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| Adam Pascal | |
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| Born | October 25, 1970 The Bronx, New York, United States |
| Spouse(s) | Cybele Chivian (1998–present) 2 children |
Adam Pascal (born October 25, 1970) is an American actor and singer, best known for his Tony-nominated performance as Roger Davis in the original cast of Jonathan Larson's musical Rent on Broadway 1996, and in the movie version of the musical 2005. He is also known for originating the role of Radames in Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida and as the Emcee from the musical Cabaret.
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Career
Pascal was born to a Jewish family in The Bronx, New York, but raised in Syosset, New York. Before he started being interested in music, he was a personal trainer. Although he started as a rock musician playing in a number of bands (such as Mute) he formed with his schoolmates, Pascal became drawn to the musical theater. A friend of his former high school, who at the time was dating fellow Syosset graduate Idina Menzel, mentioned RENT to him. On a whim, he auditioned for the role of the HIV positive rock guitarist Roger Davis in RENT and was cast. 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 2nd, 1997, but went on to play Roger when RENT went to 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 (former Rent castmate Idina Menzel co-starred as Amneris in one of the 2001 showings), and Kander and Ebb's Cabaret, closing the show as the Emcee (closing cast). He also participated in several charity performances, including Hair (singing "I Got Life"), Chess (playing the American, Freddie), and the 24 Hour Plays in 2005. He also made a brief return to Aida in 2004, reprising his role as Radames. However, Pascal felt that he was looked upon solely as a Broadway singer, and he returned to his 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. He has released two solo rock albums, Model Prisoner (2000), Civilian (2004). He also contributed a cover of Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind" to the CD Broadway Cares: Home for the Holidays.
He 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 many of the principal cast, reprised their roles in the film version of RENT, directed by Chris Columbus. Singer Justin Timberlake campaigned heavily to both Lee and Columbus for the role of Roger1, but many of the original cast members returned at the insistence of Columbus. The film was released on November 23, 2005.
More recently, Pascal had a guest role as "Dennis Hofferman", a murder victim, on an episode of Cold Case, which co-starred Tracie Thoms, his co-star from the film version of RENT. The episode, called "Willkommen", was aired on April 2, 2006, and revolved around an amateur production of Cabaret. On July 4th, Adam took part in the Macy's Fourth of July Celebration by singing while fireworks were displayed, as part of the tradition. He also took part in both the fifth and tenth anniversary celebrations of RENT on Broadway.
In the independent movie 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 in Goyband are Amy Davidson, Chris Judd, Tovah Feldshuh, Dean Edwards,Tibor Feldman and Natasha Lyonne.
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, a few years following the Stonewall Riots.
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.
He reprized the role of Freddie, The American in the London concert version of Chess at the Royal Albert Hall on the 12th and 13th May 2008. His RENT co-star, Idina Menzel played the role of Florence. This performance was recorded and will be televised on American and British television in the Spring of 2009, after which, a DVD will become available.
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 the band's website [1] (where a direct digital download is available).
In 2008, Adam recorded a ballad entitled "Eva' Wanted" with Broadway veteran and recording artist Maya Days. Adam and Maya were in Aida on Broadway in 2000. Maya Days is also a veteran of RENT on Broadway and in the UK, as well as the first National Tour (playing Mimi.)
In the fall of 2008, production began on Adam's first music video for his song "Single Drop of You" along with singer/songwriter Larry Edoff. "Single Drop of You" is available now on "Me and Larry"'s "Blinding Light" Album. The video, directed by Jarek Zabczynski, is due out in late 2008.
Beginning in January 2009, he will reprise his role and will join his friend and co-star, Anthony Rapp (as Mark) in a US national tour of RENT.
The Backyardigans
Adam 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.
Personal Life
Pascal married cook, writer, and playwright Cybele (Chivian) Pascal on December 19, 1998. They have two sons, Lennon Jay (born October 2001) and Montgomery Lovell (born February 2004), who are huge fans of The Backyardigans.
Due to their children's food allergies, Cybele created nutritious, enjoyable, safe recipes, which she included in her book The Whole Foods Allergy Cookbook: Two Hundred Gourmet & Homestyle Recipes for the Food Allergic Family.
Stage Work
- Rent (Original cast and London) - Roger Davis (1996-1997)
- Aida - Radames (1998-2000)
- Cabaret - MC (October 2003 - January 2004) (Closing Cast)
- Aida - Radames (2004)
- Hair (2005)
- Chess - Freddie (2005)
- 24 Hour Plays (2005)
- Rent - Roger Davis (2007)
- Chess (London) - Freddie (2008)
- Rent (US national tour) - Roger Davis (2009)
Filmography
| Year | Film/television | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | SLC Punk! | Eddie | |
| 2003 | School of Rock | Theo | |
| 2004 | Temptation | ||
| 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 | American Primitive | Theo | Independent film |
| Single Drop of You | Himself | Music Video | |
| Goyband | Bobby Starr | Independent Film |
References
- ^ "Rent Film Success Bodes Well for Future Movie Musicals", Broadway World (2007-11-28). Retrieved on 6 February 2008.
External links
- The Official Adam Pascal Website
- Adam Pascal and Larry Edoff: Me and Larry Website
- Sh-K-Boom Records
- Adam Pascal at the Internet Broadway Database
- Adam Pascal at the Internet Movie Database
- Adam Pascal Official MySpace
- Adam Pascal Official YouTube Channel
- Adam Pascal Interview
- Ask Adam Pascal
- Adam Pascal: Star File
- Me and Larry
