KYLE TURGEON

TRYING

A live audio-visual performance exploring grief, memory, and healing through live music and live-assembled film.

[ image from poster - look for different projection moment that includes home movie ]

OVERVIEW

Trying is a live audio-visual performance that explores grief and memory through the story of a young couple navigating the loss of a family member. Filmmaker and composer Kyle Turgeon performs the score live — looping and layering cello, synth, and piano — while projecting a live-assembled, chance-based version of the film behind him, creating a unique experience for each audience, each night.

ARTIST BIO

Kyle Turgeon is a filmmaker and musician whose work lives at the intersection of cinema, live music, and performance. Combining cello, synth, and piano with live-edited film, his shows are immersive, emotionally driven, and shaped by chance and improvisation. His work explores subjectivity, memory, and vulnerability, drawing audiences into the interior landscapes of his characters’ hearts and minds to reveal the shared humanity between us. His work has played at festivals across the U.S. and internationally, including DOC NYC, the New Orleans Film Festival, and the Toronto Arthouse Film Festival.

KEY SELLING POINTS

  • Deeply personal narrative inspired by the artist’s brother’s suicide attempt

  • Live score performed in real time on cello, synth, and piano

  • Chance-based live film editing — no two shows are the same

  • Strong audience engagement — pre-show group activities help foster connection among audience members, while post-show talkbacks invite emotional reflection and sharing, deepening the sense of communal experience.

  • Scalable and flexible format — adaptable to various venue sizes and tech setups

TECH & PRODUCTION NEEDS

  • Projection:

    • Complete darkness is essential for projection. A venue with a large screen and projector is preferred; however, the artist can provide a smaller projector and screen if needed

  • PA system:

    • Venue must provide PA - artist will send a pre-mixed stereo feed

  • Space requirements:

    • 12’ x 18’ if venue has projection

    • 18’ x 18’ if artist is supplying projection

  • Setup time: 3.5 hours including tech rehearsal

  • Program runtime: 1 hr 15 min

Performance History

  • 7 shows throughout the Hudson Valley this spring & summer

  • NYC shows being planned for July/August

  • Northeastern tour September in planning now

  • Playing O+ Festival in Kingston in October

Contact Info & Links