MARY AND MAX Wins Critic's Prize At Germany's MUT Awards

The annual MUT Competition for Musical Entertainment Theatre organised by the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz in Munich, Germany aims to discover and encourage outstanding artistic personalities in the world of musical entertainment theatre.

2018 creative composers, lyricists and authors of any nationality who have an affinity with musical entertainment theatre (musicals, operettas) were invited to develop dramatic concepts on a theme of their choice and to apply to become competition-winners.

From the concepts submitted, our international jury of specialists, made up of artistic directors, dramaturgy experts, publishers and famous authors from the German and international music theatre scene, selected via blind auditions, i. e. without knowing who the writers are, a total of six concepts which were then rehearsed by students from the musical department of the Bavarian Theatre Academy and ensemble members of the Gärtnerplatztheater and presented to an audience at the public final presentation. The jury awarded MARY AND MAX the musical, book by Crystal Skillman and music & lyrics by Bobby Cronin, with the Journalist's/Critic's Prize.

MARY AND MAX is set to have its World Premiere this fall at Theatre Calgary under the helm of Stafford Arima, Theatre Calgary's new Artistic Director starring: Lauren Elder (Hair, Sideshow) as Mary, Anthony Galde (Wicked, The Civil War) as Max, Nick Adams (Priscilla, A Chorus Line) as Damian, and Susan Gilmour (Les Miserables) as Vera Dinkle, featuring Chase Crandell, Alana Hibbert, Kevin Aichele, Kelsey Verzotti, Eric Wigston, and introducing Katie McMillan as Young Mary. www.TheatreCalgary.com

Based on an Australian claymation film by Adam Elliot about two unlikely pen pals, MARY AND MAX is a hilarious and heartening tale that proves friendship can be found in the most unexpected of places. Join lonely 10-year-old Mary Daisy Dinkle from Melbourne as she writes her way into the life of Max Jerry Horowitz, a 44-year-old man with Asperger's Syndrome in New York City. With quirky melodies and heartfelt dialogue, their friendship is one you'll never forget.