Maddie Zdeblick welcomes return of productions at Portola Valley Theatre Conservatory

After a five year hiatus, the Portola Valley Theatre Conservatory (PVT) is bringing a new production to its main stage, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane . this May. And the company’s Executive Director Maddie Zdeblick couldn’t be more excited.

“It’s based on a children’s book and am hoping it brings out the child in all of us,” she says. “It tells the story of a porcelain rabbit who for 30 years travels between families, all who he comes to love. It’s a sweet story that all of us can relate to.”

Maddie has a bit of a sweet story herself. She grew up in Menlo Park, attending Oak Knoll, Hillview and M-A.

“I did a lot of theater in middle school and high school and then studied theater at Northwestern.”

A twist in her journey came as Maddie considered the needs of her older brother who has disabilities and is non-verbal.

“I found myself getting very passionate about how to be inclusive to all audience members,” she says. That led her to get a PhD in theater and disability.

Back on her home turf, she met her husband-to-be at PVT when she was 19; they married seven years later.

Maddie’s theater work didn’t disappear entirely during the pandemic thanks to a thriving summer camp. But this new production is special. For one, her parents are part of the cast.

“The youngest cast member is seven and the oldest is 77,” she says. “I’m so excited to have folks of all ages working together in community.”

Performances run from May 1-11.  Get more information and buy tickets online.

Photo courtesy of Portola Valley Theatre Conservatory showing Maddie directing cast members