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According to the professional dancers in Loving the Silent Tears, “The World Is a Whirlpool” was one of the most physically demanding numbers. But the featured singer, Kiril Kulish, amazed the audience with every fast-paced move while doing the nearly impossible of simultaneously singing live. He conveyed the lyrics in both English and Russian, the two languages he grew up speaking. Just finishing his exhilarating performance, Kiril, also the youngest principal at age 18, said breathlessly that he felt “fantastic… It's tough work, but I'm happy.” Tony winner Kiril Kulish is a dancing phenomenon and piano prodigy as well as an actor and singer. He received critical acclaim for playing the starring role of Billy in Sir Elton John and Lee Hall’s Billy Elliot the Musical for its Broadway opening in 2008. For his outstanding performance, Kiril won the Tony Award, the most prestigious achievement for theatre work.
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Tony-winning Broadway star Kiril Kulish (Russia) performing “The World Is a Whirlpool” in Loving the Silent Tears
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“I was 15 years old when I won the Tony Award for Billy Elliot,” he recalled in an interview with Supreme Master TV. “It was unbelievable because it was my Broadway debut, and we were going against actors who had been doing Broadway for over 30 years… such dedicated and good actors.... But then when we got nominated and then to winning the actual Tony… it was amazing.” Kiril also won a Fred Astaire Award, Theatre World Award, and Outer Critics Circle Special Achievement Award. The honors were much deserved, but he was rewarded in other ways, as well.
“Sometimes I’d come out after the show and little kids, like five years old, would say, ‘I started to tap dance because of watching the show, because of watching you.’ So it's really inspiring to be able to inspire other kids and other people to do what they want to do.” At the tender age of 12, Kiril was the recipient of the Hope Award for Best Overall Performance at the Youth America Grand Prix, the world’s largest student ballet competition with participants representing some of the world’s best young dance talent. He won top honors again at age 13 with the Youth Grand Prix Award. Also by that time, he won a national competition and became a US Ballroom Dance Champion. The gifted dancer went on to perform globally with the San Diego Academy of Ballet’s Junior Company and has scholarship offers from some of the world’s most prestigious ballet schools. Kiril has headlined shows with Patti LuPone and Kristin Chenoweth and has performed with the American Ballet Theatre in eight gala concerts in Mexico City, Mexico. As a concert pianist, he has played for sold-out audiences in Mexico and Europe. Kiril is currently working on various film, television, and theatre projects. He hopes that through his work, he could inspire others to follow their dreams, saying, “I think everyone should be able to do what they love to do, and not let anyone take that away from them.” In 2011, Kiril was a guest star in The Real Love, the sold-out musical inspired by the life story and poetry of Supreme Master Ching Hai. Of that event, Kiril shared, “Last year was an amazing experience. I'm really happy to be able to do this one, too.” In Loving the Silent Tears, Kiril gave 6,000 people his enthralling performance of “The World Is a Whirlpool,” stepping, twirling, and bounding high in the air in sync with the dancers, as he sang the lyrics based on Supreme Master Ching Hai’s poem in Silent Tears and set to music by 2-time Grammy winner and Oscar nominee Henry Krieger. Kiril said, “I think Supreme Master Ching Hai has done an amazing job with all the messages [in the poetry]. There’s not many musicals that are all related to a good message like this.” On dancing with the talented ensemble, the cast member continued, “It was super fun and the dancers are magnificent, so I really had a good time. I was amazed at what Bonnie Story, the choreographer, produced.”
After giving his all for the high-energy show, Kiril Kulish sat down to a hearty vegan dinner afterward at the VIP banquet. He said, “Everything that I’ve had so far has been really tasty. I’m definitely going to try to incorporate less meat and more of this stuff! It’s very delicious.” Our cheers and best wishes, Kiril, as
you continue to promote positive messages through your extraordinary
talents, and inspire others to follow their dreams as you have.
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