Eden Casteel’s Kahn Artist: Madeline and Me—A Masterclass in Music, Comedy, and Storytelling

It all started with a beer commercial. “You CAN have it all,” sang Madeline Kahn, selling a product she likely didn’t care about—but delivering a message that struck a chord with Eden Casteel. That line, tossed into the world with Kahn’s signature blend of wit and sophistication, became an unexpected prophecy—one that Casteel would carry with her all the way to Puerto Vallarta, where she brought an unforgettable tribute to the stage.

But Kahn Artist: Madeline and Me was more than a night of music or a nostalgic walk through Kahn’s career. It was something deeply personal—an artist peeling back the layers of her own journey to reveal how one fearless, funny, and wildly talented woman reshaped her life.

Casteel didn’t try to be Madeline Kahn—because no one could. Instead, she told the story of how Kahn redefined what a soprano could be. Like Kahn, Casteel had been told to fit into a box. And then she saw a woman who didn’t.

The show unfolded like a beautifully chaotic scrapbook—Broadway highs, unexpected career detours, heartbreaks, and triumphs—woven together with humor and vulnerability. The setlist mirrored this emotional rollercoaster: Kahn’s showstoppers, like “Never” (On the Twentieth Century), sat alongside deeply personal ballads like “Funny How the Love Gets in the Way.” And then came the unexpected gems—“Das Chicago Song” (New Faces of 1968), a gloriously weird Kurt Weill parody that Kahn once delivered with absolute conviction.

Through it all, Casteel commanded the stage, effortlessly shifting between high-energy comedy and breathtaking sincerity. She invited the audience into her world, sharing how she found love in the most unexpected places—a fleeting high school moment, a spaghetti dinner, a photographer who would become her forever. Along the way, she wove in fascinating tidbits about Madeline Kahn, painting a vivid picture of the legendary performer’s brilliance and quirks. Then came the encore—a pitch-perfect rendition of “I’m Tired” (Blazing Saddles), complete with every exaggerated sigh, sultry eye-roll, and impeccable comedic timing.

Special credit goes to pianist Mark Harman, whose masterful playing and harmonies elevated every number, turning the performance into a true collaboration.

The evening closed with “Hope for the Best (Expect the Worst),” a final nod to Kahn, to comedy, and to the unpredictable nature of life itself. It was the perfect ending to a show that never once took the easy route.

What Eden Casteel achieved with Kahn Artist wasn’t just a tribute—it was a statement. A celebration of finding your voice, breaking the rules, and embracing both the ridiculous and the profound—sometimes in the same breath. Because, if you’re lucky, an artist you’ve never met can change your life forever.