Max J. Swarner as Charlie Chaplin in WaterTower Theatre’s CHAPLIN the Musical. (Photo by Paris Marie Productions) WaterTower’s new season gives focus to leading characters such as Ann Richards, Louis Armstrong and even Mary Poppins.
WTT opened the season with CHAPLIN the Musical about screen legend Charlie Chaplin. But what the cast and crew really did was shine with a production that delivered both joy and drama with a tour de force performance by its leading man Max J.
Swarner. Directed by WTT Artistic Director Shane Peterman, CHAPLIN, based on the actor/director’s real life story, was layered with complex and potent drama amid vibrant and emotional showtunes by writers Christopher Curtis and Thomas Meehan with music led by Vonda K.
Bowling and outstanding choreography by Ann Nieman. Through it all, we see how his mother Hannah (Lauren Mikael Wever) and big brother Sydney (Duke Anderson) help Charlie Chaplin (Swarner) rise to fame and then later his meeting and longtime marriage to Oona O’Neill (Kylie Stewart).