Cady McClain Revisits Orson’s Shadow Rehearsal
Emmy winner shares glimpse of Austin Pendleton play session alongside castmates on stage.
Image: Instagram
Cady Mcclain Shares Flashback
Emmy-winning actor Cady McClain took to Instagram with a heartfelt throwback to her work in Austin Pendleton’s acclaimed play, Orson’s Shadow. In a recent post she tagged fellow cast members Brad Fryman (@bradfrymantheactor), The Hof Maier (@thehof_maier), Patrick Hamilton (@patrickhamiltonsupergoodactor), Ryan Tramont (#ryantramont) and Natalie Menna (@nataliemenna), captioning the photo, “#fb to that time when I got to work on Austin Pendleton’s masterful work with these maniacs.” The image shows McClain and her co-stars clustered in rehearsal mode, scripts in hand and expressions ranging from focused to delighted.
Inside Orson’s Shadow
Orson’s Shadow, first staged in 2000, imagines a fictional encounter between theatrical giants Orson Welles and Laurence Olivier as they prepare a production of Shakespeare’s Othello. Pendleton’s play has enjoyed numerous revivals for its razor-sharp dialogue and poignant look at creative rivalry. McClain’s Instagram flashback offers a rare glimpse of an intimate rehearsal at Michael Howard Studios, where the ensemble workshopped scenes under Pendleton’s direction. In the shot, you can spot Fryman and Tramont exchanging lines while McClain leans in to respond, underscoring the collaborative energy of the room.
From Soaps To Stage
Cady McClain is best known for her Emmy-winning roles on daytime dramas All My Children and As the World Turns, but she has steadily built a parallel career in theatre. According to her Wikipedia page, McClain earned her Actors Studio MFA in 2018 and has since appeared in dozens of regional and off-Broadway productions. Orson’s Shadow stands out in her résumé for its inventive reimagining of theatrical legends. Fans who know her from daytime TV have welcomed her stage work, and McClain has credited Pendleton’s guidance with deepening her appreciation for ensemble acting.
Mentoring The Next Generation
While the flashback focuses on Orson’s Shadow, McClain’s recent Instagram activity reveals she remains active in training actors. In a February post from Michael Howard Studios, she celebrated a “class full of talented, hard working, dedicated actors,” thanking them for their commitment. That post underscores her ongoing dedication to the craft—both on stage and in the classroom. Her dual roles as performer and mentor echo Pendleton’s own long history as a teacher at Yale School of Drama and HB Studio.
As viewers scroll through Cady McClain’s feed, the Orson’s Shadow throwback stands out as a moment when television fame intersected with serious stage work. By sharing candid behind-the-scenes images, McClain offers fans a window into a rehearsal process that’s equal parts rigorous and joyous. For those following her career, it’s clear that her passion for live theatre continues to drive every new project.
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