Adam Pascal

Adam Pascal (born October 25, 1970) is an American actor, singer, and musician, known for his performance as Roger Davis in the original 1996 cast of Jonathan Larson's musical Rent on Broadway, the 2005 movie version of the musical, and the Broadway tour of Rent in 2009. He is also known for originating the role of Radames in Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida, for playing the Emcee from the 1998 revival of Cabaret, and for playing Huey Calhoun in the Broadway company of Memphis. Most recently, he played William Shakespeare in the Tony Award-winning musical Something Rotten![1]

Adam Pascal
Pascal in concert in New Haven, Connecticut on January 19, 2008
Born (1970-10-25) October 25, 1970
Bronx, New York, U.S.
OccupationActor, singer, musician
Years active1993–present
Spouse(s)Cybele Chivian (1998–present)
Children2
Websitehttp://www.adampascal.net/

Early life

Pascal was born in The Bronx, New York, and grew up in Woodbury, Nassau County, New York, with his mother, Wendy (née Frishman), and stepfather, Mel Seamon.[2][3] He was raised Jewish.[4] He graduated from Syosset High School.[5] He then graduated from New York Institute of Technology.[6] Before his interest in music, he was a personal trainer. Although he began as a rock musician playing in a number of bands (such as Mute) formed with his schoolmates, Pascal became drawn to the musical theater.

Career

Stage work

A friend of his from high school (Idina Menzel's boyfriend at the time) mentioned Rent to him. On a whim, he auditioned and was cast as the HIV-positive rock guitarist Roger Davis. His powerful tenor voice and his performance in Rent earned him a Tony nomination, a Theater World award, and an Obie Award. He left the show on November 2, 1997, but went on to reprise Roger when Rent opened in London.

The role helped Pascal gain fame on Broadway, and he was cast in the Elton John and Tim Rice musical Aida as the Egyptian general Radames with the original and final casts[7] (former Rent castmate Idina Menzel would co-star as Amneris in 2001), and Kander and Ebb's Cabaret, appearing in the show as the Emcee (closing cast).[8] He also participated in several charity performances, including Chess in 2003 (playing the American, Freddie Trumper),[9] Hair in 2004 (singing "I Got Life"),[10] and the 24 Hour Plays in 2005.[11] He returned to Aida in 2004 to close the run of the show as Radames.[12][13]

Along with original Broadway Rent cast member Anthony Rapp (Mark Cohen), Pascal returned to Broadway to star as Roger in Rent from July 30 to October 7, 2007.[14] In January 2009, he and Rapp reprised their originating (and film) roles as Roger and Mark in another Rent tour titled: Rent: The Broadway Tour, which played in many cities in the North America, as well as stops in Japan and South Korea. At the tour's Detroit, Michigan stop in February, Pascal suffered two herniated discs in his neck and was on medical leave for a week. His role was filled in by Cary Shields, who had replaced Pascal during Rent's first run on Broadway. Pascal made a full recovery and finished up the tour in early 2010.[15] This tour closed on February 7, 2010.

Pascal reprised the role of Frederick Trumper, aka "Freddie, The American" in the London concert version of Chess at the Royal Albert Hall on May 12–13, 2008. His Rent and Aida co-star Idina Menzel played the role of Florence.[16] This performance was recorded; it has been televised, first on American and British television on June 17, 2009, and repeatedly in America on PBS stations as part of that network's "Great Performances" series; and has been released on DVD.[17]

Pascal joined the Broadway cast of Memphis on October 25, 2011 as Huey Calhoun. He replaced original cast member Chad Kimball in the role. He remained in the Memphis cast until the show's closure on August 5, 2012.[18]

Beginning April 8, 2013, Pascal starred as Billy Flynn in the long-running Broadway revival of Chicago. His last performance as Billy was June 16, 2013.[19]

On November 17th 2016, Pascal joined the Broadway company of Something Rotten! as William Shakespeare in the show's closing cast.[20] He also played the same role for the entirety of the show's 1st National Tour alongside Rob McClure, Josh Grisetti, and Leah Hofmann who were also in the closing cast of the show.[21]

Music

Pascal felt that he was looked upon solely as a Broadway singer, and thus returned to his rock and roll roots with a solo recording contract on Sh-K-Boom Records, which was founded by his Aida costar, Sherie Rene Scott and her husband Kurt Deutsch.[22] He has released two solo rock albums, Model Prisoner (2000),[23] Civilian (2004),[24] as well as a collaborative rock album Blinding Light (2008) with pianist, Larry Edoff.[25] He also contributed a cover of Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind" to the CD Broadway Cares: Home for the Holidays (2001),[26] the end credits song, "Winter Light", from the movie Noel (2004),[27] and the song "Perfect Place" on the album Listen which showcases songs written by adolescents who stutter (2009).[28] In School of Rock, he played Theo, lead singer of the band No Vacancy, and sang on two songs on the soundtrack.

On July 4, 2006, Pascal took part in the Macy's Fourth of July Celebration. He sang during the traditional fireworks display. He also took part in both the fifth and tenth anniversary celebrations of Rent on Broadway in 2000 and 2005, respectively.

Pascal formed the band "Me and Larry (Edoff)" in 2006. The two musicians began composing and performing original material and reworked Broadway songs in small venues throughout the US. Pascal won the 2007–2008 Golden Icon Award for Best Small Venue Concert. The band's first CD, Blinding Light, was released in May 2008 on Pascal's own label. The CD is available at concerts and through Amazon[29] and the band's website[30] (where a direct digital download is available).

As of 2009 and later, Pascal is developing a theatrical stage version of the classic 1988 concept album, Operation: Mindcrime by the progressive metal band, Queensrÿche. The band is one of Pascal's musical influences, and has fully endorsed his efforts.[31]

Film work

Pascal made his film debut in SLC Punk! (1999), and also appeared in School of Rock (2003) and Temptation (2004). The audio for Temptation, a musical, was recorded live on set during filming.

In late 2005, he, along with five others of the principal cast, reprised their roles in the film version of Rent, directed by Chris Columbus. Pop idol Justin Timberlake was considered for the role of Roger,[32] but Columbus decided to stick with the original cast members. The film released on November 23, 2005.

In the independent movie Falling Star (formerly titled Goyband), Pascal stars as a former boy-band icon who is booked to play a show at a Kosher hotel, but ends up shocking the guests with his sexy show. Fans were invited to participate in the movie as extras for the concert scenes. His co-stars are Amy Davidson, Cris Judd, Tovah Feldshuh, Dean Edwards, Tibor Feldman and Natasha Lyonne. Goyband originally premiered at the Jerusalem Films Festival in December 2008. Its North America premiere was July 2009, on Long Island. The movie was bought by distributor, MarVista Entertainment, which retitled it Falling Star.[33]

Pascal has also completed filming for another independent movie, American Primitive, about a gay couple who try to hide their relationship from family and neighbors in 1973, a few years following the Stonewall Riots.[34]

Pascal reprised his role from SLC Punk! in the 2015 sequel Punk's Dead.

In 2015, Pascal starred in Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival as The Agent, one of God's top generals in Heaven.

Television

Pascal had a guest role as Dennis Hofferman, a murder victim, on an episode of Cold Case, with Tracie Thoms, his co-star from the film version of Rent, and Laura Bell Bundy, another Broadway star who originated the role of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. The episode, called "Willkommen", originally aired on April 2, 2006, and revolved around an amateur production of Cabaret.[35]

Pascal provided the narration and sang a song in the double-length episode "Tale of the Mighty Knights" for the show The Backyardigans. The song is called "I'm Not an Egg Anymore", and is the final song of the episode.[36]

Personal life

On December 19, 1998,[37] Pascal married Cybele Chivian. Cybele is the daughter of Eric S. Chivian, M.D., Director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School, and the granddaughter of writer Joseph Jay Deiss. The couple has two sons.[38]

Discography
  • Mute – ca. 1994
  • Model Prisoner – 2000
  • Civilian – 2004
  • Blinding Light (with Larry Edoff) – 2008
  • The New Standards (with Larry Edoff) – 2015

Stage credits
Year(s) Production Role Location Category
1996–97 Rent Roger Davis Nederlander Theatre Broadway
1998 Shaftesbury Theatre West End
2000–03 Aida Radames Palace Theatre Broadway
2003 Fully Committed N/A Lyceum Theatre Off-Broadway (co-producer)
2003 Chess Freddie Trumper New Amsterdam Theatre Concert
2003–04 Cabaret The Emcee (Closing Cast) Studio 54 Broadway
2004 Aida Radames (Closing Cast) Palace Theatre Broadway
Hair N/A New Amsterdam Theatre Concert (sung "I Got Life")
2005 The 24 Hour Plays N/A American Airlines Theatre Benefit
2007 Rent Roger Davis (Replacement) Nederlander Theatre Broadway
2008 Alive in the World N/A Zipper Theatre Benefit
Chess Freddie Trumper Royal Albert Hall Concert
Drift N/A B.B. King Blues Club Concert
2009–10 Rent Roger Davis N/A US National Tour
2011 The Real Love: A New Musical Rolf Pasadena Civic Auditorium Concert
2011–12 Memphis Huey Calhoun (Replacement) Shubert Theatre Broadway
2013 Chicago Billy Flynn (Replacement) Ambassador Theatre Broadway
2016 Disaster! Chad Nederlander Theatre Broadway
2016–17 Something Rotten! William Shakespeare St. James Theatre Broadway
2017 N/A US National Tour
2019 Pretty Woman: The Musical Edward Lewis (Replacement) Nederlander Theatre Broadway

Filmography
Year Film/television Role Other notes
1999 SLC Punk! Eddie
2003 School of Rock Theo
2004 Temptation Nicholi
2005 Rent Roger Davis appeared with most of the original stage cast members
2006 Cold Case Dennis Hofferman TV series, appeared alongside Rent co-star Tracie Thoms
2008 Single Drop of You Himself Music Video
2008 Falling Star (formerly titled Goyband) Bobby Starr Independent Film
2009 Wild About Harry or American Primitive Theo Independent Film
2015 Tales of Halloween The Dentist (segment "The Night Billy Raised Hell")
2016 Punk's Dead Eddie Sequel to 1999's SLC Punk!.
2016 Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival The Agent Sequel to 2012's The Devil's Carnival
2019 Rent: Live Himself [39]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Work Result
1996 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Rent Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated
Theatre World Award Theatre World Award Won
2006 Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Song (Seasons of Love) Rent Nominated
Best Acting Ensemble Nominated
Online Film & Television Association Award Best Music, Adapted Song (Light my Candle) Nominated
Best Music, Adapted Song (Seasons of Love) Nominated
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References
  1. Desk, BWW News. "Rob McClure, Adam Pascal and Josh Grisetti Will Tour the Country with SOMETHING ROTTEN!". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  2. Green, Blake (2000-03-17). "THEATER / A Star Is Torn / Though he's playing the lead in a second Broadway musical, Adam Pascal remains a rocker at heart". Newsday. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  3. "Theater Week". That New Magazine, Incorporated. 14 June 1996 – via Google Books.
  4. Elkin, Michael (2009-02-05). "'Rent' Control". Jewish Exponent. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
  5. "'Rent' Star Adam Pascal Revisits Roots". 11 June 2011.
  6. Prock, Jay. "BWW Interviews: Adam Pascal Hosts Master Class on the Basics of Auditioning in Musical Theatre".
  7. Molnar, Joseph."Sound Advice:'Aida', Adam Pascal and Sherie Rene Scott" talkinbroadway.com, accessed September 6, 2011
  8. Archived September 3, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  9. "'Chess', The 3rd Annual Benefit Concert, 9/22/2003" InternetBroadwayDatabase, accessed September 6, 2011
  10. "'Hair" Special Benefit, 9/20/2004" InternetBroadwayDatabase, accessed September 6, 2011
  11. "'24 Hour Plays' 10/24/2005 Special Benefit, 10/24/20" InternetBroadwayDatabase, accessed September 6, 2011
  12. "'Aida'" InternetBroadwayDatabase, accessed September 6, 2011
  13. Gans, Andrew."Adam Pascal to Return to 'Aida' in June; New Solo Album in Works" Archived 2010-04-06 at the Wayback Machine Playbill.com, May 4, 2004
  14. "Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp Will Return for Summer 'Rent' Stint" Broadway.com, May 3, 2007
  15. Archived September 3, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  16. "Information" Archived 2016-04-13 at the Wayback Machine chessinconcert.com, accessed September 6, 2011
  17. "'Chess in Concert' CD and DVD Release Dates" icethesite.com, accessed September 6, 2011
  18. "Rent Star Adam Pascal Will Step Into Broadway's Memphis". Archived from the original on 2011-09-30.
  19. "Chicago: Alexander Gemignani and Paul C. Vogt". www.newyorktheatreguide.com.
  20. http://www.playbill.com/personlistpage/person-list?production=00000150-aea8-d936-a7fd-eefc72e90009&type=op#oc
  21. https://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/something-rotten-tour-casting_79159.html
  22. "Kury Deutsch Biography" Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine americantheatrewing.org, as of December, 2010, accessed September 6, 2011
  23. Ehren, Christine."'Aida' On Record: Scott Has Men; Pascal Is 'Model Prisoner'" Playbill.com, May 9, 2000
  24. "Adam Pascal – Civilian" trusttommy.com, November 5, 2009
  25. Hetrick, Adam."Rent's Pascal Offers New Album 'Blinding Light' " Archived 2010-02-11 at the Wayback Machine Playbill.com, July 31, 2008
  26. Banks, Richard."Various Artists.Broadway Cares: 'Home for the Holidays'" Archived 2009-09-26 at the Wayback Machine wbroadwaycares.shtml, 2002, accessed September 6, 2011
  27. "Soundtrack for 'Noel' (2004)" InternetMovieDatabase, accessed September 6, 2011
  28. "LISTEN - A Musical CD For Children Who Stutter" pediastaff.com, 2009, accessed September 6, 2011
  29. "'Blinding Light' Listing" amazon.com, accessed September 6, 2011
  30. "Me and Larry" Archived 2008-05-17 at the Wayback Machine meandlarry.com, accessed September 6, 2011
  31. Reesman, Bryan."His Own Brand of Insania, Part 2 (Interview with Geoff Tate" Archived August 10, 2011, at the Wayback Machine bryanreesman.com, February 24, 2010
  32. "Rent Film Success Bodes Well for Future Movie Musicals". Broadway World. 2007-11-28. Archived from the original on 28 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
  33. "Falling Star'" Archived 2012-03-21 at the Wayback Machine marvista.net, accessed September 6, 2011
  34. "Film Listing" American Primitive.com, accessed September 6, 2011
  35. "'Willkommen', Season 3, Episode 18" tv.com, accessed September 6, 2011
  36. "Adam Pascal + Backyardigans = So Much Soccer Mom Tail It's Not Even F…". 20 April 2007. Archived from the original on 20 April 2007.
  37. "Pascal Biography" Archived 2008-10-08 at the Wayback Machine tv.com, accessed September 6, 2011
  38. Cybele and Adam Pascal Team Up With FAAN to Raise Awareness About Food Allergies" Archived 2011-10-16 at the Wayback Machine foodallergy.org, September 10, 2010
  39. Turchiano, Danielle (January 27, 2019). "'Rent' Star Injured in Live Performance, Original Broadway Cast to Appear". Variety. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
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