“Fresh, breezy, and very funny indeed, pretty much a perfect summer entertainment”
– The New York Times

This special engagement honors the work of composer and Off-Center Artistic Director Michael Friedman, whose life was tragically cut short last summer.

“Michael Friedman was a brilliant and prolific composer and lyricist, a pianist, a thinker, a mile-a-minute talker, a gesticulator, a person who dazzled and could leave you dizzied—not just by his talent and intelligence but by his kindness and humanity, which were always at the forefront of his work.” (The New Yorker)

In 2003, New York City theater troupe The Civilians interviewed real people about the physical objects they’d lost—keys, a sapphire ring, a Gucci pump. The wry and whimsical docu-musical that emerged, Gone Missing (written and originally directed by Steve Cosson), features an energetic score by Michael Friedman and presents a very personal account of how we deal with loss in our lives.

Though Michael's tenure at City Center was cut short, his impact on the people and programming left a lasting impression. Two-time OBIE Award-winner Ken Rus Schmoll directs this special two-night-only engagement, which stars John Behlmann, Susan Blackwell, Aysan Celik, Deborah S. Craig, Taylor Mac, and David Ryan Smith.

Gone Missing is part of the 2018 Encores! Off-Center season which includes Songs for a New World and Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope.

The Lobby Project
This summer, The Civilians are teaming up with New York City Center as Artists in Residence to create and premiere investigative theater pieces focusing on each of the three Encores! Off-Center productions. With their characteristic journalistic curiosity and playful artistry, The Civilians will illuminate their creative process by exploring the impact the original productions of the Off-Center revivals have had on audiences and artists alike. The events will take place in City Center’s beautiful Grand Tier lobby one hour before curtain and are free for that evening’s ticket holders.

The Lobby Project investigating Gone Missing
Wed & Thu at 6:30pm 

Created by The Civilians
Written by Steven Cosson from Interviews by the Company*
Music and Lyrics by Michael Friedman
“Interview with Dr. Palinurus” by Peter Morris
Choreography by Karla Puno Garcia
Music Director Chris Fenwick
Directed by Ken Rus Schmoll 

Starring John Behlmann, Susan Blackwell, Aysan Celik, Deborah S. Craig, Taylor Mac, and David Ryan Smith

*Damian Baldet, Trey Lyford, Jennifer Morris, Brian Sgambati, Alison Weller, Colleen Werthmann

Jul 25 – 28
Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope

Series Sponsors
Stacey and Eric Mindich
Stacy Bash-Polley
Luigi Caiola and Sean McGill
Elizabeth and Dean Kehler
Andrew Martin-Weber

Arts Access Fund

Additional support is provided by
Paula and Ira Resnick 

The Lobby Project is sponsored by
The Frederick Loewe Foundation

Support for the Artistic Innovation Fund is provided by
Lisa and Richard Witten