In this heartfelt and hilarious episode of the TikTok FAMOUS™️ Podcast, host Meredyth Willits sits down with Tina Maddigan—Broadway actress, award-winning performer, and the original Sophie in Mamma Mia!—for an unforgettable deep dive into the chaos, glory, and resilience behind a life on (and off) the stage.

From curtain calls to character creation, Tina shares her incredible journey from being rejected as a theatre usher to leading a major Broadway show, the vocal cord injury that nearly ended her career, and how she reinvented herself online with viral characters, a crown-wearing alter ego, and a TikTok following that now spans across generations.

Together, they explore:

✅ What it really feels like the night your Broadway dream comes true ✅ How 9/11 changed the meaning of theatre for Tina and her audience ✅ The grueling, emotional, and funny truths of being a swing, standby, or understudy ✅ How Tina lost her singing voice—and why she came back stronger ✅ The evolution from Broadway to content creator to acting coach ✅ Why kids (and adults) need safe spaces to feel and express ✅ What it means to navigate motherhood, second acts, and finding your spark again

Plus, Tina dishes on:

✨ Meeting Hugh Jackman and Robert De Niro (spoiler: yes, there was waltzing and flirting) ✨ Why Paul Rudd is exactly as nice as you'd hope ✨ What Denzel Washington taught her about the real work of acting ✨ Her philosophy on helping kids embrace their weird, wonderful selves ✨ Why she created Stupid Face Studios to help others reclaim their voice

Whether you've dreamed of Broadway, lost your voice (literally or metaphorically), or you're simply navigating the next chapter of life—this episode will inspire you to keep stepping into the spotlight, however it shows up.

00:00 Meet Tina Maddigan, Broadway actress and viral creator 01:45 That moment when Mamma Mia! changed her life 04:00 What it means to perform during 9/11 06:15 How the cast supported grieving fans at the stage door 08:30 What swings, standbys, and understudies really do 10:40 Getting called to perform with no wig or costume prep 13:20 Life as a Broadway standby: Thai food, surprise stage time, and making it work 16:30 From vocal paralysis to TikTok comedy queen 18:40 Creating "The Queen" character and healing through laughter 21:10 How childhood loss shaped her creative voice 24:00 The surreal full-circle moment: rejected as an usher, cast as the lead 26:30 A year of callbacks and firing her agent 29:00 Balancing Broadway and motherhood 31:00 Why she walked away from NYC for family life 33:00 Losing her voice, fighting to get it back 36:45 The healing power of performance and persistence 38:15 Teaching kids today: acting, confidence, and safe emotional spaces 40:00 The bittersweet end of her son's marching band season 42:10 From Wedding Singer to Gypsy to whatever's next 44:30 Building Stupid Face Studios to help young performers shine 47:20 Her second act: creativity, coaching, and chasing new joy 49:15 The TikTok trap: social media shifts and staying true to yourself 51:00 Why she's proud of what she's done—and still dreaming 53:10 Podcasting, parenting, and rediscovering identity 56:00 Final thoughts: Everything is improv, so keep showing up

🔗 Connect with Tina Maddigan

✨ Instagram: @tinamaddiganmayer ✨ TikTok: @tinamadlibs ✨ YouTube: TinaMadlibs ✨ Website: www.stupidface.com (Acting coaching + character work)

🔗 Connect with Meredyth Willits & the TikTok FAMOUS™️ Podcast

✨ Facebook: Meredyth Willits ✨ Instagram: @meredyth_willits ✨ TikTok: @meredyth_with_a_why ✨ YouTube: TikTok FAMOUS™️ Podcast | Meredyth Willits

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