Meet Adryan Russ | Composer, Lyricist, Writer & Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adryan Russ and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adryan, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
As a composer and lyricist, I write and co-write songs. I write them for individual recordings, film and TV and, my first love, musical theater. As a returned Peace Corp Volunteer, where I served for two years in Medellín, Colombia, my primary desire is always to help in some way — to help a listener, or an audience see something they may not have thought of before — something that triggers new thinking, and hopefully thinking that encourages them to think hopefully, peacefully and honestly. Please feel free to visit: adryanruss.com, playworksmusic.com, emptyhandsthemusical.com

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve co-written several musicals — INSIDE OUT went from a local theater in North Hollywood, California, to an off-Broadway Theatre in New York City. It’s a musical based on my personal experience, having been in a women’s therapy group. That journey took several years, and let us know that maybe we should be doing this more. Other musicals include iGHOST and LOVE AGAIN with Haverty, THE RIGHT IS OURS and THE UGLY DUCKLING with Lloyd J. Schwartz. Putting up a new musical is never easy — there are many challenges. But as you learn how to overcome those challenges, you get better for the next time. Sometimes a challenge is dealing with a director whose perspective may not be the same as yours, or an actor who wants to change some of your lyrics, or a production that’s promised funding that falls apart. One thing I learned is that the way through is alway the way out — you focus on what steps you need to take to get where you need to go, and find a way to move forward. I had the privilege of co-writing LIFE’S A STITCH with Lissa Levin, a benefit at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California for The Susan Love Breast Cancer Foundation with a terrific Broadway cast.

I have a musical called EMPTY HANDS that’s waiting for a producer’s love. It’s about a rebel high school student who can’t stop fighting. As a result, he’s expelled and must start over at a new school in his senior year. His new school has a physical education class he didn’t know exists: martial arts. Not the kind you see in film or on TV, which teaches kids how to fight — but instead, one that teaches how to STOP fighting — forever. This is something we need more than ever in today’s world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Since I’m a nature lover, I love Descanso Gardens in Pasadena — a place where one can walk around for several blocks of nothing but trees, flowers, gardens. There are special exhibits over the holidays. The Griffith Observatory is a great place to visit for those interested in what’s going on beyond Planet Earth.

Some favorite restaurants include: Tam O’Shanter (best prime rib), Casa Bianca in Eagle Rock (best pizza), Kabuki in Burbank (the best sushi).

There are wonderful shows at Catalina Jazz Club, and of course many theaters, such as The Colony (Burbank), Sierra Madre Playhouse (Sierra Madre), The Group Repertory Theatre (North Hollywood), The Rubicon (Ventura), Ensemble Theatre Company (Santa Barbara).

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are many people to thank. First, my husband Dale Alan Cooke, whose love and support is my foundation. I’ve had many collaborators in the world of music and musical theater — my theater writing partner Doug Haverty and my song co-writer Joel Evans are standouts. My personal support friends — Cindy Warden, Lissa Levin, Patty Silversher. I could write paragraphs about each of them. I thank Bruce Kimmel, who produced my album “Everyone Has A Story” (available on LML Music). I’d also like to acknowledge The Society of Composers & Lyricists (TheSCL.com) where I served on the Board for 12 years and have had the honor of personally interviewing many legendary composers and lyricists for The SCL magazine “The Score” — such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Alex Lacamoire, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, Stephen Schwartz and John Powell, among others, who always inspire me with their talent, their processes and their accomplishments.

Website: adryanruss.com emptyhandsthemusical.com playworksmusic.com

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