4 minute read
Rapping to Success
RAPPING TO SUCCESS
SPOTLIGHT ON: ADAM FASANO
By Lauren Speirs
How a unique talent helped Adam Fasano overcome early learning differences…
Originally from Dutchess County, New York, Adam Fasano started acting when he was just 8 years old. Adam’s mom was a professional actress until she started a family - then she opened a dance school as well as a theater company called Trinity Players. Her goal was to give her children a tight-knit community and an opportunity to perform with her theatre company.
While his relationship with the stage began with Trinity Players, Adam also expressed an interest in musicals and plays at school.
In his youth, Adam was diagnosed with global dysphasia which affects the brain’s language centers and leads to difficulty expressing and understanding language.
Many people that are affected by global dysphasia often have extreme difficulty reading, writing, understanding speech, and even speaking.
For Adam, his dysphasia even affected his ability to read and caused him to step away from theatre for a time. It was only through a newly found passion for composing rap lyrics that Adam was able to teach himself how to read. The rhythm of rapping made it easier for him to express and understand language. Little did he know that this new passion would open up a number of doors for him in the theatre world and beyond.
With newly found confidence and energy fueled by his love of rap, Adam rediscovered the theater as a great creative outlet for him and continued performing again in high school.
Despite the challenges he faced in stepping back in the spotlight, Adam found out that he not only enjoyed musical theatre, but really enjoyed acting in plays as well. “I liked the challenge (of performing plays over a musical) - I felt more grounded and more mellow.”
Adam was originally a snow bird; spending winters in Naples and summers back in New York. One day over the Christmas holiday in 2017 he was walking down 5th Avenue with his Mom and realized - “there’s a theater here!” After further research, “I learned that The Naples Players (TNP) was a community theater and they were doing The Music Man later on that season.” At the time, TNP was hosting auditions for another show, My Fair Lady, but
Adam recalls, “I got scared because you have to call and make an appointment to audition. I thought, ‘that’s some Broadway type deal!’”
Luckily for TNP, Adam was feeling braver by the time auditions for The Music Man rolled around in 2018 and he landed the role of Tommy Djilas. As far as his initial experience goes, Adam says, “It was great. Everyone was welcoming and there wasn’t a bad bone in anyone’s body. Dawn and Charlie (Fornara) are great and want to bring out the best in you. When you get hit with the reality of everyone’s energy, you just feel like you’re safe.”
After performing in The Music Man, Adam says,
Adam back flips on stage during The Music Man.
As of 2020, Adam is a full-time Naples resident and has continued to focus his creative energy on furthering his rap career.
Despite his busy schedule, he keeps coming back to TNP for more theater! “I always say this is the last one - but then I get the bug after doing a show. It’s so great and you want more of that. It really has to do with the environment and how professional everyone is. No one takes themselves too seriously. You really feel like we are all in this together and genuinely enjoying each other’s company. That’s why I keep coming back.”
Adam Fasano (far left) raps on stage in Baker Park during the recent production of Footloose.
A man of many talents, Adam is passionate about martial arts, drawing sketches, rapping, and editing his own music videos. Also, he practiced gymnastics when he was a kid and, if you catch him in a TNP performance, you might see him do the odd back handspring!
“When I auditioned for The Music Man, they asked if I could do any tricks. I said I could do a back tuck and in my head I was thinking - can I still do this?! I did it and they were like- ‘you’re in!’”
Coming full circle, Adam recently put all of his talents on display during the outdoor TNP production of Footloose in February 2021. In the lead role of Ren, Adam sang, danced, flipped - and yes, he even rapped - through a commanding performance that left audiences demanding more.
Thankfully, he’s back again for The Wedding Singer, this time in the supporting role of Sammy. But again he finds himself surrounded by familiar faces who support him and his craft to the fullest.
Adam’s appreciation for the supportive family environment at The Naples Players stems from the encouragement and community that was created by his mom. “She’s never critical after she sees one of my performances. She’s not judgmental and is really supportive. She’s also a snowbird so she gets to see me perform quite a bit at The Naples Players.”
We can only hope that Adam (and maybe even his mom) will continue to find comfort and support on and off the stage at TNP for years to come.
Adam stars in the outdoor production of Footloose.
Showcasing his dancing skills, Adam joins the ensemble of Guys and Dolls.
