February 10, 2017

Holyoke Catholic grad lands role in ‘Book of Mormon’ touring company

REGIONAL
By Peggy Weber

SPRINGFIELD – On Feb. 14, Holyoke Catholic High School graduate PJ Adzima will have a lot to celebrate. He will not just acknowledge Valentine’s Day, but this date will mark a triumphant return to the area as he appears in “The Book of Mormon” at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, Conn. (The play runs until Feb. 19.)

The 23-year-old will play Elder McKinley in the hit musical, which has been on Broadway for six years. PJ, in a phone interview from Richmond, Virginia, said he is thrilled to be in the traveling company he joined just a week ago.

“I remember listening to the sound track of the musical for the first time. I can remember where I was and what I was doing. It was wonderful to pursue the role and to be in a production like this, now, is just amazing,” he said.

Adzima, who has been described as a young Neil Patrick Harris, said “This is definitely the largest thing I have had done to date.” He said the auditioning process was lengthy, stressful and took almost three months.

And the first thing he did when he found out he had been given the part, he said, was to call his loved ones.

He said he called his girlfriend, Julia Knitel, who graduated with him from Marymount Manhattan College. She shares his love of acting and is appearing in the lead role in “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.”

He also called his mother, Liz Adzima. “My mom carted me around for years,” he said, noting that he has been involved in acting since age 8.

PJ is the son of Liz and Paul Adzima. He has one brother, Eric, a senior at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. A resident of Belchertown, he is a graduate of St. John the Baptist School in Ludlow and the Class of 2011 at Holyoke Catholic.

When asked about his experience in theater at Holyoke Catholic, he praised the program. “I was lucky to be in a lot of plays there. And being part of the performing arts community there was my favorite part of school. I was so happy to be a part of it.”

He said he could not name a favorite role or play while he was there. “I loved it all. And it helped develop such great friendships,” he said. He noted that he especially enjoyed how many students spent the summer months getting ready for the fall production.

Adzima said he has known since his first role as the Duke of York in Shakespeare’s “Richard III” that he wanted to act. “It’s a great blessing to know that this is what I was supposed to do with the rest of my life. I have never considered the option of doing anything else. And I am always happy when I am in a production,” he said.

He has a lot to be happy about. His resume is very full considering his relatively young age. His credits on pjadzima.com date back to the Six Flags New England Improv Team and a role of Matt in “The Fantasticks” at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield.

However, he admits that he has been busy but has worked hard to pursue his dream. Until he landed the role in “The Book of Mormon,” he says he was juggling four jobs.

“Right before the part I was working four survival jobs. I worked as a waiter. I drove a truck. I worked in a warehouse. And I worked for a catering company,” he said.

Now, he will be on the road from the Midwest to California for the next six months. He has a contract for that period of time and will see what happens then. Right now, he is enjoying the fact that he can act and make a living at it.

“This has been such a huge dream. I always said I love being an actor. My goal is not be famous, but to act and the fact that it lets me pay my bills is wonderful,” he said.

He said that he believes persistence is part of being an actor.

However, Adzima says he loves acting with or without a paycheck. “Theater – it’s about people coming together. There’s always another project. Every project and every show can lead to another.”

He acknowledged that there are many talented actors and writers in New York City, but many do not have the opportunity to appear on Broadway or a bigger stage. He said that he and his friends started their own production company and he is the artistic director at Madcap Repertory Theatre.

“It’s off, off Broadway. However, some of the best shows I have been in have been there and other places. I say everyone starts at the same place – usually obscurity,” he said.

Right now, though, Adzima is becoming better known. He looks forward to seeing people when he is home next week. He said he loves singing his solo song, “Turn It Off.”

He was heading to the theater to perform but said, with the great enthusiasm he displayed during the lengthy conversation, “I am so happy to be interviewed. And it is wonderful that it is coming at the time of such a wonderful occasion. I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me and everyone who loves to support the arts.

“It’s been great to have so many people cheering you on. I’m blessed.  I have had only support while pursuing this dream,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s a dream that you get to do what you love to do.”