Hello! I am Maddison Denault (she/they/them) whats this? . I am a Queer and Gender Fluid (and this?) Singer, Actor, Musician, and Makeup Artist based in Chicago.

I am originally from Bourbonnais, Illinois—about an hour south of downtown Chicago. There is where my love of music began. My mom says I was singing before I could even speak. I picked up a guitar at the age of seven, and have only picked up more instruments since. Thanks to the massive support of my parents, Perry and Sherry Denault, I was able to take my music and run with it! I grew up performing around Illinois and the Midwest singing and accompanying myself, occasionally joined/accompanied by my brother, PJ Denault.

On top of my solo performances, I was fortunate enough to be in many choral settings from a young age. This landed me in numerous church, performance, chamber, varsity, district and all-state choirs, and an a cappella group. In 2015, I became the first person from my high school to be chosen for the ILMEA Honors All-State Vocal Jazz Choir, 1 of 8 people in the state chosen for this honor. The full performance can be viewed here! We were directed by fabulous Christine Guter.

Also in high school, I branched out of being in just the music department and added Speech Team and Theatre to my repertoire! In 2012, I began my theatre journey playing ‘Joanne’ in Godspell. By the end of high school, I had been in 9 shows in just 4 short years. I was hooked and have hardly left the stage since. For Speech Team, I competed in Radio Speaking, where I took between 1st - 4th place at every tournament I competed in from 2014-2016. I then became a coach and judge from 2016-2020.

At the same time I also started picking up makeup brushes. I have had the opportunity to work on a few productions as a makeup designer such as Shrek and Willy Wonka—but it is something I have a passion for outside of theatre as well. I have been hired for special occasions such as photo shoots, proms, and weddings. I enjoy big lashes, colorful, fun, and unique looks. I am heavily influenced by a plethora Drag Artists, Scott Barnes, and The Welsh Twins. You can find different looks I’ve done around my website and on my MUA instagram, @MakeupByMadzDenault. For a more detailed history head over to the Makeup by Madz tab!

After high school I originally chose to attend Monmouth College double majoring in Music and Theatre, but ultimately followed my heart and transferred to Columbia College Chicago for a more focused B.F.A degree in Musical Theatre Performance my sophomore year. There I grew exponentially, met lifelong colleagues and friends, and (finally) came out as queer! In my time there, I became a founding member of The Beautiful City Project (TBCP) as their communications intern. TBCP is a charity dedicated to ‘beautifying’ the city of Chicago through the art of theatre, founded by my coach, colleague, and friend David Fiorello. Visit their website to learn more about them, attend their shows, and find out how you can help too!

I graduated with my Musical Theatre Performance B.F.A from Columbia College Chicago in May 2020. Throughout the pandemic I was able to keep my art alive through virtual cabarets and performances. And in October 2021, I was been able to return to in person performances. The first being “Columbia” in Haven Theatre’s Science Fiction Double Feature: Rocky Horror Picture Party, then I joined The Beautiful City Project for their Broadway Bluegrass show, and performed an original Cabaret of all Aerosmith music written/accompanied by David Fiorello at Davenports Piano Bar and Cabaret.

I made my professional Chicago Theatre Debut as the infamous Kathryn Merteuil in Cruel Intentions: The 90’s Musical with Kokandy Productions in June 2022 and could not have has a better time. During the run, I also had the opportunity to be a ‘New Face’ for Porchlight Music Theatre’s New Faces Sing Broadway 1971. I was chosen to sing on WGN as advertising for the show, the video can be found here!

I kept busy fall 2022 on a couple new musical workshops! Candlewood Lake by Tim Phillips and Carl Grose (of The Grinning Man which I am a big fan of so working with them was so surreal!) with Pemberley Productions, and Sinister by Lauren M. Gunderson and Joriah Kwamé with Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. I ended the year playing Barbara in Porchlight Revisits The Apple Tree.

January 2023, I received my first Jeff Award nomination for Best Performer in a Principal Role - Musical or Revue for Cruel Intentions. The production itself earning 7 total nominations.

While spending another summer with Kokandy doing The Spongebob Musical, I had the opportunity to be a part of a new work by Davon Suttles and Pete Campanelli It was a piece titled “Past the Heavens” which explored queer relationships through original and established gospel music and tap dancing. It was incredibly fulfilling and I cannot wait to see where this piece goes in the future. It was presented as part of The Memory Place with Pivot Arts at The Edge Theater I was apart of the gospel trio with Tiffany T. Taylor and Brandon Pisano. Some performance footage from the show can be found on my Videos page!

I wrapped up 2023 with Bright Lights, Big City in concert with The Beautiful City Project as Clara—benefiting Season of Concern and Shrek with Music Theater Works as Dragon. Two dream roles of mine!

As of January 2024, I am now represented by Lauren Smith at Talent X Alexander and I couldn’t be more thrilled!

Up Next: coming soon!

Tickets can be found on the Events page.

To stay up to date with my future endeavors keep an eye out here, or on my social media!