Get to know TAS Coach (& Front Desk Assistant), Madison Stuckey

All of our acting coaches are highly qualified working actors who participate in the Film/TV industry in a variety of ways, in addition to coaching acting classes. But we want to give you a more in-depth look at who they are as people.

This month we are sharing some insights that will help answer the question,

“Who Is Madison Stuckey?” Read on to find out!

What Makes You Feel Confident?

Preparation is always a great place to start. I feel most confident when I’m passionate about what I’m doing and I can have fun with it. At the end of the day, reminding myself of where I’ve come and trying to be authentic and in the moment keeps me sane.

How did you first get into acting?

Through theatre first, like many other actors! I have always loved telling stories and admired how they can connect people.Through storytelling, I can live a thousand lives and get to play and build worlds with other people.

What has been your biggest struggle in the industry?

Learning the technical differences between theatre acting and on camera acting and putting it into practice was definitely a challenge. I started in theatre, then focused mainly on acting for Film/Tv at SCAD, and I’ve been trying to practice switching between the two regularly ever since. I would also say developing myself as an artist and individual has been a journey, but that’s life.

What advice do you have for others who are in the process of developing their skills as an actor?

I still am tackling it! Practice helps a lot, but so does personal growth and life-experience. I hope to be a life-long student and never stop growing and learning. Additionally, improv is an incredible tool that changed my life. I urge everyone to give it a chance, I believe it helps make people more connected with the world and those around them.

Check out Dad's Garage take on The Christmas Carol in a family friendly matinee.

December 14, 21, & 22. Click below for more details.

Besides acting, do you pursue any other interests in the entertainment industry?

Oh my gosh, yes. I have always enjoyed writing, and it was going to be part of my degree at one point during college, until I switched into a Film/TV minor. Most of my writing has been comedy and sketches, but I would love to branch out into writing plays and longer films/episodic content! Producing (mainly pre-production) was what I had the most experience in when it came to working crew in college. I love the team-building and organizational aspects of it, and as hard as it is to pull off, it sure is rewarding! Directing wasn’t something I realized I wanted to do until I started working at TAS, actually. Coaching actors through our taping services has made me realize how much I love to direct, so it’s one of the many hats I would like to try on in the future.

How did you come to The Actor's Scene?

I first found TAS as a private student (Shoutout to my former coach, Sanna Erica!) while still in high school, because of my long-time best friend and current TAS Coach Molly Pass! Fast forward to earlier this year when I started my current position as a Front Desk Assistant. Since then, I have also become a Taping Coach, and I’d have to say that’s my favorite part of the job. The joy I get from helping students grow in their careers and hearing of their successes is unmatched. We have so many talented students!

What is one bit of advice that you always love to share?

Please do not be afraid to take risks and step out of your comfort zone, both in life and in your creative choices. Embarrass yourself often in the name of comedy! Find a way to practice self-taping and “play Casting Director” with other actors. Coaching students in tapings fundamentally changed the way I approach on camera acting and self-tapes and taught me many invaluable lessons. Try not to do more than three takes when self-taping. It will save you from a lot of frustration in the audition and headaches when you go to edit.

What is an acting accomplishment that makes you proud?

Reflecting on all of the projects I’ve been able to be a part of and where I’ve come as an artist in general over the last five years brings me a lot of joy and pride! I’m very proud to have worked with so many talented creatives. At TAS, I’m overwhelmed with pride anytime students report back to me with their successes or tell me about what projects they’re working on!

What do you hope that your coaching legacy will be?

I would love to help grow confidence in the students at TAS and help them achieve success not only as well-rounded actors, but also as well-rounded artists. I want to foster a fun, safe space where everyone is welcome to have a seat at the table. The community that I have always found in theatre and creative spaces changed my life, and I hope that students at TAS can find that community here.

Finally, do you have any acting resources that you love?

I’m a big reader, so most of these will be books. For those looking for non-book resources, I recommend the Armchair Expert podcast. They always have a rotation of phenomenal guests. I also recommend an app called Actions: The Actor’s Thesaurus. I still pull this app out from time to time when I’m breaking down my action verbs in a script and I need synonyms that either are stronger or will make my choices more specific.

Book List:

The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual by Matt Besser, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh. My copy is super worn from how much I’ve used this over the years. It’s an easy read and funny!
Directing Actors by Judith Weston. Despite the name, this is definitely a book actors will benefit from. It is sectioned into small parts, which makes it easy to read, and it has so much helpful information packed in it.
Producer to Producer by Maureen A. Ryan. Not an acting book, but a FANTASTIC resource for anyone interested in producing or filmmaking in general. (Hint hint: OSE students!)
The Great Acting Teachers and Their Methods by Richard Brestoff. A great overview!
Tips: Ideas for Actors by Jon Jory. It is also packed full of information!
How to Audition On Camera by Sharon Bialy. The industry has definitely changed since this book was published, especially post-Covid, but this is still a great read.

Madison Stuckey Bio:

Since a young age, Madison has held a strong passion for all forms of art, but she was particularly fascinated with movies and the characters within them. She fell in love with theatre in high school and began to search for any way to keep herself involved- whether onstage or in the wings. She was introduced to TAS by Coach Molly in 2017, and was amazed by the welcoming and supportive environment fostered by all of the coaches at TAS.

In 2023, Madison received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performing Arts with minors in Casting and Film & Television from the Savannah College of Art and Design. In her time at SCAD, Madison further discovered her love of voiceover, improv and comedy. Madison was heavily involved with the improv department from 2018-2023, taking on leadership roles and becoming a student coach under the supervision of David Storck. She worked on SCAD animated projects, short films and in multiple sketch groups over the years. In her senior year, she was a part of a student-written and performed sketch show directed by Matt Walsh.

Get to know TAS Coach (& Front Desk Assistant), Madison Stuckey