Max Vernon (born May 24, 1988) is an American performer, songwriter, and playwright from Los Angeles, California, currently living and performing in New York City, where they attended New York University. Best known for their work in musical theatre; their musicals include The View UpStairs, KPOP, and The Tattooed Lady.
Theatre Max Vernon's original musicals include WIRED (music, lyrics, book; Ars Nova), The View UpStairs (music, lyrics, book; Lynn Redgrave Theatre, Culture Project) - inspired by the UpStairs Lounge arson attack, 30 Million (music, lyrics; book by Jason Kim; Keen Company), KPOP (music, lyrics; book by Jason Kim; Ars Nova), and The Tattooed Lady (music, lyrics, book; Philadelphia Theatre Company).
The View UpStairs has received numerous regional productions since its original Off-Broadway run, including London (Soho Theatre), Richmond, Chicago, Sydney (Hayes Theatre), Los Angeles (Celebration Theatre), San Francisco (New Conservatory Theatre Center), Boston, Atlanta, Dallas, and Columbus, among others. The piece is published by Samuel French, and the original cast album was released on Broadway Records.
Discography All credits are adapted from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Songwriting credits Year Title Artist Album Writer(s) Producer(s)2026"Mask (Gangle's Song)"Black Gryph0n, Baasik & Marissa Lentirowspan="9"Max Vernon, Nathaneal Brown, Gabriel BrownNathaneal Brown, Kyle Horvath"Cheerleader"Ella CollierMax Vernon, Luke Forester, Ella Cabrera CollierLeo Forester, Vikiffes"The Sundown"Ch4ynMax Vernon, Marco Krstic, Lili PistoriousMarco Krstic"Dirty Martini"Rose ReyMax Vernon, Rose Rey, Jonathan Clifton VredenburgMax Vernon, Jonathan Clifton Vredenburg2025"Final Girl"Kayla DivenereMax Vernon, Kayla DiVenere, Zack DjurichZack Djurich"One & DoneChapter & VerseMax Vernon, Drew Louis, Jayelle Gerber, Barry PearsonDrew Louis, Chapter & Verse"Sinderella"Kat CunningMax Vernon, Kat Cunning, Ryan HughesRyan Hughes, Lukas Costas"Baddest Habit"Rose ReyMax Vernon, Drew Louis, Rose ReyDrew Louis2024"Put It Down"Bijou & JayelleMax Vernon, Drew Louis, Jayelle, Benjamin DormanBijou“Ms. Claus”Jillian RossiMax Vernon, Drew Louis, Jayelle, Jillian RossiDrew Louis"Let Them Eat Cake"Trinity the TuckSinematicMax Vernon, Drew Louis, Jayelle"Dance You Outta My Head"Cat JaniceMax Vernon, Austin Bello, Catherine IpsanMax Vernon, Austin Bello, Catherine Ipsan 2023"Bad Witches"LvcrftVBonnie McKee, Jarred Moreno, Max Vernon, Justin GrayCount Trackula "Burnin'"Amanda Warner, David Morup, Bonnie McKee, Max VernonDemon Breath, Stavros Tsarouhas "Fare Thee Well"David Morup, Max Vernon, Peter Wade Keusch, Sarah BarriosNorman Crates, Demon Breath "Still I Love You"The Original Broadway Cast of KPOPKPOP (Original Broadway Cast Recording)Helen Park, Max VernonHelen Park, Max Vernon, Harvey Mason Jr., Matt Stine "Wind Up Doll" "Halfway" "Hunduruh (Shake It)" "Shi Gan Nang Bee (Waste of Time)""Gin & Tonic""Meant 2 B""Upduryuh (Bow Down)""Blast Off""Supergoddess""Upduryuh (Bow Down) Intro""Bung Uh Ree Sae (Mute Bird)""F8 Intro""Perfect""Hanguknom (Korean Man)""Phoenix""This Is My Korea""Amerika (Checkmate)""Super Star"Helen Park, Max Vernon, Harvey Mason Jr.2022"This Is My Korea - TV Edit"This Is My Korea (TV Edit)Helen Park, Matt Stine"I Watch You"Tony & The KikiDirty SecretsMax Vernon, Paul Charles Heany, Anthony AlfaroMax Vernon"I Watch You (Intro)"Rodney Allan Bush, Yuka Tadano, Max Vernon, Paul Charles Heaney, Tristan Joel Marzeki, Anthony Alfaro"Tell Me Something Good (Live)"Back In BlackStevie Wonder"Back In Black (Live)"Brian Johnson, Angus Young, Malcom Young"Uh Uh Uh"Rodney Allan Bush, Max Vernon, Paul Charles Heany, Anthony Alfaro2021"Listen (Outro)"Light It UpRodney Allan Bush, Max Vernon, Yuka Tadano, Paul Charles Heany, Tristan Joel Marzeski, Anthony Alfaro"Paranoid"Rodney Allan Bush, Max Vernon, Paul Charles Heany, Anthony Alfaro"Listen""Extra Express""Light It Up"2017"#householdname"The View UpStairs CastThe View UpStairs (Original Cast Recording)Max VernonMichael Croiter, Jenny Ainsworth, James Dobinson"Better Than Silence""Sex on Legs""Theme Song""The View Upstairs""Crazy Notion""Most Important Thing""Lost or Found?""Completely Overdone""Some Kind of Paradise""Dead Center""What I Did Today""Are You Listening, God?""And I Wish""World Outside These Walls""I Was Meant For More""Waltz (Endless Night)""The Future Is Great!!!"
Award and nominations +YearAwardCategoryShowResult2015Jonathan Larson GrantMusic/LyricsN/A2016New York Foundation of the Arts AwardMusicN/A2017Off-Broadway Alliance AwardBest MusicalThe View UpStairs2017Audelco AwardBest Musical2018Off-Broadway Alliance AwardUnique Theatrical ExperienceKPOP2018Drama League AwardBest Musical2018Lucille Lortel AwardBest Musical2018Drama Desk AwardBest Musical2018Outstanding Music2018Outstanding Lyrics2018Richard Rodgers Award2019WhatsOnStage AwardBest Off-West End ProductionThe View UpStairs2020Pew Arts GrantBook/Music/LyricsThe Tattooed Lady2023Tony Award Best Original ScoreKPOPNominated2023Barrymore AwardOutstanding Original MusicThe Tattooed LadyNominated
References