Today we’d like to introduce you to Gideon Madison.
Hi Gideon, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My momma and my grandparents raised me. They have always been highly encouraging of me and my creativity. As a kid, I loved playing pretend and making stories with my toys. It was how I felt most free to be myself. I was very shy and introverted. I was an observer of people, always admiring them from afar, wondering how I fit in. My family also loves the arts, from music, film, literature, to fine arts. Growing up, they always told me to “do what I loved and to never settle for less”. Movies were always an escape for me. I was the type of kid to watch a film on repeat. Films like “Spider-Man” in my youth completely encapsulated me. And watching movies like ‘Kill Bill’ when I was far too young showed me what filmmaking could be. My momma was also an actress and a very good one. She was the person who introduced me to acting. I had no idea people could be paid to be a part of stories and make a living. A core memory of mine was watching one of her commercials she had put on for me. She played a nursing student talking about her experience at the school. I was amazed by how my momma transformed on screen. She was the first actor I looked up to. A seed was planted. I wouldn’t give acting a shot until I was in high school. My parents continued to encourage me to try it. So, in my sophomore year, I decided to audition for the fall musical, “Shrek The Musical”. I didn’t know what to expect, but the drama club welcomed me with open arms. I was cast as Pig #1. This silly little show changed my life.
Watching my upperclassmen work was terrific. I saw their dedication and discipline on full display. I went on to be in almost every show during my junior and senior years. I even did competitive drama. My forensics coach, Amanda Derickson, was really encouraging. My theatre teacher, Randy Jackson, helped me get cast in my first professional theatre show called ‘Memphis’ with The Black Repertory of Kansas City when I graduated. Working with TBRKC was genuinely fantastic. I got to work with Union actors for the first time and see what the theatre world outside of high school was like. All the actors treated me so well. They made sure I was taken care of, and whenever I needed a ride, they came through for me.
Damron Armstrong, the founder of the rep, is such a kind man with a real passion for storytelling. I believe having the privilege of working on a show primarily composed of black actors was integral to my growth. It was a reminder that our stories are meant to be told. Those talented triple-threat actors showed me amazing examples of what it meant to be a black actor. In high school, there were about 3-4 of us who were African American, so to see their hard work and expertise meant so much to me. They showed me what was possible. Soon after this, I auditioned for The Laramie Project with The Barn Players. I get the parts of Jedadiah Schultz. Stephen Belber and Russell Henderson. My first time playing an antagonist. The pandemic hit, and we postponed the show a year. We had to perform with mask shields. This experience was unique because the cast was fortunate to speak with someone who was involved in the real events in the play. We talked with the real Father Roger Schmit over Zoom, who gave us his blessing to tell the story. This moment in particular was so important for me as an actor because I felt actively a part of the story we were telling. It was a reminder that as an actor, I’m fortunate to tell stories to honor real-life events. To tell the story of the murder of Matthew Shepard was a privilege. It was a rewarding experience. Rest in peace, Matthew Shepard. I acted in a couple more one-act plays, but I was interested in breaking into the film world. I had no idea how to get started. It wasn’t until I met my friend Devin Judin, a young filmmaker, that I started acting in film. We met in the men’s group at church. We got acquainted, and he cast me in his first couple of short films called ‘Ushers: at the Drive-in’ and ‘In His Hands’ (not released). This would lay the groundwork for my film career. I never attended film school, so I took these opportunities as a chance to learn as much as I could about the craft of film. The first film, a light-hearted comedy in which I co-starred, led to a lead role in a dramatic film about an overworked, depressed man. These experiences were what I needed to feel confident in front of the camera. I also made sure to network within my local community with the IFCKC. They host monthly meetings at The Bird Comedy theatre, and that’s where I got connected with the KC film community. There, I met Andrea Fantauzzi, my friend and mentor. She is very knowledgeable about the business. She helped me strategize how to market myself within film. She taught me a lot about headshots and edited my acting reels. I even signed up for an actor talent showcase to put myself out there. I booked the A$AP Rocky music video “RIOT (Rowdy Pipe’n).” I got the chance to meet him, and he told me my chain was hard. This experience showed me KC was getting bigger within film. I knew I had to capitalize as best I could. I learned quickly in film, and I also learned that sometimes you have to pick up new skills on set on the day of shooting. For a western film I did called “One in Six”, I had to learn how to ride a horse. This was also the first film I played in which I used a southern dialect. Around this time, I got the pleasure of working with the amazing AGA Productions. Owned by Khalid Abdulaqaadir and Corey McCartney, they’re a veteran-owned production company here in KC. They center stories about black and brown communities. The first project I ever worked on with them was their acclaimed short film “After These Messages”. The film was accepted into the American Black Film Festival in 2024, hosted by Issa Rae with special guest Denzel Washington. It was executive-produced by Talib Kweli and Oscar-winning writer Kevin Wilmott. Although I had such a small role in this project, I was and am so grateful to have been a part of it. It was the winner of The Black & Unlimited Fatherhood Project. This was a sign that things were escalating to a new level. 2024 was a very pivotal year for me. I signed with Talented Unlimited. Through them, I booked big brands such as Coca-Cola, T-Mobile, and Colgate. Through these projects, I later became SAG-AFTRA eligible. Through Talented Unlimited, I also booked my first senior capstone film at KU, “Tammi Terrel,” where I played David Ruffin. I started training at the Ronin Stunt Company as a trainee. I trained in hand-to-hand, sword, and tactical/gunplay. I also booked a background for the movie “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. Which led to me being promoted to a stand-in. I was fortunate enough to work closely with the actors and see how a real big-budget film was made. The actors were so kind. I watched Tyler Hynes and Hunter King work as much as I could. I loved the way the cast and crew worked. It was fun and light-hearted throughout. Later that year, I received another opportunity to work with and meet some greats in the industry. At a workshop called Foresight Film & Music, I met Willie D. Burton, an Oscar-winning audio engineer. His business partner, Dorez Douglas, is now one of my mentors. I’m so grateful to have had that opportunity. Special thank you to Bukkeka Blakemore, the host of the workshop and owner of FAVunite. Soon after, on an immersive haunt called Exiled: Rose Crooked Woods. I got an opportunity to work with horror legend Darren Lyn Bousman of the “Saw” franchise. This experience was unique in that I got to interact with new participants every night, doing continuous improv. I played a villain named Maximilian. The haunt had two groups of characters: the Redcurves and the Elites. The Redcurves were a group of country folk who worshiped old gods and rejected modern society. The Elites were powerful people dressed in suits who took ownership of their land to make a carnival. I got to interact with new participants every night with prepared material and a lot of improvisation. This haunt tested my endurance as an actor and taught me how to stay in the story for long periods. Around the time of this haunt, I also booked my first theatrically released feature film, ‘The Jester 2.’ I had auditioned for a completely different role, but the director, Colin Krawchuk, liked my performance so much that he decided to put me in the very first scene to kick off the film. It was filmed in Rocheport, MO. I didn’t know it at the time of filming, but a year later (September 2025), it would get distributed through Fathom for two days. I was so thrilled to find that out. The film was even shown in Türkiye. I was and am so proud of myself, and to think I did it in my home state of Missouri is still insane to me. I got a group of family & friends together and watched the film at a local AMC. The whole experience was surreal. Which leaves me now, just coming off of my 3rd senior capstone film at KU called ‘I Don’t Feel Funny’ directed by Jack Newlin. In which I play a grieving comedian. Over the summer, I also did my first action short film with the Ronin Stunt Company. Retribution: A Star Wars Fan Film directed by Noah Barrette. It was my first time stunt doubling. And my latest theatre endeavor, ‘Macbeth directed by Keyon Monte, where I played the role of Malcolm. I’m trying to keep my creative momentum going. 2025 started with a red carpet premiere for a film I had a small part in called “My Cherie Amour”. The event was held at B&B Theaters in Power & Light, and it was incredible. It felt like Hollywood in KC. I hope that, moving into the new year, I can continue to broaden my audience and increase my visibility. I want to embrace what I know I’m capable of fully. Within this craft, I wish to create performances that outlive me. I wanna connect with the human spirit through characters who offer perspective and a new understanding of themselves and the people around them. I truly love what I do. I thank God every day. Throughout my creative journey, Christ has always been a constant in my life. All the people mentioned, and those I haven’t, I thank you all! My fellow actors constantly inspire me. And of course, every crew and stagehand. I love the collaborative experience of storytelling; it’s so beautiful. I’m refining my skills and learning day by day. I’m so excited for what’s to come!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It wasn’t smooth sailing throughout my journey. As I mentioned, I didn’t go to film school. I wanted to go to New York to study theatre. During my senior year, I auditioned for AMDA Performing Arts and wasn’t accepted. I was disappointed, but I was well aware that the acceptance rate was 24.3% so I knew my odds. After performing in ‘Memphis,’ I decided to take a break from acting. I enrolled in Penn Valley Community College for a school year, and it was hard for me to stay motivated. Without my craft, I felt very empty. I felt my goal was this impossibly tall mountain that I didn’t have the tools to climb. I fell into a depression. During the school year, I had to take a mental health break. My therapist at the time insisted I do so for my own well-being. During this break, I had to dismantle my feeling of unworthiness.
I finished the school year, but I was still questioning my path. I eventually decided not to go back. I knew this was gonna be a tough decision for my grandparents to accept because I had always been encouraged to pursue higher education. They didn’t understand it, but they supported my decision. I continued to work my job at the Kauffman Center of Performing Arts as a Busser/Runner in the restaurant and at events. The Pandemic hits and slows life down. And then a year passes, and I get back into acting with The Laremie Project and some one-act plays. My confidence was coming back, and I felt I was back on my purpose. Life throws a curveball: my grandpa gets sick. He developed cardiovascular disease. This led me to become a caretaker for both of my grandparents. This was very difficult for me to cope with. It reminded me of my grandparents’ mortality and that my time with them was limited. He almost passed away, but by the grace of God, he survived. It was hard because I felt I could barely take care of myself. When the lockdown ended, I started going to church and spending more time with God. Luckily, I was redeveloping my relationship with God before he got sick. I would pray for strength and guidance so I could be the man my family needed me to be. His health stabilizes, but another tragedy strikes. Our house catches fire. I was about to leave, but as I was getting ready, I saw smoke from my window. And then I see flames. I rush my grandparents out of the house. This experience is challenging for me to recall because of how traumatic it was. It was one of the worst moments of my life. The house was just paid off, and it was going to be mine when my grandparents passed. A family friend, Jeron, took in my grandparents. My best friend, Ezekiel, came and picked me up, and I started living with him downtown. I had just gotten a new job at G-Fiber, and I was set to begin the very next day. My whole life changed in seconds. It was a lot to process, and it did a toll on my mental health. I started working and getting used to being a sales rep, which was a bit of a learning curve. I began in a new role that the company had just established, which doubled as customer service. I thank God for the stability the job provided me after going through that. Without God, I wouldn’t have the strength to keep going. I owe Him, my family & friends, so much. I spent 2 years at G-Fiber and got signed, booked work, and built my confidence. Every challenge I’ve faced, I have come out the other side a better man.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an actor who likes to challenge himself and push boundaries. I have never wanted to be put in a box. In terms of roles, I’m always open to playing the protagonist, antagonist, or something in between. I believe my theatre experience can set me apart from other actors with little to no experience. At heart, I am a theatre actor. It’s the purest form of acting performance. It demands the ability to be present. It is truly an actor’s medium as opposed to film being a filmmaker’s medium. Early on in my acting journey, I made sure to read about my craft as well as rehearse and perform. Ive read ‘An Actor Prepares’ by Konstantin Stanislavski and ‘The Art of Acting’ by Stella Adler. I follow “The System,” which is where the Method technique in acting comes from. It’s comprehensive in developing characters. To me, this is my preferred way of approaching different roles because it’s simply fun. I like taking the time to create characters. One thing I will never do is treat my coworkers like crap because I feel I need to live through a character fully. That behavior isn’t necessary. I love to encourage everyone I work with. I like to carry an energy that uplifts my fellow artists. On every new set, I find myself giving perspective and advice to any actor who asks. New actors just getting in the business and old. I believe, as artists, this is what we must do. We’re all on a journey to have our work be seen and be a part of things much greater than ourselves. When I can recognize that in my fellow actors, I never hesitate to share what I can.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I like best about our city is definitely our arts scene. I’ve met such talented people in KC. The artists around me inspire me so much. The people here are kind & passionate about what they do. We’re truly underrated in so many ways. Kansas City is a smaller city with a lot of might. I love our food scene. There’s always more to be done, though. I really dislike the roads and how people drive. There are potholes and construction everywhere, on top of folks driving all types of crazy. Another thing our city must address is the homeless population. There are a lot of folks where I grew up on The Paseo who are roaming the streets. I try to help them when I can. I recently did some community harvesting with KC Defender, KC Black Urban Growers, and the Ivanhow Neighborhood. A Sunfresh had closed, which limited resources for the local community. If I had a bigger platform, it would be an honour to give back to my community in more impactful ways. I hope and pray our city can put more focus on the lower-income neighborhoods. Kansas City can come together when we start recognizing each other’s needs. Ive seen it first hand. That said, I still believe our positives outweigh the negatives. The city is growing quickly in the arts. I see actors, musicians, painters, and filmmakers all building their platforms, and it’s genuinely amazing to witness. It keeps me focused seeing them work. I love my city and i wanna do what i can to give back to it, anyway i can.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://gideonmadison.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gideonmadison/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gideon.madison.1/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gideon-madison-65a268317/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GideonMadison
