Ep. 88- Adam Cates
Questions asked in this episode:
What did you find to be the most shocking part of trying to break into this scene- of trying to break into New York? (5:12)
What is it about self-promotion, and social media obviously plays into that, how do you guide any artist on the art of self-promoting? (24:27)
What has been the best thing that you’ve seen on a social media platform that made you want to there the person? (26:24)
Type Casting (27:40)
Do you remember what one or two of your goals were that you kind of let go, like you thought that they were so important and then you were like "we’re just going to release that”? (39:51)
With over 20 years in the industry Adam Cates has built a career as a choreographer, director, educator and writer. Adam is the co-book writer and choreographer of The World According to Snoopy which will soon launch a US national tour. On Broadway, Adam was the associate choreographer of the Tony-winning ìBest Musicalî A Gentlemanís Guide to Love & Murder and associate directed/choreographed the US national tour. He is the associate choreographer of the Broadway hit Anastasia and worked closely with the other creatives and authors throughout the developmental process.
Adam has choreographed and directed musicals, opera, concerts, corporate and commercial productions. His work has been performed in New York at Lincoln Center, The Juilliard School, NYMF, Feinsteinís/54 Below, and BB Kings. Regional credits include productions for Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Music Theatre Wichita, Anchorage Opera, Gulfshore Playhouse, Bard Music Festival, Theatre Under the Stars, Theatre Aspen, New London Barn Playhouse, and others. He has staged corporate industrials for Revel Resort (Atlantic City) and Walt Disney World, and directed and choreographed the award-winning The Magic of Eli Kerr in Reno/Lake Tahoe. He also choreographed and appeared in an episode of Chicas de Viaje for Telefe TV in Argentina.
Adam began his study of choreography and direction while working as an assistant alongside Tommy Tune, Kathleen Marshall, Peggy Hickey, Patti Colombo, and Darko Tresnjak, among others. He assisted on the Broadway revival of Anything Goes starring Sutton Foster and Joel Grey (Tony Awards- Best Revival/Choreography). Additional associate credits include 90210 (CW Network), Live from Lincoln Center (PBS), Santa Fe Opera, Seattle Opera, NY City Center, national tours of Tommy Tuneís Doctor Dolittle and The Wizard of Oz, Goodspeed Musicals, Paper Mill Playhouse, The Old Globe, Hartford Stage, Holland America Line, Carnival of Wonders (Las Vegas/Atlantic City), and others.
As a dance educator, Adam teaches at the famed Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in New York City where he resides. He has guest taught in Barcelona, Toronto, and across the US and Canada for universities, conservatories, intensives, private studios and on convention tours. Adam is the author of The Business of Show, the essential guidebook for young performers pursuing professional careers that is now a required textbook in several university programs. He holds a BA in Theatre from the University of Utah.
Adam is a passionate storyteller who enjoys the collaborative process. His stylistic and versatile dance vocabulary has proven a valuable asset to a variety of directorial visions.
