Welcome to BroadwayWorld's first-ever talk show, BACKSTAGE WITH Richard Ridge. Follow Richard as he visits the theater's best and brightest in their dressing rooms, on their stages and favorite hang outs to talk about their lives, careers and all of the things you don't know, but want to know.
Previous guests include Spidey lovebirds Reeve Carney and Jennifer Damiano, UK's First Lady of musical Theatre, Elaine Paige, Spring Awakening alum and GLEE favorite Jonathan Groff, Follies star Jan Maxwell, Godspell's "Jesus", Hunter Parrish, movie musical mavericks Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, 'That Girl" Marlo Thomas, Blockbuster babies Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Bartha and the cast of ASUNCION, and Broadway's "it" boy Jeremy Jordan.
This time, we bring you Adam Pascal, RENT's original "Roger" and newest resident of MEMPHIS, "Huey Calhoun". In this candid talk, Pascal opens up about the joys and challenges of taking over a celebrated role, what it was like becoming so famous, so fast, and why he - surprisingly - wasn't the biggest fan of the RENT film.
Pascal originated the role of Roger in the Off-Broadway, Broadway, and London productions of RENT. He also originated the role of Radames in Disney's AIDA by Elton John and Tim Rice. Adam played the final Emcee in the Sam Mendes/ Rob Marshall production of CABARET. Other highlights include starring as Freddy Trumper in CHESS alongside Josh Groban and Idina Menzel at Royal Albert Hall.
Critically acclaimed MEMPHIS won four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score (David Bryan and Joe DiPietro), Best Book (Joe DiPietro), and Best Orchestrations (David Bryan andDaryl Waters).
MEMPHIS won four Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Performance by an Actress (Montego Glover), Outstanding Music (David Bryan) and Outstanding Orchestration (David Bryan and Daryl Waters). MEMPHIS has also won four Outer Critic Circle Awards including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Score (David Bryan & Joe DiPietro), Outstanding Actress (Montego Glover) and Outstanding Choreography (Sergio Trujillo).
MEMPHIS features a Tony-winning score with music by Bon Jovi's founding member/keyboardistDavid Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Tony-winner Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change), who also pens the musical's book. MEMPHIS is based on a concept by the late George W. George (producer of the Tony nominated Bedroom Farce and the film My Dinner With Andre), with direction by Tony nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreography by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys).
