Madison Wells

#AAPIHeritageMonth Director Spotlight: Born in Beijing, China, and raised in the United States, Chloé Zhao's directorial debut came with the feature film "Songs My Brothers Taught Me" in 2015, which explored the lives of Lakota Sioux siblings in the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Her second film, "The Rider" (2017), brought her international recognition, and received critical acclaim for its portrayal of a young rodeo cowboy grappling with injury and identity. In 2020, Zhao reached new heights of success with her film "Nomadland." Starring Frances McDormand, the film delves into the lives of modern-day nomads in the American West, exploring themes of resilience, community, and the search for meaning. "Nomadland" earned Zhao numerous accolades, including the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Academy Award for Best Director, making her the second woman and the first woman of color to win in that category. In addition to her success in film, Zhao has been recognized for her contributions to storytelling and culture, receiving honors such as the Time 100 Next list, which recognizes emerging leaders shaping the future. With her distinct voice and visionary approach to filmmaking, Chloé Zhao continues to push the boundaries of cinema, inspiring audiences and fellow creatives alike. 🎥: Chloé Zhao x Variety

“Nikiya Mathis has transformed the approach to hair and wig design and hair maintenance in our theatres and her incredible work was rightly the centerpiece of this season’s incredible Jaja’s African Hair Braiding.” - Broadway League President Jason Laks Congratulations to the exceptional Nikiya Mathis on receiving the 2024 Special Tony Award for her work in creating the many hair pieces used in Jaja’s African Hair Braiding. This marks the first time in Tony history that Hair and Wig Design has specifically received a distinction. 📸: Ambe J. Williams MW Live: Gigi Pritzker / Jamie Forshaw / Evan Mayer

What a wild ride 🎪 Thank you to The Tony Awards for Water For Elephants’ SEVEN nominations including Best Musical! It’s been such a thrill to be a part of the producing team of this production alongside excellent talent ✨ MW Live: Gigi Pritzker / Jamie Forshaw / Evan Mayer

The shop is a Tony nominee! ✨   Thank you to The Tony Awards for Jaja's African Hair Braiding's FIVE tony nominations! A massive congratulations and shout out to the incredible creative team and our producing partners who we are extremely grateful to have worked with in this production. MW Live: Gigi Pritzker / Jamie Forshaw / Evan Mayer

The Drama Desk nominations are in, with nods for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding and Water For Elephants! Grateful for the recognition of these two excellent productions ✨ MW Live: Gigi Pritzker / Jamie Forshaw / Evan Mayer

The Broadway award season continues 🍾 Grateful to The Outer Critics Circle for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding and Water for Elephants’ nominations! MW LIVE: Gigi Pritzker / Jamie Forshaw / Evan Mayer

The award season has begun and we are so grateful to the Drama League for their recognition of Jocelyn Bioh‘s beautifully penned Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, exquisitely directed by the talented that is Whitney White - the entire cast were just devine in every way however Zenzi Williams was distinguished not only as character but also as person. Gigi Pritzker, Evan Mayer and I produced proudly alongside LaChanze Sapp-Gooding and Taraji P. Henson. #producer #theatre #plays #broadway #westend

Thank you to The Drama League for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding and Water For Elephants’ nominations! Honored to be a part of exceptional theater this Broadway season. ✨ MW Live: Gigi Pritzker / Jamie Forshaw / Evan Mayer

Madison Wells Live is thrilled to collaborate once again with Berkeley Repertory Theatre on the world premiere play “The Thing About Jellyfish”, based on the New York Times best-selling novel by Ali Benjamin, adapted for the stage by Keith Bunin and directed by Tyne Rafaeli, January 31 - March 9, 2025. The Thing About Jellyfish will mark our third partnership with Berkeley Rep, which began in 2022 with Swept Away and continues with the upcoming Jaja’s African Hair Braiding this Fall. We’re excited to bring this poignant coming of age story to life with this exceptional team. Read more about our news here via Broadway News: https://bit.ly/3U1z3go MW Live: Gigi Pritzker / Jamie Forshaw / Evan Mayer

Nothing has made me prouder this year than being part of producing this play on Broadway. I’ve spent a great deal of energy to put this three city tour together along with my colleagues at Madison Wells Live, and to know how many people it will reach in its 3 month run just fills my heart. Watch this space for more!