As a composer, lyricist and librettist, Adryan writes for theater, film, television and recordings. She is a first-generation American, born of Ukranian parents, and was a Peace Corps volunteer in Colombia, South America, on an educational television project. She is a strong proponent of worldwide empty hands — a nonviolent approach to world peace.

Adryan’s off-Broadway musical Inside Out, co-written with Doug Haverty, for which she wrote music and lyrics, played The Cherry Lane in New York City, Los Angeles, in theaters across the U.S., including The Laguna Playhouse in California; The Phoenix Theatre in Arizona; Barnsdall Gallery Theatre; The Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids, Michigan; 12 Miles West Theatre, New Jersey; West Valley Playhouse, Sherman Oaks, California; and two European productions in Switzerland. It ran in Belgrade, Serbia for three years. Originally produced by Marc Routh and Richard Frankel, it’s published by Samuel French (Concord), and the original CD (http://kritzerland.com/insideOut.htm) stars NY cast members Ann Crumb, Harriett D. Foy, Kathleen Mahony-Bennett, Jan Maxwell, Cass Morgan and Julie Prosser. New York Times reviewer Stephen Holden called it “A bright, witty musical about the way we live now.”

Love Again, co-written with Haverty, was directed by Kay Cole; iGhost, a modern telling of The Canterville Ghost, was produced in Los Angeles at the Lyric Theatre. The Ugly Duckling, written for Storybook Theatre at Theatre West, Los Angeles, is an interactive children’s musical, book by Lloyd J. Schwartz, music and lyrics by Adryan. Two one acts, In A Different Light and Two Lives, book by Doug Haverty, music by Adryan, lyrics by both, was produced by Theatre West, Los Angeles. (http://www.playworksmusic.com/exist.htm)

Honors: Love & Order, co-written with Haverty, was invited into the ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop, Los Angeles, moderated by Stephen Schwartz. Ebenezer, Return of the Scrooge, co-written with Keith Huff, was invited into the ASCAP/Disney Musical Theatre Workshop, Chicago, hosted by Craig Carnelia. For many years, Adryan has received an ASCAP Award for Popular Music, based on numerous performances by pop, cabaret and theater artists.

Everyone Has A Story: The Songs of Adryan Russ CD, produced by Bruce Kimmel, with orchestrations by Grant Geissman (https://www.lmlmusic.com/artists/adryanruss) showcases Adryan’s songs performed by Susan Egan, Jason Graae, David Burnham, Tammy Tappan Damiano, Sharon McNight, Barbara Deutsch, Juliana Hansen, Joan Ryan, Karen Benjamin, Cindy Benson, Michelle Nicastro, Kirby Tepper, Susanne Blakeslee, Lisa Richard, Guy Haines and Adryan herself. Changing My Tune, songs co-written with Joel Evans, showcases jazz-based new standards, featured in such films as Doubt, Holidate, Disney Plus’s WandaVision, Young Sheldon, Twisted Sisters, Mindy Project, Masters of Horror, and one selected by the Australian Discovery Orchestra to appear on Broadway Records CD of emerging musicals. Barry White recorded her song “The Better Love Is, The Worse It Is When It’s Over”; rising star vocalist Luara Melody sings her song “Fire in Me,” generating thousands of YouTube views. Legendary songstress Sue Raney sings “Late In Life,” co-written with Shelly Markham, and title song “White Lies, for the film The Check Is in the Mail is co-written with Darrell Brown and Siedah Garrett.

She is a member of The Dramatists Guild, the Recording Academy (formerly known as NARAS), and has served on the Board of The Society of Composers & Lyricists (TheSCL.com).