'DRAG: The Musical's' Nick Adams Loves Doing Queer Roles
Being a triple threat on Broadway is no small feat, but actor, singer, dancer Nick Adams makes it look effortless. He began his professional career as part of the ensemble in a touring production of "Chicago." Since then he has amassed an impressive list of credits that include creating the role of Adam/Felicia in "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" and revivals of "La Cage Aux Folles" and "A Chorus Line," the latter of which landed him in the tabloids over the switch to a less revealing costume. His film credits include "Sex and the City 2," "An Englishman in New York" and an impressive turn as the smarmy hunk Cooper in "Fire Island."
His latest project is "DRAG: The Musical," the Off-Broadway hit written by and starring drag sensation Alaska Thunderfuck (aka Justin Andrew Honard). The wildly popular production also features New Kid on the Block Joey McIntyre (through December 9, followed by Adam Pascal on December 10); and drag favorites Jujubee, Luxx Noir London, Jan Sport and Lagoona Bloo. The tale of dueling drag houses promises fabulous costumes, shade, bitchy one-liners, live music and real drama in a real theater. (Note: Alaska Thunderfuck continues through January 12, 2024. "RuPaul Drag Race" winner Jimbo replaces her on January 13, 2024.)
For more information and how to get tickets, visit the "DRAG: The Musical" website.
Recently EDGE had the chance to chat with Nick, who was sitting in the dressing room backstage at the New World Stages.
EDGE: How did you first get interested in theater?
Nick Adams: I grew up in Erie, PA, which is a relatively small town on the lake. My mom took me to a New Year's Eve performance at the community theater called First Night Erie. It was a review at the Erie Playhouse. I think I was eight or nine and I remember that moment like it was yesterday. It was the first time I'd been exposed to anything like that. I was on the edge of my seat and my mom could see how almost electric I felt. I said to her afterwards, "I want to do that." She found an audition in the local paper for something at that theater. I auditioned and got one of the leads in "Once Upon a Mattress." I played the Jester. And I was hooked. I did show after show at this little community theater, kind of cut my teeth and got my training there. I never thought about giving myself another option for doing anything else and my parents were in full support of it.
EDGE: At what age did you know you were gay?
Nick Adams: I did summer stock in high school in Cincinnati, OH and that was the first time I was on my own. I had an apartment by myself at 16. I had my car there. I was the only high school student working with a bunch of college kids. I had a fake ID. They took me out to all the gay clubs. I had this fantasy summer for three months and then had to go back to high school to finish my senior year and pretend to date girls again. It was a Catholic school; the environment wasn't really welcoming. It was a different time. I look at kids now and I'm grateful they have the latitude to be themselves, so confident and in touch with who they are. We grew up in different times. It was hard once I got a taste of what life could be and then went back to the stark contrast of Catholic school.
I didn't tell my parents until I was in college, but there were some circumstances growing up that kind of revealed information before I wanted to. My coming out was well-received. They said they were grateful I shared this with them because they had an inkling but didn't want to pry it out of me. They've been the best, always very supportive.
EDGE: You've had a great career so far. Do you have a favorite role?
Nick Adams: It's hard. Honestly each experience, even when I was in the ensemble, was such a milestone for me. "Chicago" was my Broadway debut and it was the first Broadway show I saw in New York City when I was 15. That's sort of serendipitous, full circle. I remember watching that show and thinking "How the hell did they get there?" It seemed so unattainable at the time. The magic of it and the glamor of it, seemed like there's no way I'd ever get to do that. There's something about that experience that I'll never forget.
I had the show posters of "A Chorus Line" and "Chicago" in my dorm room next to each other on the wall. To be able to do both of the shows on Broadway, I still get chills thinking about it. I never thought I'd be the right age when "A Chorus Line" got revived. And it just happened at the right moment.
I remember I was on the West Side Highway going back to my apartment after my last call back and the casting director called me personally, which doesn't happen normally. He said, "You're going to play Larry in the revival." I just started sobbing right there in the back of the yellow cab. The cab driver said, "Sir, are you okay?" It was one of those moments I really cherish. I still can't believe I got to do that show.
EDGE: If you could go back and change something, or have a do-over, about your career, what would it be?
Nick Adams: I'd love to do "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" one more time. I would love to just experience it with less fear. I was so wrapped up in getting it right or being perfect that it almost went by too quickly. I'm emotional talking about it. I was really wrapped up in trying to get it right. I wish I could have my approach now. I feel like I would really take it in more, enjoy more.
EDGE: Are you telling me that even people on Broadway make mistakes?
Nick Adams: Of course, absolutely. I was in my early to mid-20s back then, still trying to be perfect every night like I had something to prove. If I screwed something up or missed a mark, nobody dies from that, but I wouldn't have been able to shake it. I've been able to let that go a lot more now. I wish I could have enjoyed each moment.
Even in "Fire Island," it was such a big deal for me, but in the first few weeks of shooting, I was literally terrified. I was afraid they were going to find out I was bad at it or something. It took me a second to settle in.
EDGE: He was such a horrible character.
Nick Adams: I know, such a dick. He was really fun to play, but I had to take a breath, relax and remember this is what I've always been doing just on a different scale. We're having fun, just pretending to be other people. I wouldn't redo or change any of the choices I've made, but I wish I could go back and have the same freedom then as I do now.
EDGE: You've done a lot of gay roles in gay-centric shows.
Nick Adams: I had a friend point it out to me about two years ago, before this even was happening. I've really sort of crafted this queer forward career for myself and it's been unintentional. I think it's because I've really leaned into who I am and what projects speak to me, but honestly I go where the work is. I don't have the luxury of saying no to a lot of things, but I think people call upon me because they know that this is something I do well. I love to tell these stories and to be a part of these projects. I don't know that it's been a conscious effort, it's just kind of the way it's unfolded.
EDGE: Are you ever concerned that that might become your niche?
Nick Adams: I don't look at it as a negative. If that's the stories I get to tell and the roles I get to play, I love it. I had an agent who was upset that I was so openly gay. He thought it would be really hard for them to sell me. We ended up parting ways after that conversation. I'm not going to craft my personal life around a career. To me, that's not any way to live your life. This is who I am and I own it. I would love to play any interesting role, but if I keep getting work in this lane, bring it. I don't look at it as being pigeonholed.
EDGE: What do you do between jobs?
Nick Adams: Save money and try to get the next one. (Laughs.) I'm auditioning when I'm not in something. I do a lot of concerts, so my survival gig has become doing symphony work. I'll fly to Indianapolis and do their Broadway Pops concert, or I'll fly to Canada and sing with the orchestra there when they do a Broadway concert. I shot a holiday movie last spring and I'm doing another movie this spring. I just did an episode of "FBI: Most Wanted." I'll do a gig that gets me some money and I'll live off of that for a minute. The life of an artist is so inconsistent. In my 20s I loved it, not knowing what's coming next — how exciting! Now in my 40s, it's more like "I wish my bank account was a little more stable." It's the life I've chosen and I still love doing it. If I didn't have the same passion for it, I probably would have left by now. A lot of my classmates have kind of trickled off because it's just not for them anymore.
EDGE: Let's talk about "Drag: The Musical."
Nick Adams: I got a call to see if I'd be interested in recording a studio album of a new musical. I fell in love with the score first and knew it was something I'd be interested in. I flew to LA for a couple days, recorded this album, and it's been sort of a reverse trajectory with the show. They did music first, released this album and then asked me to come back to do a staged reading. It was followed by two small sold out runs. It seemed like it could be a hit, but because I've been in so many new works that never make it here, I had no expectations surrounding it. So many shows get some momentum and money behind them, you think it's going to be your next big hit, a bit of white knuckling, then poof it disappears. I decided I was just going to keep on doing it because it's fun.
EDGE: Sounds like it was a good decision.
Nick Adams: I absolutely love doing the show every day. Even on our day off I can't wait to come to work again, which is not always the case. It's exhausting and it's a lot of effort, the makeup and everything, but I love every single person in this building. They're so much fun to be around. The cast is unbelievable. Everybody really cares about this and is giving 110% to really bring it to life. That's always not the case.
EDGE: What is the show about?
Nick Adams: It's the story of two rival drag queens who open drag clubs across the street from each other. My character falls into financial disarray because she's horrible with money. They put on great shows, they sell out, but she hasn't paid her bills or her taxes. She puts all her money back into the drag and the show. I have to call my brother, an accountant, to help me. He brings his son with him and he's trying to figure out his identity. The world of drag kind of opens his eyes to his inner uniqueness.
The other club is also in a pickle and we need to unite to save ourselves. There's also a lot of sub plots. I guess I'd describe it as "Rocky Horror" and "Rock of Ages" in a blender with Mel Brooks and John Waters comedy. And there's a big heart in the center of it. There's something for everybody. Drag is a universal form of entertainment. There's joy, comedy, visuals. This show's got so many things an audience member could enjoy. And it's unapologetically big and queer. I love that about it.
EDGE: And now Liza Minnelli is involved in it.
Nick Adams: She is one of our lead producers. She joined a couple of weeks ago. I don't want to give too much away, but she's kind of in the show every night. You've got to come to see it.
EDGE: What do you see when you look at yourself in the mirror when in drag?
Nick Adams: It's so transformative. To me there's nothing more theatrical. You really become a different person. It's not just putting on a costume or different shoes that make you stand a different way. I feel like a different human being. In "Chicago," I was the standby for Mary Sunshine. That was my first time in drag in a Broadway show. Getting into drag was like "Whoa, I don't even recognize myself." Then I did "La Cage" with Kelsey Grammer and then "Priscilla." When I was in full drag it's the most empowering, liberating, freeing thing. It's like an alter ego, superhero, powerful being that lives in us and we give ourselves the permission to let it come out. When I put all this makeup on it's more like a fantasy that comes alive. I don't recognize Nick in there.
EDGE: Do you see beautiful in there?
Nick Adams: I kind of laugh because I think I look like Dee Snider from Twisted Sister in drag. I don't necessarily think it's a beautiful woman, but I think it's a beautiful drag queen. I honestly recognize more beauty in me in drag than as a guy when I look in the mirror. It doesn't feel like me, so I'm not looking at every insecurity I have.
EDGE: You're pretty well-known for your muscular physique. Have you always been into fitness?
Nick Adams: I was a gymnast and a dancer. I like being active. My parents were both runners so our household was definitely active. But I was stick skinny all through high school. I look malnourished in photos. In college my teachers said I could be a leading man if I looked like one. That was the approach back then. You had to look like a strapping leading man. I think how they talk about body type and masculinity is much different now. But then, I started going to the gym and eating more.
I went away to do summer stock in St. Louis and I really worked out. I came back and everyone was like "oh." The teachers said this was what they were talking about, so I just kind of kept at it. When I came to New York it only could help. It's sort of been a blessing and a curse, part of the package with me. I've been lucky that there's been many projects I've been a part of where it hasn't been at the forefront. I'm not just getting work because I have muscles. There was a thing with Mario Lopez when he joined "A Chorus Line." It became a tabloid scandal because they changed my costume to cover me up a little bit. All of New York was "the body, the body, the body." It took on a life of its own.
In many ways I am just like that skinny kid in high school that I still see. He's there, he's still present. They never go away. I've learned to accept that and be more welcoming and encouraging as opposed to trying to shove it away.
EDGE: What would you say if you could go back to that skinny little kid in Gary, PA and give him some advice?
Nick Adams: Try to love yourself a little more. You're going to have a great life. Don't be concerned about what people are going to think of you, you're going to fit in. And give yourself a little more love and grace.
For more information and how to get tickets, visit the "DRAG: The Musical" website.
For more on Nick Adams, And check out these pics from his Instagram page.