Max McLean: Faith, C.S. Lewis, Theater, and the Screwtape Letters

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! This episode is an in-depth interview with Max McLean, an award-winning actor, producer, and founder of Fellowship for Performing Arts, whose career has been devoted to bringing Christian literature and Scripture to life on stage, screen, and audio. McLean is best known for his acclaimed portrayal of Screwtape in the stage adaptation of The Screwtape Letters and for portraying C. S. Lewis in The Most Reluctant Convert. He shares his own conversion story as an adult, describing how reading Scripture, especially the Gospel of John, and Lewis’s writings profoundly shaped his faith, awakening him to both the beauty of Christ and the reality of spiritual deception.

Beyond the stage, Max's voice has become a cherished companion to countless listeners through his narration of The Listener's Bible in multiple translations, earning him multiple Audie Award nominations. He's also recorded spiritual classics like Pilgrim's Progress and Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Max has been honored with the C.S. Lewis Foundation Award for his contributions to dramatic arts and faith-based storytelling. He lives in New York City with his wife Sharon and their two daughters, and continues to create work that bridges faith, literature, and the transformative power of live performance.

The conversation explores McLean’s creative journey, his philosophy of faithful adaptation, and the challenges of translating Lewis’s deeply word-centered works into theater and film without losing their theological weight. He explains how The Screwtape Letters was adapted as a predator–prey drama with clear spiritual arcs, remaining true to Lewis while making it accessible to modern audiences. The episode closes with reflections on Lewis’s enduring relevance, current and upcoming projects, including national tours and film development, and a shared conviction that Lewis’s work remains vital for confronting evil, cultivating humility, and pointing people toward truth in an increasingly deceptive age.

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For tickets and show times: www.screwtapeonstage.com

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