From the cold north of Toronto, Canada, Maximilian (Max) Jurisic is a sophomore Musical Theatre student studying with Claudia Catania. MSM credits include The Pajama Game (swing), Disney Theatricals readings for Frozen (ensemble) and The Little Mermaid (ensemble), as well as Mudville (Coach Goodman), as part of the MT Lab Series. Max is also an active member of MSM’s Musical Theatre honor society, Alpha Psi Omega, and has been a part of their production of Twelve Angry Men (Juror 12). Outside of theatre, Max is an outdoors and nature enthusiast who loves skiing and canoe trips, as well as a huge animal lover who enjoys playing video games.
Music by Kurt Weill Book and Lyrics by Bertolt Brecht
Banji Aborisade, Director and Choreographer Andrew Gerle, Music Director
Talk-back immediately following the Sunday performance
Tickets Required $15 adults, $10 non-MSM students and seniors
The Riverside Theatre 91 Claremont Avenue New York, New York 10027
Max: The Threepenny Opera follows Mack the Knife, who is trying to find some joy in his ‘ordinary’ life as he marries Polly Peachum—much to the displeasure of her parents, who hatch a plan to hang him. Macheath goes on the run but seemingly makes every wrong decision, becoming the catalyst of his own undoing.
Each step he takes shows how consumed he is by his own ego. As he flees, he takes a trip down memory lane, meeting his old lovers—first Jenny, then Lucy—each revealing something about his past. Much of what we learn about Macheath comes from the other characters in the show, especially his lovers.
At first glance, The Threepenny Opera is a tale of a hero’s journey in the opposite direction; instead of witnessing Macheath’s—or Mack the Knife’s—rise, we see his gradual fall. At the start of the show, he has everything: a woman, money, and power. However, he gradually loses it all until nothing remains but the man underneath.
Max: Macheath is unlike any role I have ever played; he’s a murderer, thief, and gang leader. He also has many wives and women whom he will throw under without hesitation if it serves his best interest. In “The Ballad of Mack the Knife”, he’s shown to have an almost godlike presence—a looming figure who is untouchable. However, this becomes his greatest flaw, as he gets so caught up in the perception of Mack the Knife that he falls for it himself.
I created a diary, which I named “Macheath’s Diary”, detailing his life from a young boy to the man he is today. It spans 30 years of his life, exploring how he came to be Mack the Knife and the pivotal moments that shaped him.
Max Jurisic in The Threepenny Opera rehearsal as Macheath
Max: Not only is this production being helmed by one of the most talented casts I have ever had the pleasure of working with, alongside a pair of passionate and visionary directors, but The Threepenny Opera‘s themes and messages still hold weight in our modern world. It’s a show that will always remain relevant because of its commentary on human nature. With a script written by Bertolt Brecht and a score by Kurt Weill—two theatre legends—The Threepenny Opera is unlike any show I’ve seen or been in, and you can’t miss it!
Max: When I came to MSM for auditions, I had a good feeling about the school, which only grew stronger as I talked to more students and went on more tours. However, what really solidified my decision was researching the faculty—without a doubt, the best part of the school! They have all worked or are working on Broadway, but most importantly, they want every student to succeed. Each of them has taught me something new while also pushing me to excel in all areas of musical theatre.
Not only is this production being helmed by one of the most talented casts I have ever had the pleasure of working with, alongside a pair of passionate and visionary directors, but The Threepenny Opera’s themes and messages still hold weight in our modern world. Max Jurisic (BM '27), Musical Theatre
Not only is this production being helmed by one of the most talented casts I have ever had the pleasure of working with, alongside a pair of passionate and visionary directors, but The Threepenny Opera’s themes and messages still hold weight in our modern world.
Max Jurisic (BM '27), Musical Theatre
Max: He would love Las Vegas becuase of all the casinos and the gambling.
Max: Timeless, cynical, bleak!
Max Jurisic (R) in Freshman Pops January 2024
130 Claremont Avenue New York, New York 10027 212-749-2802
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