According to Telecharge, Adam Pascal starts playing the role of "Billy Flynn" beginning April 8th. Honestly, I'm not too familiar with him. For those of you who know his work, thoughts? from RC in Austin, Texas
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
I don't understand all the comments I'm hearing about Pascal's age. Billy Flynn does not have to be a certain age. He's been played by everyone from Usher (age 27) to George Hamilton (age 63).
Yes, it's weird to see a former heartthrob age into a role that...could be the same age as the role he became famous for.
That said, I love Adam and will definitely be making a return trip to CHICAGO to see him. I think he could be good, but very different than most of the Billys.
Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters. ~ Wicked
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent
This would definitely get me to see Chicago again. I think he'll be great. In an interview, Christine Pedi talked about a new Billy coming in, but at the time she couldn't say who just yet. This is very exciting news.
I don't think the idea of a "hearthrob" "aging into" this part is weird -- no matter his age, Billy has to be charming, no? Plus, Taye Diggs played the part. If Taye ain't a heartthrob, I dunno what is. If anything is weird about it it's just that seeing an actor "age into" a new set of role options forces us to think about how old we've all gotten.
(But at the risk of negating all of of that, yeah, Billy can really be any age so whatever.)
Anyway, I think Adam is one of those actors who is always full of surprises, and often proves wrong ideas people have about what he can and can't do. He's been wanting to play this part for a long time, so more power to him. I'll get my ass there eventually.
Amy Spanger, Adam Pascal, Amra Faye Wright, and Christine Pedi will all be in CHICAGO by the middle of next week. It's been six years since I last saw the show, but it sounds like the time has come.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
I know that Adam Pascal has been in "Rent" and "Aida", but I've never seen a performance of his. Also, to be quite honest. I'm not a fan of "Rent." But, I'm aware that he's a very talented person. I remember listening to him from a Seth Rudetsky interview. I'll get a chance to see him in person when I see "Chicago" on Fri. June 7th. from RC in Austin, Texas
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
I don't think his age is a problem, I think the fact the role is supposed to be funny would be my reservation. But I'm just not a fan. I saw Spanger about a month ago and she was great though and Amra Faye-Wright was too, would love to see Pedi, I bet she'll bring down the house with her two numbers.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Amra is the weak link here. She's been walking through that role for years. They should bring someone back like Luba Mason. Her dancing wasn't spectacular, but she was fresh and sexy in the role. At the time, I was enthralled seeing a Velma with long blonde hair.
I was a big-time RENThead in high school, but I think Pascal's best recorded work is his performance as Freddie Trumper on the "Chess" DVD. He'll certainly bring a new edginess to Billy Flynn. Wish I could see it!
Well said, Emcee, I agree. He's a year or two older than me, so his age and charisma make him a great choice for the role. Anyone know how long the contract is for? I have a feeling I won't get back to NY til later this year, if at all. Something tells me it's designed to be a limited engagement.
"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had the practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." --Alice in Wonderland
"TO LOVE ANOTHER PERSON IS TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD"- LES MISERABLES---
"THERE'S A SPECIAL KIND OF PEOPLE KNOWN AS SHOW PEOPLE... WE'RE BORN EVERY NIGHT AT HALF HOUR CALL!"--- CURTAINS
Lovepuppy, Adam Pascal's contract is from April 8 -- June 16. I'm sure the producers of "Chicago" are counting on Pascal's fans & Rentheads to see him in the show. from RC in Austin, Texas
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
Nevermind, Google told me. That's weirdly short, even for Chicago. I hope he extends cause I've been waiting over a decade for this and I don't think I can get to NY by June 16.
Okay wait, edited AGAIN because Theatermania says Christine Pedi's run ends June 16. No date for Adam. I'm awaiting a response from a real-life person I trust on the same info, but in the meanwhile I'd love to know where that's coming from.