Kyle Adam Blair - pianist, new music specialist, vocal coach
Theatre
|
production photos by Rich Soublet
|
Gone Missing
(music director, on-stage drumset, on-stage piano)
2/28/2025 - 3/8/2025 / Arthur Wagner Theatre / The University of California, San Diego
created by The Civilians
written by Steven Cosson
music and lyrics by Michael Friedman
directed by Aysan Celik
music direction by Kyle Adam Blair
choreography by Scarlett Arreola
costume design by Ting Xiong
lighting design by Spencer Duff
sound design by Padra Crisafulli
link to program here
- - -
"In 2002, The Civilians decided to interview New Yorkers about things lost and found, as an indirect response to the
grief and loss of 9/11. The director Steve Cosson and composer Michael Friedman asked me to research and
perform in the original production of Gone Missing, but I wasn’t able to do it at the time. I saw the show multiple
times, fangirled over it, and regularly sang along to the soundtrack. After performing in many Civilians shows over
the years, it was still my favorite. When I did perform in Gone Missing in 2018, it was for a heartbreaking reason.
New York City Center Encores produced a revival of it in memory of Michael, who had died several months earlier at
the young age of 41. He had been one of the most gifted and prolific composers of our generation. During the show
I remember standing on stage, preparing to sing what is possibly my favorite Michael song ever (“Etch-a-Sketch”),
with a heart full of love and grief for my friend, in front of 1200 people who were also grieving. Years later, directing
this fantastic cast of students in the show has been one of the most meaningful experiences I have had as an artist
and educator. It’s incredible to hear their voices bring the piece to life in a whole new way, and to find that it still
resonates with us. I am so grateful to our understudies who were a major part of this process; we could not have
done it without them. Every time I watch the students perform, I understand the grief of loss a little bit more. In a
moment where it feels like the world is collapsing, being in the rehearsal room with these students has been a true
gift, and I hope our community will find this piece as meaningful as I do."
- Aysan Celik
(music director, on-stage drumset, on-stage piano)
2/28/2025 - 3/8/2025 / Arthur Wagner Theatre / The University of California, San Diego
created by The Civilians
written by Steven Cosson
music and lyrics by Michael Friedman
directed by Aysan Celik
music direction by Kyle Adam Blair
choreography by Scarlett Arreola
costume design by Ting Xiong
lighting design by Spencer Duff
sound design by Padra Crisafulli
link to program here
- - -
"In 2002, The Civilians decided to interview New Yorkers about things lost and found, as an indirect response to the
grief and loss of 9/11. The director Steve Cosson and composer Michael Friedman asked me to research and
perform in the original production of Gone Missing, but I wasn’t able to do it at the time. I saw the show multiple
times, fangirled over it, and regularly sang along to the soundtrack. After performing in many Civilians shows over
the years, it was still my favorite. When I did perform in Gone Missing in 2018, it was for a heartbreaking reason.
New York City Center Encores produced a revival of it in memory of Michael, who had died several months earlier at
the young age of 41. He had been one of the most gifted and prolific composers of our generation. During the show
I remember standing on stage, preparing to sing what is possibly my favorite Michael song ever (“Etch-a-Sketch”),
with a heart full of love and grief for my friend, in front of 1200 people who were also grieving. Years later, directing
this fantastic cast of students in the show has been one of the most meaningful experiences I have had as an artist
and educator. It’s incredible to hear their voices bring the piece to life in a whole new way, and to find that it still
resonates with us. I am so grateful to our understudies who were a major part of this process; we could not have
done it without them. Every time I watch the students perform, I understand the grief of loss a little bit more. In a
moment where it feels like the world is collapsing, being in the rehearsal room with these students has been a true
gift, and I hope our community will find this piece as meaningful as I do."
- Aysan Celik
Proudly powered by Weebly