Meet Madeline Evans

We recently connected with Madeline Evans and have shared our conversation below.

Madeline , so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

From a young age, I knew I loved and was energized by people. I volunteered every chance I could at school and church from elementary to high school, and, when I was old enough, started coaching summer team swim league and kid’s basketball. I coached sports for a combination of 9 years, and the best part of it was unlocking someone’s hidden potential and empowering them to soar to new heights and believe in themselves. I always loved to make people smile and feel seen, and coaching was a combination of using my goofiness and attentiveness to bring out the best in people. As a relatively shy person growing up, I found joy in bringing other people in and elevating them, making them feel understood and interesting. I recently realized that that is why improv has always spoken to me, especially the instruction portion. Not only is it the ability to perform and play in the imaginary without judgement, but every idea onstage is celebrated, no one goes unseen, and people feel valued.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am an Atlanta-based improv performer, producer, teacher and corporate instructor whose focus is centered around the principles “You are enough,” and “Chase Joy.” I also perform standup and sketch comedy in addition to acting.

One time I had one of my own instructors say that we teach the things we need to hear most. As a teacher, I don’t come with all the answers. I tell my students that I am learning alongside them, especially since I know the pursuit of joy and believing that you are interesting enough to exist and belong in the room can be a hard realization. I love to reiterate that we all have unique experiences that have shaped our voices and points of view, and bringing them together is where the magic happens. You belong and should take up space. And let’s also let go of any judgement and barriers of ourselves and others to play freely while we do that!

My goal as a performer is to perform as much as possible, and to create community. I have been improvising for over 15 years and teaching along the way. In those 15 years, I have been a part of a number of successful indie teams (Camp Crush, Edgewood Avenue + more) and started working alongside Dad’s Garage as a teacher, corporate team member, occasional performer, and company member.

I also officially began my own improv program in 2022 where I have been fortunate enough to work alongside over 150 driven individuals who strive to grow and support their community. The show I created and produce, born out of a desire to connect the standup and improv communities, as well as a goal to perform with and connect talent from all corners of the city, has exponentially grown from smaller venues to the mainstage at Dad’s Garage, with up to 160 attendees in the audience. My show, “Road Trip: improv based on stories,” features a rotating cast of some of the most seasoned and up and coming improvisers in Atlanta, and has featured storytellers from Comedy Central, Conan, HBO, The Tonight Show, and more. The best part about this show is the energy. Everyone is excited to play with and lift up one another’s offers, and the crowd is THERE. FOR. IT. ALL. People from all corners of the community come out to laugh, support, and even hang after the show. It’s really been a beautiful thing to witness, especially in the resurgence of theater since 2020.

Road Trip is monthly, and the three year anniversary celebration show is on May 9th at Dad’s Garage! Follow @roadtripimprov on Instagram for more information.

You can also find more show and class information, as well as testimonials on my website: www.madsjoy.me. I teach a Foundational Class that helps both seasoned and new improvisers sharpen their skills and break free from mental blocks. I gently guide people to access their best selves on and offstage in a fun, playful manner. I also teach a Continuous class to continue building off of the foundation of the Foundational class where we continue to explore improv philosophies, tools for our toolbelt, and formats. Alongside these main classes, I also lead Corporate workshops for an array of industries. I recently was hired for an event with a financial industry because the contact saw how in my classes and shows I have cultivated an energetic, supportive, and positive community. Similar to my classes, my Corporate workshops reiterate team building and that your voice is valuable and should be in the conversation.

I sometimes forget all the progress that my past self would be in awe of because I am in a rush to grow more myself and chase every opportunity possible, but, when I slow down, I realize I really am living the dream, and making a positive impact while I am at it. A phrase I constantly say in class is “Everything is a gift,” and this mentality is so important in improv and life.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Never stop growing. And, with that, give yourself grace as you grow. Even experts in their field are continuously seeking knowledge and failing. The minute you think you’ve made it, you’ll uncover an entire range of opportunities to unlock. With any new skill or experience, we are going to feel ourselves challenged and stretched in positive and sometimes negative ways. Growth is uncomfortable, but being on the other end is worth it. Give yourself grace to be stretched, frustrated, and defeated as you learn to overcome adversity and come out the other side stronger, wiser, and more compassionate towards yourself and others. A lot of what I teach and share is exactly the lesson I need to learn. There are so many aspects of this business beyond performing. It’s filled with rejection, judgement, business decisions, and so many things that are out of your control, so how do we give ourselves grace, reframe the negative into the positive, pursue the joy, and move on. Remember, everything is a gift.

2. Know who you are. My mom loves to remind me of this when I get swept in the whirlwind of self criticism or let external factors determine my value. Know that you are interesting, belong in the room, and are rooted in good. I like to remind my students to remember what brought them to this activity in the first place – FUN. If it isn’t fun, reevaluate your priorities and energy – what serves your energy versus takes away from it? Something like improv is about connection, community, and love, and it’s important to remember and be reminded of that. You belong in the space, and you deserve to be celebrated.

3. Create your own path. If you care about what you do, you have the power to make it happen. Don’t let closed doors keep you from pursuing what you love. My journey has been fueled by passion and determination. The group I started with formed such a solid reputation that put us all on the map, and then my desire to connect and grow kept me going to every jam or take all the performance opportunities, leading to where I am today. Most of my success resulted in me not waiting, but doing. As Shia famously said, ‘DO IT” (if it makes you happy)! The right people and opportunities will find you. Just keep showing up and doing good work. Two quotes I strive to live by are Steve Martin’s “Be so good they can’t ignore you,” and Conan’s “If you work hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.”

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

I’m still figuring out what “success” means to me since people define it differently. I’ve truly been able to make an impact on the Atlanta improv community because of the talented people who trust me to guide them through a part of their journey. So thank you to all of my students who push me to be better to best serve them.

Another thank you is in store to every teammate I have had over the years. Improv is all about “having each other’s backs,” and I’ve been fortunate to play and learn from a number of talented, driven people throughout the years. The beginning of my journey started in high school thanks to the improv program and my sister, and then in college I was on a team that practiced and performed different styles and philosophies up to three times a week. Getting those kinds of reps in front of crowds up to sometimes 200 people really was groundbreaking for my foundation. We also pushed ourselves to learn everything – reading books, traveling to festivals, and obsessing over comedy podcasts. That independent drive led to several independent groups and my hunger to get involved when I moved to Atlanta. There is a lot that goes into performing and shaping your journey as an artist, and it can be heartbreaking and challenging. I am continually shaped into a better version of myself by working with inspirational, empathetic, and encouraging partners. One of those people is my Camp Crush partner, Brett Schultz, an actor, writer, director, and dear friend and improviser. He truly sees and cares about people and is a fantastic communicator, which is imperative for a growing partnership. We challenge each other on and offstage to be better (I am so lucky).

Atlanta is still growing when it comes to the general public’s exposure to improv and that can be a challenge when it comes to producing, so all of the fellow leaders, producers, and theaters that are fighting the good fight to create quality performances, marketing, experiences, and opportunities to put improv more on the map deserve a shout out. We all are working together to make Atlanta improv the best. Some of these theaters offer jams where improvisers can play with a group of strangers, and that is where I learned to be the best improviser I could be. Whether I was playing with a seasoned player or a newbie, I learned to play with anyone, lift them up, and make them shine (which is my favorite part about playing). Using jams as a gym to harness certain skill sets certainly expedited my growth. (Special shout out to my current class’s venue: Bibliotech! Awesome bookstore by day, but amazing improv space at night! I love collaborating with the owner.)

Lastly, I have been fortunate to have some solid comedic mentors. When I moved to Atlanta, I quickly met Atlanta comedy staple, Mark Kendall. He is the funniest, busiest person in Atlanta, and is somehow still so generous with his time, expertise, and energy. During the pandemic, he was my accountability buddy for the Artist’s Way, where we zoomed weekly to talk about my artistic growth. It doesn’t matter if I have professional or personal questions, he is always there to listen, advise, and inspire others (all the while making insanely good, hilarious, and meaningful content – you can check out his company, CoolCoolCool Productions). I also want to shout out David Perdue, an Atlanta standup. Both of these men are such pros at what they do and have the best hearts and wisest advice. I truly am so thankful for them, and anyone who has taken the time to answer my questions, listen to my experience, or provide insights.

So mentors, jams, workshops, podcasts, books, and, most importantly, my teams, partners, and positive relationships (like my family and friends) have helped me develop the essential skills to succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.madsjoy.me/
• Instagram: @madsimprov + @roadtripimprov
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@madevans77

Image Credits

First 5 photos are Sketchety.Shots

Corporate Workshop (Yellow pants photo) is Darryl Bradshaw

Puppet Photo is Edgewood Avenue