JD Triolo is an up and coming young actor who is currently in Media Theatre’s production of The Addams Family as Pugsley. I met Triolo when he was playing Young Patrick in a co-production of Mame at Media Theatre and Bucks County Playhouse in the Spring of 2013. I have seen Triolo in several production since then, and I had a chance to speak with him about playing Pugsley as well as what he has been doing since last year.

Kelli Curtin: Could you tell me about the character you play in The Addams Family, Pugsley?

JD Triolo: Pugsley is a very weird character, and he is confused in what he wants. His sister, Wednesday, finds love, and Pugsley is afraid she will stop torturing him when they play together. Pugsley does not want Wednesday to stop torturing him and leave him.

From an acting standpoint, this role is challenging, but I still have fun playing this character.

Kelli Curtin: What is your favorite thing about playing Pugsley? Is there anything you find challenging about playing Pugsley?

JD Triolo: This role is not like anything else I have done before. He has a mean side to him and likes to blow things up for fun. Pugsley is like a villain, but a likable and funny villain.

Kelli Curtin: What is your favorite part of the show?

JD Triolo: The song “Pulled” is my favorite number in the show. In this song Pugsley is on a torture machine and he is screaming because the machine is pulling his limbs.

I also like “When You’re an Addams.” This is one of most choreographed numbers I have done, and this is the most choreographed show that I have danced in.

Kelli Curtin: The last time we spoke, you were playing Young Patrick in Mame at The Media Theatre and Bucks County Playhouse. How have these experiences helped you grow as an actor?

JD Triolo: After I did Mame I started to learn how to play different types of characters. Young Patrick is a lot like me, very curious, and I  have played that type of personality in many shows. Pugsley is a more secretive character, but he is still outgoing like Young Patrick. Both these characters are yearning for something, Young Patrick for his parents and Pugsley wants the attention he gets from Wednesday when she tortures him. When I play Pugsley I am stepping outside my comfort zone; Pugsley’s family is not a happy one.

Kelli Curtin: How is it to work with Jeff Coon and Jennie Eisenhower?

JD Triolo: It is so much fun. Both Jeff and Jennie are so supportive of “kid” actors. I look up to both of them for their guidance in this business. Jennie [Eisenhower] and a few others were talking about how in this business it is full of rejection, and actors have to have a tough-skin. In addition, this is my first lead role with Jeff [Coon] and I am so excited to be in this with him.

Kelli Curtin: You told me in our previous interview that you would love to play Pugsley in The Addams Family someday. How do you feel about playing this role?

JD Triolo: I am so excited to play this role; it has been one of my dream roles ever since I saw the show on Broadway. I saw the show when I was eight years old, and I was not focused on the songs, it was just amazing to see it on stage. I caught the acting “bug” then.

Kelli Curtin: Do you have a new list of roles you would like to play?

JD Triolo: Yes! I would love to play Don Lockwood in Singin’ in the Rain, I really liked that role when I saw it a couple years ago. Also, Dr. Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein, Danny Zuko in Grease, Elder Cunningham in Book of Mormon, Mr. Wormwood in Matilda and I would love to be in Newsies. In addition, I really loved seeing The Story of My Life and would love to play either role in that show.

Kelli Curtin: What projects have you done over the last year and what other projects do you have coming up?

JD Triolo: I was Michael Hobbs in Elf at the Walnut Street Theatre and I had an opportunity to work with Christopher Sutton and Krissie Fraelich. I played Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast at Malvern Prep, and I did Tommy at Theatre Horizon. Also, I did a movie Carver and it was an amazing experience. I had a chance over the summer to take part in the Broadway Artist Alliance Camp where I met Sutton Foster and Laura Osnes. Next at the Media Theatre, I will be in the Youth Ensemble in Les Misérables. In 2015, I will be in the Youth Miscast Cabaret in January at the Media Theatre, and a play called Leap of Faith in NYC in February.

JD Triolo can currently be seen at the Media Theatre in The Addams Family through November 2, 2014. For more information and tickets visit their website at www.mediatheatre.org. For more information on JD Triolo visit his website at www.jdtriolo.com. 

Kelli Curtin is editor and writer for theatresensation.com. In addition, she is a contributor for the online site broadwayworld.com and is a freelance writer. Kelli is excited to share her passion about theatre and the Arts with her readers. Kelli can be found on twitter @theatrescribe and on Facebook/theatresensation..