Meeting the Neighbors: MadStage

For information about theater happenings in Dane County, you can’t do much better than MadStage.com. The site has a list of what’s opening and closing for the current week, a performance calendar, a directory of theater companies and venues, volunteer opportunities, job listings, and more — provided at no charge to readers or submitters. (Though donations are welcome.)

While MadStage isn’t a blog it’s an important part of the online landscape for theater participants and enthusiasts, and I thought a modified version of the Meeting the Neighbors questionnaire would be a good way to profile the site’s creator and manager, Eric Houghton. Eric lived in Madison when he started MadStage over a decade ago and now lives in the state of Oregon, but he’s as committed to the site as ever and I’m happy to spotlight him.

1. When did you start the site?

I started MadStage.com in 1996, when I was employed at Electronic Theatre Controls in Middleton. They graciously provided server space for the initial version of the site. As I recall, the original site address was incredibly arcane! (I just looked it up...it was sumac.etcconnect.com/ehoughton/madisontheater.html!)

2. What inspired you to start the site?

I was doing community theater in the area quite regularly at the time, and was frustrated that there wasn’t any easy way to find out what groups were holding auditions more than a week or two in advance. Second, I’d decided that I wanted to teach myself how to create Web sites. It all seemed to make sense at the time.

3. What is the most rewarding facet of MadStage?

Being able to be part of the theater community in Wisconsin even though I don’t live there any more. Also, having work that I can do in the gaps between my current job responsibilities. I’m a stay-at-home dad right now, raising my 26-month-old son, and running a Web site is something I can do while he’s napping. I can even do a quick update while he’s distracted by his toys!

4. What do you do for kicks when you’re not posting?

I play volleyball, folk dance, read, and explore the world with my wife and son.

5. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Madison theater?

My introduction to the Madison theater scene was in the early 70s...I was 7 or 8 and my mother, Barbara, started doing shows with Strollers Theatre. Many years later, Strollers also gave me my start in the Madison theater scene!

6. What are some of the highlights of your involvement with Madison theater?

Oh my...well, The Lion in Winter with Strollers, Finian’s Rainbow with CTM, Terra Nova with University Theatre, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum with Stoughton Village Players, Death of a Salesman with Mazo R&R...too many others! My great regret is that I left town too soon to act on the stage of the Bartell.

7. What projects, theatrical or otherwise, are you working on now?

Well, I’ve been on hiatus from the stage itself since my son was born, so no acting currently. We just bought our first house a few months ago, so whipping it into shape has been a major project. I’m also just starting to work on an Oregon version of MadStage.