The search for the right person to take on the job as the new producing artistic director at Greenville Theatre lasted longer than some relationships, marriages even.
But the three years that it took meant that last year New York City couple Max Quinlan and Siri Howard could, as Quinlan explains, “do all the big stressors in life at once—buy a new house, start a new job, and then we also had a daughter.” All as Quinlan stepped into the role almost a year ago this July.
The Illinois native, who met his Broadway performer wife (with whom he also has a three-year-old son, Jack) while they were both on the national tour of Les Miserables in 2012, is enthusiastically continuing the Welcome Back Season of 2021–2022 for Greenville’s oldest theatre after it was dark for 16 months, while looking forward to their 96th season with a host of new shows.
Being in the dark was usually Quinlan’s thing, though he was never in it for the applause (that part never felt quite right for him, he admits). “I don’t remember a time in my life without theatre,” Max says. “I was very fortunate to be born into a family that loved the arts, supported the arts and were a part of our community in Illinois, where, my entire family, we were all involved in all of the shows kind of in every way. My parents at different times were on the board of my community theatre, my dad would build the sets and work backstage, my mom sometimes would produce, sometimes she would be in the shows. I had the opposite of most kids, I think, who are in college when they decide, ‘Oh I want to pursue a path in the arts,’ and most parents are like, ‘Oh no, that terrifies me! I don’t know if you’re going to make it.’ I had the opposite where my parents were like, ‘If you don’t do theatre, we disown you,’” Quinlan laughs.
That lifelong love has boasted an impressive resumé of both acting and directing, including being the resident director for the national tour of The Phantom of the Opera from 2017–2019, but Quinlan stays humble.
“There’s not a place for ego,” he says. “There is a place for leadership and pride, but not ego.” Taking Judo and playing baseball as a youth helped Quinlan to later connect that theatre is, after all, a team sport.
“You need every single person. You need the front of house staff. You need the bartender.
You need the box office. You need your stage manager,” says Quinlan. “If you don’t have one of those people, you don’t have a show.”
By bringing the best out of the performers and works he’s producing, Quinlan is quickly proving he was well worth the wait.
Upcoming Highlights at Greenville Theatre
May 3:
The Gala Celebration will mark the milestone of their 96th year with a Champagne reception, silent auction and live auction, and a concert with Max Quinlan and his wife, Broadway actress Siri Howard, performing “A Broadway Love Story.” The couple will sing songs from each of their careers on Broadway, as love songs from Greenville Theatre past productions.
June 3–26:
Mamma Mia! is just going to be so fun and lively and entertaining. It’s the party that we’ve all been missing,” says Quinlan.
2022–2023 Season at Greenville Theatre
“This is the first season that I’ve designed,” says Quinlan. “These are all stories that I’ve been wanting to tell, and these are shows that are going to bring a lot of laughter and joy. I love the classics, but there are new stories to tell and there are great shows that have never been done in this area.” Two standouts on Max’s list:
Something Rotten, September 9–25, 2022:
Takes place in the Renaissance era and it’s very comedic.
It’s [about] two writers who are struggling in their art. William Shakespeare is a character in the show and he’s the rock star of the time, and through their journey they basically rediscover why they love writing and why they got into wanting to do theatre in the silliest way possible.”
Big River, March 2–19, 2023:
“The 1985 7-time Tony Award-winning musical Big River based on the historic Mark Twain novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. It tells the story of Huck and runaway slave, Jim and their journey towards the true meaning of freedom.”
Photograph by Eli Warren
