Theatre Topics. Her manuscript about her work in integrating the Alexander Technique in the Performing Arts is “in progress” at her publisher.
She has been a featured presenter/keynote speaker at International Congresses of the Alexander Technique, Alexander Technique International Annual General Meetings and for the Freedom to Act Conference. In 2012, she was the Keynote Speaker for the Inaugural Alexander Technique and Performing Arts Conference in Melbourne.
Cathy’s well-known abilities to observe and analyze movement in relationship to artistic performance has made her a popular coach in Seattle and internationally for musicians and dancers, speakers and teachers as well as actors.
She remains active as a director. While studying with Marjorie Barstow in Lincoln, Nebraska, she was Founder and Artistic Director of Washington Street Players Place, a theatre company that devised new work, and explored the application of the Alexander Technique to acting training and performance. She is currently a Creative Collaborator for Lucia Neare Theatrical Wonders (http://www.lucianeare.org/). Her most recent production was Jim Lapan’s one-person show, 25,000 Posts, and at the University her most recent productions have been At the Inland Sea, Lear’s Daughters, The Mill on the Floss, The Portrait The Wind The Chair, The Mischiefmakers, Mother Teresa is Dead, Far Away, Bold Girls, and Two Sisters and a Piano. She is currently working with a neuroscientist, physician/composer, choreographer/dancer on a a new work to be performed in 2015.
For Cathy’s complete biographical information, please see her website: http://www.cathymadden.net/