Stephen Ross Madsen (born 15 August 1992) is an Australian actor. He is best known for his role as Jason "J.D." Dean in the Australian production of '' Heathers: The Musical'', and for originating the role of Alexander Shkuratov in the musical ''

Muriel's Wedding ''Muriel's Wedding'' is a 1994 comedy-drama film written and directed by P.J. Hogan. The film, which stars Toni Collette, Bill Hunter and Rachel Griffiths, focuses on the socially awkward Muriel whose ambition is to have a glamorous wedding ...

''.

Early life and education

Madsen is the son of Sally, a doctor, and Ross, growing up in

Mona Vale, New South Wales Mona Vale is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 28 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in an area known as the Northern Beaches. Formerly the administrative centre of Pittwater Cou ...

. As a child he attended Mona Vale Primary School and, later,

Manly Selective Campus The Manly Selective Campus of the Northern Beaches Secondary College is a Education in Australia#Government schools, government-funded Mixed-sex school, co-educational Selective school (New South Wales), academically selective secondary school, ...

. Madsen graduated from the

Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at Edith Cowan University (ECU) is a performing arts school in Perth, Western Australia. Established in 1980, it is notable for being the most comprehensive performing arts school in Aus ...

in 2014.

Career

Madsen made his Sydney theatre debut as Jason "J.D." Dean in the Australian premiere of '' Heathers: The Musical'' at the

Hayes Theatre The Hayes Theatre is a 111-seat theatre specialising in music theatre and cabaret in Potts Point, Sydney, Australia. It is named after the Australian performer Nancye Hayes. Hayes Theatre Co was established at the former ''Darlinghurst Theatre' ...

in 2015. That same year, he portrayed Mark Cohen in ''

Rent Rent may refer to: Economics *Renting, an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary use of a good, service or property *Economic rent, any payment in excess of the cost of production *Rent-seeking, attempting to increase one's share of e ...

''; also at the

. In 2016, Madsen returned to the role of Jason Dean for a national tour of '' Heathers: The Musical'' at the

Queensland Performing Arts Centre The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (also known as QPAC) is part of the Queensland Cultural Centre and is located on the corner of Melbourne Street and Grey Street in Brisbane's South Bank precinct. Opened in 1985, it includes the Lyric Thea ...

Arts Centre Melbourne Arts Centre Melbourne, originally known as the Victorian Arts Centre and briefly called the Arts Centre, is a performing arts centre consisting of a complex of theatres and concert halls in the Melbourne Arts Precinct, located in the central M ...

, and the

Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue Performing arts center, performing arts centre in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Located on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, it is widely regarded as one of the world's most famous and distinctive b ...

. He subsequently appeared in

Sport For Jove Theatre Company Sport For Jove Theatre Company is an Australian theatre company. It was founded in 2008 by Damien Ryan (actor/director) and Terry Karabelas (actor/director). The company stages the works of William Shakespeare and other classical and new Australia ...

's production of ''

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest may refer to: * ''One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (novel), a 1962 novel by Ken Kesey * ''One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (play), a 1963 stage adaptation of the novel starring Kirk Douglas * ''One Flew Over the ...

'' at the

Seymour Centre The Seymour Centre is a multi-purpose performing arts centre within the University of Sydney, located in the city of Sydney, Australia. It is located on the corner of City Road and Cleveland Street in Chippendale, south-west of the city ce ...

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

. Madsen was cast in the world premiere of ''

'' at

Sydney Theatre Company Sydney Theatre Company (STC) is an Australian theatre company based in Sydney, New South Wales. The company performs in the Wharf Theatre at Dawes Point in The Rocks area of Sydney as well as the Roslyn Packer Theatre (formerly Sydney Theatre ...

, originating the role of swimmer Alexander Shkuratov. He features on the Original Cast Recording released by

Sony Music Australia Sony Music Entertainment Australia is the predominant record label operated by American parent company Sony Music Entertainment in Australia. Prior to 1995, SMEA published and distributed video games in Australia & New Zealand on behalf of So ...

. He returned to the

in 2018 as Patrick in the Australian premiere of '' The View Upstairs''. Later that year, he portrayed Alan in Darlinghurst Theatre Company's production of ''

Torch Song Trilogy ''Torch Song Trilogy'' is a collection of three plays by Harvey Fierstein rendered in three acts: ''International Stud'', ''Fugue in a Nursery'', and ''Widows and Children First!'' The story centers on Arnold Beckoff, a Jewish homosexual, dra ...

'' at The Eternity Playhouse. Madsen was due to perform in the first major Australian production of Sarah Kane's ''

Cleansed ''Cleansed'' is the third play by the English playwright Sarah Kane. It was first performed in 1998 at the Royal Court Theatre Downstairs in London. The play is set in a university which (according to the blurb of the published script) is ope ...

'' in 2021 but the show was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He appeared as Carl in the rescheduled production in 2022. Earlier that year, he played conniving frenchman Marcel Benoit in the

production of ''White Pearl'' by Anchuli Felicia King at the newly-renovated

Wharf Theatre The Wharf Theatre is a theatre in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. This theatre is part of the Sydney Theatre Company and located on Pier 4/5 of the former Sydney port facility in Walsh Bay at Dawes Point. History In 1829, the first jetty ...

. He toured with the production to Canberra and Parramatta. He starred as the legendary warrior Achilles in ''Holding Achilles'', an epic co-production between Dead Puppet Society and

Legs on the Wall Legs on the Wall is an Australian physical theatre company based in Sydney. Formed in 1984, Legs on the Wall's performances combine acrobatics with dance, circus skills and technology. It creates aerial outdoor shows and theatre productions, perfo ...

, for its world premiere at

Brisbane Festival Brisbane Festival is one of Australia's leading international arts festivals, and is held each September in Brisbane, Australia. Its presence dominates the city for three weeks in September and its line-up of classical and contemporary music, t ...

in 2022 and a subsequent season for

Sydney Festival Sydney Festival is a major arts festival in Australia's largest city, Sydney, that runs for three weeks every January since it was established in 1977. The festival program features over 100 events from local and international artists and inclu ...

in 2023. He appeared in ''Sex Magick'' at

Griffin Theatre Company Griffin Theatre Company is an Australian theatre specialising in new works, based in Sydney. Founded in 1979, it is the resident theatre company at the Stables Theatre in Kings Cross. the artistic director is Declan Greene. Artistic directors ...

in the same year.

Personal life

Madsen lives in

Elizabeth Bay, New South Wales Elizabeth Bay is a harbourside inner city suburb in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Elizabeth Bay is located three kilometres east of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local gover ...

Theatre credits

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Madsen, Stephen 1992 births 21st-century Australian male actors Australian male musical theatre actors Australian male stage actors Australian male television actors Living people People from the Northern Beaches