Lucas Adams.

By Brian Walker

Entire contents are copyright © 2013, Brian Walker. All rights reserved.

Lucas Adams is one of the nicest guys doing theatre in Louisville. Right now, he’s spending his days raising money for StageOne and his nights directing women to be lesbians with an affinity for quiche. He’s known for his infectious smile and his signature bow ties, and the play he’s directed for Pandora Productions, 5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche, opens this week.

Brian Walker:  Mr. Adams, be my next victim for 17 Questions! I’d love to profile you and what’s going on with you in Louisville…if you’re willing?

Lucas Adams:  I would love to!!!!

BW:  Awesome!  Here we go!  Number 1:  You work at StageOne. What’s your official title and what all does your job entail?

LA:  I am the Associate Director of Development. I work to raise money for the company through grant writing and working with individual donors to support our mission and programming.

BW:  Number 2:  If you had to pick something, what would you say is your favorite thing about working at StageOne?

LA:  The kiddos! Every donor who gives is giving so a child can experience arts education; every show we do helps our kiddos experience the world around them with new eyes. I love it!

BW:  Number 3:  And I just saw you in the Courier-Journal last week smiling and dancing, and the kids around you looked completely enthralled. Such a great shot! But what was going on there?

LA:  In addition to my other work, I am the Chairman of Kindergarten Countdown here in Louisville. Kindergarten Countdown is a city-wide initiative to help prepare students and families to be ready to start learning on the first day of school. Organizations throughout the city hold learning events during the summer that students and families can participate in, Only 35 percent of rising JCPS kindergartners were actually ready to start school last year. We are working to help make increase that number. I was honored to be asked to be a part of the kick-off press conference with Mayor Fischer and other community leaders. Those little ones in that photo were there to help us kick it off in style!

BW:  Wow, that’s very cool!  Number 4:  You’re directing Pandora’s season closer, 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche (love the title!). What was it about the show that made you want to direct it?

LA:  This show is raunchy and messy and hilarious, yet it has so much heart and carries such an important message to its audience. I love a good comedy, and I love directing them. But if it has a deeper message, even better. If we can edify AND make laugh…awesome!

Lucas Adams directing Leah Roberts & Douglas Scott Sorenson in
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
BW:  Number 5:  Are you directing any productions next season?
LA:  I am. I am slated to direct Young Frankenstein at the Alley Theatre as well as Best Christmas Pageant Ever at StageOne, and another Pandora production as well.

BW:  Number 6:  If a local company would hire you to direct any play in the world, with no concern of budget, what would it be and why?

LA:  Fiddler on the Roof. It would be big and massive and so loud and beautiful. I saw a production in Stratford, Canada, that still hits me. Fiddleris about love and the fierce fight for your family. No matter what, we will always be family, dammit, and Anatevka will always be my home, and no one will ever take that away from me!

BW:  Number 7:  I’ve seen you onstage as well numerous times, but not lately. Are you making a conscious choice to move more towards directing? Or has it just worked out that way? 

LA:  I didn’t realize it until a few months ago, but I haven’t been on stage much at all since 2011. I love acting and I always will, and I still get the urge sometimes. But I adore directing and working with actors and designers. There is nothing quite like digging into a script and working with a group of people to tell a story. Also, I don’t miss having to memorize lines.

BW:  Number 8:  When you’re not consumed in doing theatre, what can you more often than not be found doing? 

LA:  I love to read. I will read just about anything, though I will admit that I read a lot of comic books. I also read a great deal of children’s literature. A Wrinkle in Time is my favorite book of all time.

BW:  Number 9:  What’s the best book you’ve read in the last year or so? 

LA:  There is a great comic series going on right now called The Manhattan Projects by Jonathan Hickman…really amazing art and writing coming together. As for non-comic books – probably When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.

BW:  Number 10:  What’s your go-to comfort food?  

LA:  Peanut butter and jelly and a glass of milk.

BW:  Number 11:  What advice would you give to someone looking to break into the local arts scene?

LA:  Say yes. Be the person who smiles and says yes to every role or gig you get. We are always learning, and every show is a chance to learn. Be nice…ALWAYS BE NICE!!!

BW:  Number 12:  I see you in bow ties a lot and I love it; I think they’re very charming. Where did your love for the bow tie come from?

LA:  I started to see folks wearing them and really loved the style; it’s old-school and classy. My best friend gave me one for my birthday a while back, and after many you-tube videos I learned how to tie it. I love tie-wear of any kind; I love to dress up. But I love a good bow tie.

BW:  Number 13:  If you could have dinner with anyone alive in the world right now, who would it be and what would you talk about?

LA:  Stephen Adley Guirgis and Tracy Letts. These two playwrights just seem to get the theatre I like: unafraid, raw, beautifully messy stuff. I would ask Guirgis about The Last Days of Judas Iscariot and Letts about Bug.

BW:  Number 14:  What’s your favorite local bar?

LA:  I love Garage Bar…there is nothing better than sitting outside with a well-made old-fashioned.

BW:  Number 15:  Who is someone who inspires you and why?

LA:  My parents…they have helped me through a great deal recently and always inspired me to work very hard for what I want. When I said I wanted to do theatre, they said, “Great! Let’s get to work!”

BW:  That’s amazing!  Number 16:  I know you see a lot of local theatre too. Are there any upcoming productions next season you’re really excited about seeing?

LA:  I am excited for several pieces: Theatre[502] offerings this summer look awesome, and I cant wait for Noises Off! at ATL. I LOVE THAT SHOW! I’m interested to see Wit at CenterStage; that’s a beautiful piece, as I am a big John Donne fan. Also Lear at Savage Rose.

BW:  And finally, Number 17:  What’s one thing folks would be surprised to learn about you?

LA:  I HATE camping.

5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche

Directed by Lucas Adams

June 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 at 7:30 p.m.; June 23 & 30 at 5:30 p.m.; and Saturday, June 29 at 2 p.m.

Pandora Productions at

The Henry Clay Theatre

604 S. 3rd St., 3rd Floor
Louisville, KY 40202

***TICKETS $18 online at www.PandoraProds.org or by phone at 502.216.5502***