Madison Ferris
American actress
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Madison Ferris is an American actress, best known for portraying Laura Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie.
Madison Ferris | |
|---|---|
| Born | Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Muhlenberg College |
| Occupations | Actress, voice over artist, dancer |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Known for | The Glass Menagerie 2017 Revival |
Ferris moved to New York City, and got her first professional performance opportunity as a paid dancer at the Joyce Theater.[1] Ferris performed in two dance pieces, Ballet (New York) and The Show Must Go On by French choreographer Jerome Bel.[2][3]
Ferris has Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy and was the first wheelchair user to play a lead on Broadway.[4][5]
The Glass Menagerie
Ferris was traveling in Australia when the casting notice for Sam Gold's revival of The Glass Menagerie was announced.[1] Ferris flew back to the US for a callback, then was asked back again to read with the play's star, Sally Field.[2] A short time after, Ferris was cast in the role of Laura Wingfield.
Ferris made history as Broadway's first lead actor in a wheelchair.[4] The show opened with the house lights on as Amanda slowly brought Laura up the steps to the stage, right in front of the audience.[6] In discussing how she gave Laura agency, Ferris says,
"We discussed how to make her human, and how to make her a subject of the play rather than an object...We wanted her to be strong; we wanted her to have a voice, to have opinions, to love her family, to want to hang out with Jim O'Connor."[7]
