Big Brother Productions will present an industry reading of Mary & Max, a new musical based on the 2009 Australian claymation film about two unlikely pen pals, November 12 at 3 PM in Manhattan.

Directed by Stafford Arima (Allegiance, Altar Boyz), with musical direction by Anna Ebbesen, the cast will feature Alessandra Baldacchino (Fun Home) as Young Mary, Anthony Galde (Wicked, Civil War, Starlight Express) as Max, Lauren Elder (Side Show, Hair) as Adult Mary, Nick Adams (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, La Cage aux Folles), Anne Brummel (Wicked), Danyel Fulton (Deadland), Lynn Craig (Lazarus), Joseph Torello, Chase Crandell, and Jackson Perrin.

The new musical features a book by Crystal Skillman (Geek, King Kirby) and music and lyrics by Bobby Cronin (The Concrete Jungle).

Mary & Max, which is set in the 1970s, “comes to life through pen pal exchanges between Mary Dinkle, a chubby ten-year-old girl living in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, and Max Horovitz, a severely obese, 44-year-old Jewish man with Asperger's Syndrome living in the chaos of New York City. As they take us on their respective journeys, we learn that sometimes perfect strangers make the best of friends.”

The 110-minute reading will be held at Ripley Grier Studios, 305 West 38th Street. Email MaryAndMaxMusical@gmail.com.