Coming 2024 Holiday Season:

Read a behind-the-curtain story about how my 2019 interview with Max von Essen initially had a weird writing glitch in my soon-to-be-released book, Behind The Curtain: The Mistakes, Lessons Learned & Triumphs of Interviewing Celebrities.

2010 Interview:

Max von Essen is one of those performers who has it all...the voice, the talent, and most of all the personality. When Max von Essen sings, you never want it to end and when he's on stage, he's the focal point of the action.

In this interview, Max answered my call to reveal:

• His inspirations to become a performer
• The highest and lowest note he can sing
• Best advice he ever received
• His proudest moment
• So much more

Currently, Max is skating around the country in the national tour of Xanadu as Sonny Malone, so be sure to check him out when he rolls into your town.

Connect with Max: Website

Elizabeth Stanley and Max von Essen
National Tour of Xanadu, Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg

1. Who inspired you to become a performer? All my teachers (and old movie musicals!!!)

2. What is the highest and lowest note you can sing? Haha, my range? Well, I'm a baritone so I have like a low G and then I can sing up to an A above middle C. But I have an odd falsetto and have played "Mary Sunshine" in Chicago and "Tremont" in Jerry Springer The Opera, so I've had to go up another octave and sing high A's and B's in the soprano range.

3. Who is the one person you haven't worked with that you would like to? Oh god, there are so many! I'd love to work on Broadway with Brian D'Arcy James in something and in a movie someday with Meryl Streep. I mean, could you imagine?

4. What's the best advice someone ever gave you? "Follow your bliss." An older friend told me that when I was a teenager, and it guides me constantly.

Elizabeth Stanley and Max von Essen
National Tour of Xanadu, Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg

5. What is your proudest moment? That is such a difficult question. My proudest moment is simply every time I feel like I'm living my life as a decent human being. That may seem cliché, but it's true. It's not about booking the next big job or anything for me, but at this point in my life, I just strive to be a good friend, son, brother and uncle.

6. Favorite way to stay in shape? Eight shows a week. Other than that, I hardly work out. I hate it!!!!

7. Boxers or Briefs? Boxer Briefs. Although now that I mostly wear skinny jeans, I usually wear briefs. :-)

8. Favorite skin care product? Haha, good old Cetaphil cleanser, Kiehl's Eye Alert, and Mac Studio Fix! Must haves!

9. Favorite website? None that I can tell you about. Well, other than Facebook and Twitter. (I'm slightly obsessed).

10. Superman or Wonder Woman? SUPERMAN all the way!!!!

BONUS QUESTIONS:

11. Books or Magazines? I love magazines. But I really should read books more. Grrrrr.

12. Favorite TV Show Theme Song? Easy...The Nanny!!!!! Love it!

More Max von Essen Interviews:

2012 (Read Here): 2012 Evita Broadway Revival
2013 (Read Here): Evita and Beyond - StageLight Magazine
2019 (Read Here): Call Me Old Fashioned

Max von Essen

More on Max von Essen:

Max von Essen started his career off with a boom, as a back-up singer on tour with the one and only Liza Minnelli! His star has continued to shine brightly.

On Broadway, Max has starred in both the original and revival of Les Miserables, Dance of The Vampires starring Michael Crawford, and the 2000 revival of Jesus Christ Superstar. He also starred in Jerry Springer: The Opera at Carnegie Hall, Finian's Rainbow at the Irish Repertory Theatre, and The Fantasticks at the Sullivan Street Playhouse.

Regionally, Max has been seen in productions of The Baker's Wife at the Paper Mill Playhouse and Mame at The Kennedy Center. Other theatre credits includes productions of Girl Crazy, Sweeney Todd, Dorian, Pirates of Penzance, My Fair Lady, Hair, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

When Max is not performing in a show, he's dedicating his time to many charities close to his heart including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Matthew Shephard Foundation.