Max Wagner
Max Wagner is a Los Angeles-based freelance guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. Over the last decade, he has become a fixture of the LA musical theatre scene, playing in dozens of theatrical productions and cabarets as well as working as a recording musician and sideman. A versatile player, Max is known for his acoustic and electric guitar work, as well as for his dexterity on 4- and 5-string banjo, mandolin, ukulele, lap steel, and electric bass. As Max always says, “If it has strings and frets, I can play it.”
Recently, Max was seen and heard by Los Angeles audiences as the principal guitarist for the 25th Anniversary Revival of Reefer Madness the Musical, as well as performing in the Reefer Den’s post-show jazz set with David Lamoureux’s Four Twenties. The show was a massive hit, extending its planned 8-week run to 4 months, and he’ll be heard on the forthcoming cast album. Max is the first-call guitarist for easily half a dozen music directors and music contractors in LA who praise his tone, sight-reading chops, flexibility, and easy-going attitude.
Some of Max’s other recent theatre credits include McCoy-Rigby’s Waitress the Musical, Mystic Pizza the Musical, and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Mad World Inventions’ Scissorhands: A Musical Tribute at the Bourbon Room, and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel’s relaunched La Cage nightclub revue. He’s played throughout Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties at venues including the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, Royce Hall, the Troubadour, and the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
Max has worked with numerous stars of stage and screen, including Kristen Bell, Wayne Brady, Bill Farmer, voice of Disney’s Goofy, and Tony Award-winner Lindsay Mendez. From 2016-2021, he was the guitarist for John Burroughs High School’s award-winning show choir’s professional combo and from 2021-2024 he was the main guitarist for California Center for the Arts, Escondido’s Center Cabaret series. Max is also one-third of indie-folk-pop band MillStock Wagner, whose second EP Hope Springs was released in October 2024.
Video
“Kaleidoscope”
An original song recorded entirely on one acoustic guitar. Produced by John Schroeder at Blue Dream Studios.
Contact Max
To reach out for live booking, sessions, or any other inquiries, email:
Musical Theatre Credits
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jimi Darkness
Kinky Boots
The Last Five Years
Lizzie
Matilda
Miss Foxhole 1975
Modern
Mutt House
Mystic Pizza
Once
Once on this Island
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Pup! A Chew Story
Reefer Madness
RENT
The Robber Bridegroom
School of Rock
Scissorhands: A Musical Tribute
Shrek
Spring Awakening
Starry
Something Rotten
tick, tick… BOOM
The View UpStairs
Waitress
A Walk to Remember
The Wedding Singer
9 to 5
The Album Project: Jagged Little Pill
The Album Project: Rumours
American Idiot
Assassins
Assistants
Beautiful
The Belles Are Swingin’
Big Fish
Bottle Shock
The Boy From Oz
Bright Star
Catch Me If You Can
Chess
Cruel Intentions
Dogfight
Fame
Footloose
Fun Home
The Goats of Brentwood
Godspell
Hands on a Hardbody
Hello, Dolly!
I Love You Because
In The Heights
Into the Woods
Jacques Brel is Alive and Well…