Biography
For Charles James Adams, a career in performance has always been about the joy of a good story. His path was sparked early on by a deep admiration for the versatile, character-driven work of Ian McNeice, Tim Curry, and Richard Griffiths. Wanting to understand the heart behind that kind of performance magic, Charles committed himself to the craft, earning a Bachelor of Science from Indiana State University and a Master of Arts in Theatre from Regent University.
That training served as a launchpad for a career that has taken him far beyond his Midwestern roots. On the regional stage, Charles has built a diverse resume collaborating with theatres across the country, including Nebraska Repertory, Theatre 7, DayDreams Theatre, Crossroads Repertory, and Quest Theatre. His work has also taken him across the Atlantic, where he had the unique privilege of touring Germany and Poland as the stage manager and understudy for Arthur Feinsod’s "Coming to See Aunt Sophie," and later traveling through Croatia in a production of "Cyrano de Bergerac."
Parallel to his stage work, Charles has spent years honing his craft behind the microphone. He originally found his footing in the broadcast booth at WTRE Radio in southeastern Indiana, where he did a bit of everything, from reporting local news, covering community events, and running live broadcasts as a board operator. That foundational time sparked a lasting love for audio production. Today, he translates that experience into commercial VO work, most notably contributing to the award-winning series, "The Jake Muller Adventures."
He later expanded his talents into film, working on both sides of the camera as both an actor and crew member. Notably, in 2019, he starred as the villain in the indie thriller "The Hunt," an adaptation of Richard Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game," produced by J.R. Productions. His performance earned him a nomination for Best Actor at the 2019 Art is Alive Film Festival in New York City. Since then, he has collaborated with major industry names, including AGBO, Apple TV, The Asylum, and Row K.
Always eager to grow and adapt, Charles recently expanded his toolkit into the cutting-edge world of motion capture. Partnering with OpenMind XR, he provides physical performances to help develop immersive virtual reality programming. It is incredibly rewarding work, specifically designed to support social and emotional skill development for children with ADHD, bridging the gap between performance art and meaningful technology.
When he is not in the studio or under the stage lights, Charles brings his journey full circle by stepping into the classroom. As a passion-driven educator, he has led specialized acting, improvisation, and Commedia dell'arte classes/workshops for camps and schools nationwide, notably in Washington, South Carolina, and Indiana. Grateful for the artists who inspired his own youth, Charles focuses on creating a collaborative environment where students are encouraged to play, take risks, and discover the transformative power of their own creative voices.
