Hero photograph
Max playing Richard III in Shakespeare's Richard III
 
Photo by Jo Dryden

Performing Arts at King's led to Musical Theatre passion

Jo Dryden —

Former Kingsman Max Beal – who attended from 2013 to 2017 – continues hitting the high notes in his role as Frankie Valli, in the hit musical ‘Jersey Boys’ after having been asked to perform the same role in New Plymouth, for their upcoming season. Max played the role of Frankie Valli in both the Dunedin and Invercargill productions of 'Jersey Boys' last year, to high acclaim.

Max was a Performing Arts enthusiast while at King’s. A classically trained singer and avid thespian, Max performed brilliantly in the annual Shakespeare Sheilah Winn Festival, was a dedicated member of both ACafellas (King’s choir) and Polyhymnia (King’s and Queen’s choir), and performed lead roles in three of our annual school musicals. 

He said performing the role of Pilot in 2015 King’s and Queen’s Musical, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, was when he realised that professional musical theatre would be his future. As well as his interest in musical theatre, after performing to high acclaim in the annual Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival in 2017 playing Richard III in the Shakespeare play of the same name, Max was chosen to go on the Young Shakespeare Company trip to London.

In 2017, to complete his final year at high school, Max gained ‘Top Scholar’, nationally, in the Scholarship Drama examination.

Other theatre credits include Patsy in 'Spamalot' (during his final year at school), Rapunzel’s Prince in 'Into the Woods', Mickey in 'Blood Brothers', Richard “King Dick” Seddon in 'That Bloody Woman', Billy Flynn in 'Chicago' and Mortiz Stiefel in 'Spring Awakening'.

We are super proud of Max and his achievements and look forward to following him on his journey in musical theatre.

Photos:

  1. Jersey Boys – Dunedin production – playing Frankie Valli – 2nd on the left
  2. Jesus Christ Superstar – KHS production - playing the role of Pilot
  3. Richard III – KHS Shakespeare Sheila Winn competition – playing the role of Richard III.

Link to recent interview with Max on his latest role in New Plymouth.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/LyuvLHYzLQXktMwt/?mibextid=oFDknk