After three decades onstage, Adam Pascal has recently shifted his artistic vision to directing, and he will be making his Arc Stages directorial debut in Pleasantville this fall with “The Last Five Years”. Best known for his performance as Roger Davis in the original Broadway and West End productions of “Rent”, Pascal is ready to bring his experience as an actor to the director’s chair.
“I feel like I have given everything I have to give to the onstage side of my career,” says Pascal. “All of the knowledge that I’ve acquired in the last three decades of doing this has led me to a place where I feel like I know how to create these things – these weird things that we do called musicals.”
After performing at Arc Stages in February 2026, Pascal expressed his interest in directing just as the theater was searching for a director for “The Last Five Years”, making him a natural choice. “The timing was ideal,” says Marlene Canapi, the Strategic Growth Officer of Arc Stages. “His strong musical background, combined with decades of performing on Broadway and beyond, positioned him to bring unique insight, authenticity, and artistic vision to the production.”
Although “The Last Five Years” has had numerous productions, Pascal is excited to present it in a new light. “I don’t think it’s really been done in a way that I think allows it to be as good as it can be,” he says.
“The Last Five Years” tells the story of the rise and fall of a relationship through two perspectives, with one character’s story unfolding chronologically and the other in reverse. Pascal says the play is traditionally presented as two characters singing in real time, reflecting on events as they happen, “but [he’s] interested in maybe presenting it a little bit differently.”
Pascal was careful, however, to not reveal too much. “I think that this is a bold interpretation of a way to present this show, and I hope it works. I hope people are intrigued by it, and I hope that my instinct on it is right.”
Pascal says, “having a vision is a rarity,” and he has observed wastefulness in production when creative leaders are unable to follow their instincts. While his interpretation of “The Last Five Years” is a risk, he says it is anchored in a clear vision. “It’s a gamble, but I think one that’s going to be a lot of fun,” says Pascal.
The production is currently casting and plans to begin rehearsals in September before opening later that month. Pascal says his experience gives him a unique empathy for the actors he will direct. “I think I work really well with actors because of that,” he says. “I know exactly what they’re experiencing.”
Pascal’s career continues to connect him with his acting and past productions. He is excited to reunite with the original cast of “Rent” this August for the show’s 30th anniversary during “The Festival”, a three-day Broadway festival in New York. The celebration of the beloved “Rent” will continue with the 30th anniversary concert on October 26 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.
After performing on some of the biggest stages in the world, Pascal is excited to take on directing at a local, community-centered theater as he is “figuring out and discovering [himself] as a director.” He also appreciates being able to return home after work each night. Pascal continuing to build his directing career beyond Arc Stages. He is directing “Dear Evan Hansen” this summer in Massachusetts, and in the fall, he is directing “Our Little Secret” in Toronto and “Cabaret” in Connecticut. For some shows, he is still finding his vision. For “The Last Five Years”, he says it is already there.
