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Max wagner

 
 
 

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:

maxwagnermusic@icloud.com

 

 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…