In Maira Kalman’s picture book, “Max Makes A Million,” Max the Manhattan dog reads his poems and talks of his dreams to go to Paris.
Yet Kalman says that it is actually an ode to New York. This whimsical tale is being spun at the Alliance Theatre in a world premiere adaptation of New Yorker cartoonist and author, Kalman’s book.
The Alliance production is taking place in partnership with the High Museum, which is presenting an exhibition of Kalman’s illustrations called “The Pursuit of Everything.” Although Kalman has written and/or illustrated more than eighteen books over the past 30 years, this is the first time her work has been adapted for the stage.
“The nice thing about painting and writing for children is that you can be very smart and very stupid and silly and mad cap and very heartfelt and that’s really a story you tell to any age,” Kalman said.
She has illustrated a song for David Byrne and her books include “Bold & Brave: Ten Heroes Who Won Women the Right to Vote,” which was written by U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and the illustrated cookbook “Cake,” written in collaboration with the food writer Barbara Scott-Goodman.
