[August 10, 2011] The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, Rick Rogers column Tweet Aug 07, 2011 (The Oklahoman - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Skyler Adams scarcely remembers a time when he wasn't involved in some aspect of theater. At age 4, he made his debut in an Oklahoma Children's Theatre production. Four years later, the Oklahoma native was cast in Lyric Theatre's "Damn Yankees." Genetics likely played some role in the actor's young life. His mother, Lisa Fox Adams, has spent most of her adult life as a performer, while his father, Keith Adams, occasionally serves as music director for local theater productions. Skyler Adams also had numerous opportunities to watch his older sister and brother as they began to stretch their own theatrical wings. "We moved to Florida when I was 9 years old and all of us got parts in a production of 'Gypsy' in Orlando," Adams said recently. "That's kind of when I realized how cool theater was. By the time I was a senior in high school, theater was the only thing I could picture myself doing for the rest of my life." As a music theater major at the University of Oklahoma, Adams was cast in many leading roles, including J. Pierpont Finch in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," Al in "A Chorus Line," Roger in "Rent" and Hero in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." Student performers always hope their talents will attract the attention of producers, casting agents or playwrights. Adams had one of those rare opportunities when Neil Bartram and Brian Hill were invited to spend several weeks in residence at OU. The collaborators had been commissioned by the Chicago Shakespeare Theater to develop a musical titled "The Adventures of Pinocchio" and spent much of their time at OU putting the finishing touches on the musical. Impressed with Adams' acting abilities, Bartram and Hill asked Adams to read for the part of Pinocchio. That led to a second audition in January 2011 which ultimately resulted in Adams being cast in the new musical. "The Adventures of Pinocchio" runs through Aug. 28 at the Courtyard Theater on Chicago's Navy Pier. "I burst out of a log on stage which is my welcome to the world," Adams said by phone from Chicago. "Pinocchio is totally unaware of authority or danger. He's a mixture of a little brat and bright-eyed little boy. It's kind of like walking through life with no sense of what your actions may cause." Starring in a show that was shaped and crafted with his specific acting and vocal abilities in mind has been a high point in Adams' brief career, a completely different experience from playing a role in a musical theater classic that everyone knows. "It's done in such a creative way that you are captivated and totally drawn to this new story," Adams said of "Pinocchio." "It's really touching and sweet and funny. I've been amazed how much kids get into it and how honest their responses are. "We've also been encouraged to sign autographs afterwards. Many of the kids are so awestruck because this is often their first play. I like to think that's what theater is all about -- seeing the effect a show has on people. It's why we do this." HAVE YOU MET? Skyler Adams To see more of The Oklahoman, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.newsok.com. Copyright (c) 2011, The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]