Max von Essen

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Max von Essen
Born (1974-01-11) January 11, 1974 (age 47)
Long Island, New York, U.S.
EducationSouth Side High School
Alma materUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
OccupationActor, singer
Years active1997–present
Notable work
An American in Paris
Parent(s)Thomas Von Essen (father)
Rita Von Essen (mother)
RelativesVon Essen family

Max von Essen (born January 11, 1974) is an American stage and screen actor, and vocalist.

Life and career[]

Raised on Long Island, von Essen is a graduate of South Side High School in Rockville Centre, New York. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and after graduation toured with Liza Minnelli.[1] He is a member of the Von Essen family, who are part of the German and Swedish nobility. A son of Rita and Thomas Von Essen, who was the New York City Fire Commissioner during the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, he is the youngest of four children.[2] He is openly gay.[3]

Coat of arms of the Essen family.

He toured Europe in West Side Story and was a cast member of the U.S. national tour of Chicago. He made his Broadway debut in Jesus Christ Superstar in 2000 as Disciple and Jesus of Nazareth understudy.[4] He appeared in Les Misérables on Broadway as the replacement for Fauchelevent and other roles,[5] and starred in Dance of the Vampires alongside Michael Crawford in 2002.[6] He played the role of student revolutionary leader Enjolras (replacement) in the Les Misérables Broadway revival in 2006 at the Broadhurst Theater.[7]

In 2006, he was a soloist at the biggest Andrew Lloyd Webber musical gala to date, held in Tallinn, Estonia. He performed in the national tour of Xanadu as "Sonny" in 2008[8] and in the Roundabout Theater Company Off-Broadway production of Maury Yeston's Death Takes a Holiday at the Laura Pels Theatre in 2011.[9] In 2015, von Essen played the role of Parisian aristocrat Henri in the Broadway production of An American in Paris, for which he received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical nomination.[10]

Film and television[]

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Brooklyn Lobster Piano Player
2009 The Beautiful Life: TBL Scott 1 episode
2010 Sex and the City 2 Wedding Chorus
2011-14 Submissions Only Cameron Dante Netflix series, 14 episodes
2012 Gossip Girl Father Smythe 2 episodes
Royal Pains Hair 1 episode
2013-14 The Good Wife Stephen Delaney 2 episodes
2014 Blonde Man Short
Seven Lovers Dan
2015 The Intern Businessman at Starbucks #1

Theatre credits[]

Broadway[]

Source: Internet Broadway Database

Year(s) Production Role Location
2000 Jesus Christ Superstar Disciple; Jesus understudy Ford Center for the Performing Arts
2002 Dance of the Vampires Alfred Minskoff Theatre
2003 Les Misérables Fauchelevent/Jean Prouvaire/Drunk/Constable; Marius understudy (replacement) Imperial Theatre
2007–08 Les Misérables Enjolras (replacement) Broadhurst Theatre
2012–13 Evita Magaldi; Che understudy Marquis Theatre
2015–16 An American in Paris Henri Baurel Palace Theatre
2017-18 Anastasia Gleb Vaganov (replacement) Broadhurst Theatre

Off-Broadway[]

Year(s) Production Role Location
1999 The Fantasticks[11] Matt Sullivan Street Playhouse
2001 John & Paul Un­known New Victory Theater
2004 Finian's Rainbow[12] Woody Mahoney Irish Repertory Theatre
2011 Death Takes a Holiday[13][14] Corrado Montelli Laura Pels Theatre (Roundabout Theatre Company)
Hello Again[15] The Soldier Transport Group
2017 Yours Unfaithfully[16] Stephen Meredith Beckett Theatre (Mint Theater Company)

Regional[]

Year(s) Production Role Location
1997 A Christmas Carol Un­known Mill Mountain Theatre
1999 Jesus Christ Superstar Un­known Connecticut Repertory Theatre
2001 Blood Brothers[17] Eddie Downtown Cabaret Theatre (Bridgeport, Connecticut)
Hair Claude Bay Street Theatre
2002 My Fair Lady Freddy Paper Mill Playhouse[18]
2003 Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera[19]
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Joseph Sacramento Music Circus
2004 Auntie Mame Bay Street Theatre[20]
Ogunquit Playhouse[21]
Jesus Christ Superstar[22] Jesus Sacramento Music Circus
Dorian[23] Dorian NoHo Arts Center (North Hollywood, CA)
2005 Cabaret[24] The Emcee Sacramento Music Circus
The Baker's Wife[25] Dominique Paper Mill Playhouse
2006 Mame[26] Patrick The Kennedy Center
West Side Story Tony Theatre Under the Stars[27]
2008 Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera[28]
Sweeney Todd[29] Anthony Sacramento Music Circus
2010 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Joseph

National and international tours[]

Year(s) Production Role
1997 Liza Minnelli in Concert Ensemble
1998 West Side Story (European tour) Ensemble
1999 Chicago Mary Sunshine
2008 Xanadu[30] Sonny
2019 Falsettos[31] Marvin

Awards and nominations[]

Source: IBDB[32]

Year Award Ceremony Category Show Result
2015 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical An American in Paris Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated
Broadway.com Audience Choice Award Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated

References[]

  1. ^ Weiner, Iris. "From Rockville Centre To Paris" lipulse.com, January 22, 2016
  2. ^ Broadway Buzz[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Actor, Max von Essen; Evita, singer currently performing in Broadway's (25 October 2012). "Trickle-Down Bullying". Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  4. ^ Jesus Christ Superstar ibdb.com, retrieved November 27, 2017
  5. ^ "Les Misérables – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  6. ^ "Dance of the Vampires – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  7. ^ The Broadway League. "Les Misérables – Broadway Musical – 2006 Revival | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  8. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Broadway's Stanley and Von Essen Will Head Cast of 'Xanadu' Tour" Playbill, September 22, 2008
  9. ^ Isherwood, Charles. "Set Aside That Scythe, and Let’s Put on a Show" The New York Times, July 21, 2011
  10. ^ "An American in Paris – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  11. ^ Sommer, Elyse. "A CurtainUp Review. 'Fantasticks'" curtainup.com, October 14, 1999
  12. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Von Essen to Sing "Old Devil Moon," Freeman Is Finian in Irish Rep Rainbow Adaptation" Playbill, March 11, 2004
  13. ^ Death Takes a Holiday lortel.org, retrieved November 27, 2017
  14. ^ Death Takes a Holiday newyorktheatreguide.com, retrieved November 27, 2017
  15. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Fleshly 'Hello Again', With Alan Campbell, Elizabeth Stanley, Max von Essen, Opens Off-Broadway" Playbill, March 20, 2011
  16. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Max Von Essen Stars in Off-Broadway’s 'Yours Unfaithfully', Opening Jan. 26" Playbill, January 26, 2017
  17. ^ Blood Brothers totaltheater.com, retrieved November 27, 2017
  18. ^ Lohrey, David. "Review" curtainup.com, June 7, 2002
  19. ^ Rawson, Christopher. "Stage Review: CLO's 'Fair Lady' is truly fine fare" Post-Gazette, July 9, 2003
  20. ^ Simonson, Robert. "Charles Busch 'Auntie Mame' Makes Second Summer Stop, at Bay Street Theatre, July 14" Playbill, July 14, 2004
  21. ^ Rizzo, Frank. "Review. 'Auntie Mame'" Variety, July 1, 2004
  22. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Norm Lewis, Max von Essen, Sarah Uriarte Berry and More Featured in Sacramento Music Circus Summer Season" Playbill, June 15, 2004
  23. ^ Hirschhorn, Joel. "Reviews. Dorian " Variety, November 2, 2004
  24. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Von Essen to Star in Kander and Ebb’s 'Cabaret'" Playbill, March 2, 2005
  25. ^ Gans, Andrew. " 'The Baker's Wife' Begins Performances at Paper Mill Playhouse April 13" Playbill, April 13, 2005
  26. ^ Simonson, Robert; Gans, Andrew. "New 'Mame', Starring Christine Baranski, Begins at Kennedy Center May 27" Playbill, May 27, 2006
  27. ^ Gans, Andrew. "TUTS' 'West Side Story', with Max von Essen, Begins Oct. 24" Playbill, October 24, 2006
  28. ^ Hetrick, Adam. " 'West Side Story' Dances Into Pittsburgh CLO Aug. 5" Playbill, August 5, 2008
  29. ^ Lipton, Brian Scott. "Jacoby, Murray, von Essen, et al. Set for Sacramento Music Circus' 'Sweeney Todd'" theatermania.com, July 21, 2008
  30. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Broadway's Stanley and Von Essen Will Head Cast of Xanadu Tour" Playbill, September 22, 2008
  31. ^ Gans, Andrew. "National Tour of Falsettos, Starring Max von Essen, Nick Adams, Eden Espinosa, Opens March 20 in San Francisco" Playbill, March 20, 2019
  32. ^ "Von Essen Awards" ibdb.com, retrieved November 26, 2017

External links[]

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