Broadway Wunderkind
“When you think there is nothing left, you will always have art and music.”
When Max Bartos was a young boy, he dreamt of becoming an athlete—a hockey player felt true to him (despite a self-described comical lack of skating skills). But life had other plans for this Lancaster County native—who earned a role in one of Broadway’s newest shows, Sing Street, at the age of 16.
One day, during a bike ride with his parents, Max took a tragic fall from a cliff into a bed of river water and rocks. He suffered a major traumatic brain injury that otherwise would’ve taken his life had it not been for his helmet. Due to the nature of this injury, doctors told Bartos he could no longer pursue sports. Where one dreamed died, another was born.
“It was one of the darkest times of my life,” Max told FLL of his recovery. But his mother’s friend, who had broken his back during a training climb for Mt. Everest, told Bartos: “When you think there is nothing left, you will always have art and music.” They say the greatest creativity comes from a place of limitation and not infinite possibilities. So Bartos started where he was at, with what he had, and taught himself piano and guitar, which would later be followed by vocal and acting lessons.
Bartos caught his first break after auditioning for the role of Scut Farkus in A Christmas Story at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theater. He booked the role a week after his audition. From there, his career took off. He connected with an agent who kept pitching him for big things, including NYC workshops for Other World and Against the Wall, as well as Adam Sandler’s 2019 film, Uncut Gems. “It’s been a linear progression. I still find myself with the premonition that I’m going to wake up and my whole career is a dream. It’s the most extraordinary thing I have ever experienced,” Bartos shared.
In 2019 came Sing Street. When Bartos originally auditioned for the show at the New York Theatre Workshop, it was known simply as “Untitled.” After reading the plot synopsis, Bartos knew it was based off of the film Sing Street, which he was a major fan of.
Sing Street is a musical based off of Enda Walsh’s book and adapted film by John Carney (known for Once). The musical is set in Dublin, Ireland during the 1980s economic crisis. It follows Conor (Brenock O’Connor), a teenager grappling with the separation of his parents, a family who is struggling to make ends meet, and a new school filled with bullies. In a creative scheme to win the love of his crush, Raphina (Zara Devlin), and escape his grim reality, Conor decides to start a band. The story unfolds with the help of Bartos’s character, Darren, who is a band manager turned band member who gathers a group of misfit teens, forming a band that quite literally rocks. With catchy, feel good tunes like “Up” and “Riddle of the Model,” this heartfelt show makes clear the power of music to escape reality and dream of better days.
Bartos feels that this is the first time he’s ever been fully in sync with a character he’s portrayed. “Darren and I are both socially awkward. It’s pretty much a perfect match,” he shares. “Darren is very driven. His story arc starts off as this bright-eyed, naive kid, who sees this new kid at school. He’s desperate to make a new friend because he doesn’t have a lot of them. So he says, ‘Hey, if you ever need help with anything, here’s my business card’.”
After ten callbacks, Bartos snagged the role of Darren. During his time at the New York Theatre Workshop with Sing Street, the production’s writers wrote new lines for him. Even the description of the character was changed as Bartos took it on (at a tall 6’2”, the original description of a “little baby fella” just didn’t seem to work).
After a matinee performance in January 2020, the cast—described by Bartos as “dripping in sweat and covered in glitter” (it’s set in the ‘80s, after all)—was called onto the stage. It was announced that Sing Street was transferring to one of Broadway’s longest running, historical theatres: the Lyceum Theatre. Bartos got a special shout-out, as he would be making his Broadway debut at the remarkable age of 16.
At a tech rehearsal in March—mere weeks before the musical’s Broadway debut was set—the announcement of Broadway’s suspension from NY Governor Andrew Cuomo came through. Before the company parted ways, they did a full company meditation, led by the choreographer, to keep the energy of Sing Street alive.
Throughout quarantine and stay-at-home orders, Bartos has kept himself busy with virtual performances, including a benefit performance with his Sing Street castmates, Sing Street: Grounded, which raised more than $310,000 for The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. He also performed a collaborative version of the David Bowie and Queen classic, “Under Pressure,” with castmate Brenock O’Connor to help raise money for the mental health organization, Aevidum. “I raise money for this organization through the arts because the arts saved my life, and I feel like my reparations to the arts is trying to repay what they’ve done for me,” said Bartos.
Outside of his performing, Bartos founded and owns his own production company—Bartos Theatrical Group—and attends the Stone Independent School in Lancaster. He’s currently finishing up his senior year and plans to attend NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts this fall.
Though Sing Street is without a home at the moment, the producers and cast are committed to seeing the show through to its Broadway debut. “I think it will be even better than before, because we’ve really had the time to sink our teeth into these characters,” said Bartos.
And Sing Street hits home for Bartos on a personal level. “It speaks to me because I’ve used music as an escape from my demons and my downfalls, but also as a way to celebrate my accomplishments and my successes,” he shared. “So the fact that Sing Street is the intersection between music and love, escapism and heartache is a very beautiful yet melancholic sentiment.”
2020 was a year of numerous curveballs, and Bartos continued to persevere—something he is not a stranger to. Just as the characters of Sing Street use music as means to hope for brighter days ahead, so does Bartos.
His advice for young, budding performers? “You made the right choice by being an actor,” said Bartos. “It’s the most fulfilling thing in the world. The world has a unique way of playing on your insecurities and kicking you when you’re most vulnerable, but don’t give into it and push past it because what you’re going to see on the other side is so much love and support.”
By Allison Rohland
