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Arts & Entertainment

Syosset Native Adam Pascal Returns to Broadway in 'Memphis'

The 'Rent' star takes on another Tony-nominated musical.

When Adam Pascal made his Tony Nominated Broadway debut in 1996 as Roger in Rent, audiences were blown away by his passion and raw talent. The Syosset native went on to join the Broadway casts of Aida and Cabaret, and even returned to Rent after exploring other opportunities.

For the first time since 2007, Pascal returns to the stage in the award-winning musical Memphis, in which he will assume the role of Huey Calhoun starting Oct. 25.

In an interview with Syosset Patch in June, said that his goals included doing more of what he is already doing, while achieving more “control over [his] career and life.”

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Pascal currently resides in California, but come October will only be a train-ride away from his childhood home in The Woodlands development. He seems to be following the course he previously imagined for his future.

“I want to continue to be happy in my marriage, I want my kids to be happy and healthy, and that’s where I am now, and that’s where I hope I am in years to come," Pascal said.

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Pascal is demonstrating smart choices with his new role, which he officially steps into on Oct. 25  at the Shubert Theatre. Pascal replaces original cast member Chad Kimball, who will take his final bow on Oct. 23.

“My knowledge of theater is fairly limited, believe it or not,” Pascal said. “I enjoy trying things that people never expect from me, which is why I love to do the emcee in Cabaret, nobody expected that from me and then when I did and I was good at it people got to see a different side of what I can do.”

Set in the segregated South of the 1950s, Memphis follows the fictionalized life story of a young, white DJ named Huey Calhoon, who falls in love with both rock n’ roll and an exhilarating black singer (Drama Desk winner Montego Glover). Memphis won four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Book and Best Orchestrations.

As Calhoun, Pascal will have the opportunity to add his twist to Huey’s trademark line “Hock-a-doo!” while giving life to some of the wackiest costumes on Broadway. He’ll contribute his vocal talent to Memphis soundtrack favorites such as “Steal Your Rock n’ Roll” and “The Music of My Soul.”

“I love doing musical theater,” Pascal said. “It sounds dorky, but I really do. As a performer, when it works, there’s nothing more fun. Because it’s so difficult to do it well, when it works it’s like lightening striking, so I just love to keep trying to make it work.”

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