Max McLean

Max McLean (born April 14, 1953) is a Panamanian-born American[1] stage actor, writer, and producer.[2] He is the founder and artistic director of the Fellowship for Performing Arts,[3] a New York City-based company that produces live theater and film from a Christian worldview.[4]

Max McLean
McLean in 2019
Born (1953-04-14) April 14, 1953
Panama City, Panama
Alma materUniversity of Texas
Occupation(s)Stage actor, writer, and producer
Years active1992-present
SpouseSharon McLean
Children2

McLean is known for his stage adaptations of books by author and theologian C. S. Lewis. Some of McLean's adaptations include The Screwtape Letters (written with Jeffrey Fiske),[5][6] The Great Divorce (written with Brian Watkins),[7][8] and C.S. Lewis Onstage: The Most Reluctant Convert (based on Surprised by Joy).[9] C.S. Lewis Onstage was adapted into a film, The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis, which starred McLean as an older Lewis, was released in 2021.[10]

Outside of his work regarding Lewis, McLean wrote the play Martin Luther on Trial with Chris Cragin-Day,[2][11][12] and narrated KJV, NIV, and ESV versions of "The Listener's Bible", an audio Bible.[13]

Early life and education

McLean was born in Panama City, Panama, on April 14, 1953. McLean immigrated to the United States through New York City at age four.[13]

McLean graduated from the University of Texas in 1975, where participation in theater helped him overcome a fear of public speaking. After graduating, he pursued theatrical studies in London.[14][13]

Career

In 1992, McLean founded the non-profit theatre company, the Fellowship for Performing Arts (abbreviated as FPA).[13]

Early on, McLean and the FPA toured and performed at colleges and universities. These included one-man shows with dramatic presentations of books of the Bible. He has adapted Genesis, the Acts and the Gospel of Mark (called Mark's Gospel).[13][3]

C. S. Lewis stage adaptations

After seeing McLean perform Genesis, playwright Jeff Fiske emailed McLean, telling him that he would portray Screwtape well.[1] With Fiske, McLean adapted the 1942 novel The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis as a stageplay, which stars McLean as Screwtape.[6] It has been performed since 2006,[15] and has received positive responses from critics.[16][17][6][18]

McLean and co-writer Brian Watkins developed a stageplay for the 1945 Lewis novel, The Great Divorce, and in September of 2013, McLean brought it to the Cape Playhouse in New York City for the development production.[7] On December 13, 2013, it premiered at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix, Arizona, and toured nationally in 2014.[19] In December 2019, a revised revival of The Great Divorce opened at Theatre Three on Theatre Row in New York City.[20] After this, it begun a national tour.[8]

McLean adapted the 1955 Lewis book Surprised by Joy [9] into the one-man play, C.S. Lewis on Stage: The Most Reluctant Convert. McLean also stars as Lewis.[21] The play was adapted into the film, The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis, which McLean reprises his role in as an older Lewis. It was released in 2021.[10]

Other projects

McLean co-wrote the play, Martin Luther on Trial, with playwright and drama professor Chris Cragin-Day, which premiered at the Lansburgh Theatre in Washington, D.C., on May 12, 2016.[2]

Awards

In 2009, McLean received the Jeff Award for Best Solo Performance for his one-man show Mark's Gospel.[22]

McLean's narrations for The Listener's Bible have received several Audie Award nominations in total. One in 1999 for the "Inspirational" category,[23] one in 2000 for "Package Design",[24], and one in 2002 for "Inspirational/Spiritual".[25]

Personal life

In 1976, McLean became a Protestant Christian, after having grown up a nominal Catholic.[13]

He is married to Sharon McLean, and they have two grown daughters. They live in New York City, and are members of the Redeemer Presbyterian Church.[13]

References
  1. McLean, Max (July 20, 2010). "The Devil and Max McLean, Star of the Off-Broadway Hit The Screwtape Letters". Broadway.com. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  2. Blaney, Retta (April 30, 2016). "Whole story of Luther's life on trial onstage". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  3. "Max McLean as C.S. Lewis". Christian History Institute. November 22, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  4. Perry, David Edward (February 2, 2020). "BWW Interview: Director Max McLean Bares His Soul on Spiritual Warfare in C.S. Lewis' THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS at BJCC CONCERT HALL". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  5. Billington, Michael (December 11, 2016). "Theatre: The Screwtape Letters review – a hell of a disappointment". The Guardian. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  6. Horwitz, Jane (December 23, 2012). "Style: A riveting, charming adaptation of 'The Screwtape Letters'". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  7. Dominick, Nora (November 25, 2015). "BWW Interview: Max McLean Chats About THE GREAT DIVORCE and The Fellowship for Performing Arts Inaugural Season". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  8. Gans, Andrew (November 12, 2019). "Cast Set for Off-Broadway Run of C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce". Playbill.com. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  9. Klett, Leah MarieAnn (November 8, 2021). "Hit CS Lewis biopic 'The Most Reluctant Convert' highlights author's dramatic conversion". The Christian Post. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  10. Grater, Tom (September 8, 2021). "C.S. Lewis Biopic 'The Most Reluctant Convert' Sets Cinema Release; Watch First Trailer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  11. Shaw, Helen (December 21, 2016). "'Martin Luther on Trial' Goes Too Easy On Its Subject". The Village Voice. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  12. Belz, Emily (January 27, 2017). "Luther and his legacy". World Magazine. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  13. Challies, Tim (January 21, 2008). "An Interview with Max McLean". Challies.com. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  14. Guajardo, Gaby (February 19, 2013). "From Sociophobia to the National Stage". alcalde.texasexes.org. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  15. Loki, Reynard (August 3, 2009). "National Tour Dates Announced For THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  16. Hampton, Wilborn (June 12, 2010). "Lewis's Tempters, Meticulously Paving the Road to Hell". The New York Times. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  17. Palm, Matthew J. (December 30, 2011). "Entertainment: Theater review: 'The Screwtape Letters'". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  18. Askar, Jamshid Ghazi (March 28, 2013). "Theater review: C.S. Lewis' 'Screwtape Letters' is devilish fun". Deseret News. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  19. BWW News Desk (August 15, 2014). "National Tour of C.S. Lewis' THE GREAT DIVORCE Comes to Cullen Theater This Weekend". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  20. Rabinowitz, Chloe (November 12, 2019). "Casting has Been Announced for C.S. Lewis' THE GREAT DIVORCE at Theatre Three at Theatre Row". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  21. Wren, Celia (April 29, 2016). "The tangled questions on C.S. Lewis's journey to becoming a Christian". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  22. "Past winner archives". Jeff Awards. Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  23. "1999 Audie Awards®: Inspirational". Audie Awards. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  24. "2000 Audie Awards®: Package Design". Audie Awards. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  25. "2002 Audie Awards®: Inspirational/Spiritual". Audie Awards. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
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