Everyday people suffer small inconveniences or major disasters that are created by the loss of such things as car keys, wallets, cell phones and jewelry.

Gone Missing, a play performed by Manhattan theater group The Civilians, delves into the issues brought on by small losses, larger ones and how people deal with them.

The play, directed by Steve Cosson, will be performed at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Schwab Auditorium.

"It's equal parts documentary and musical cabaret," Laura Sullivan, marketing and communications director for the Center of the Performing Arts, said. "Modern choreography, storytelling and musical numbers all intertwine in the play."

Six actors play the more than 30 characters in a number of short acts focusing on the loss of everything from everyday objects to human life, Sullivan said. The characters they play include a retired cop, a pet psychic and everything in between. Excerpts from a fictional radio interview with Dr. Alexander Palinarus tie together the many different stories.

Most of the story lines in the play focus on the loss of a small object, such as a scarf or a doll, but they lead to a greater understanding of loss in general, Sullivan said.

"Many of the stories center on things as photographs or a piece of jewelry being lost and the impact of losing common items with immeasurable emotional value attached to them," she said. "It reinforces the idea that while the world may be made of little things, it is important to see them largely."

Sullivan said the play is inspired by interviews done on the streets of New York City after the tragedy on Sept. 11, 2001. The Civilians later compiled the interviews, along with some additional text added by Peter Morris, to make the play.

"It uses real stories from actual New Yorkers about things they have lost and found," Sullivan said.

Cara Bowen (junior-political science) said she would be interested in seeing the play.

"It is a unique way to look at loss," Bowen said. "The play seems really interesting because of how it is based on actual interviews of people who lived in New York after the tragedy of 9/11."

Bowen said she likes how the play approaches the concept of dealing with loss in day-to-day life and how it relates to more life-changing losses.

"I think it's clever and will be very effective, how the play will take the little things that we all lose every day and turn it into a metaphor for how we feel about bigger losses in life," she said.

Tamara Eldridge (freshman-journalism) said she thinks the play will be something fun and different to do on a Saturday night.

"The play sounds like it will be fascinating, especially the way they are performing it," Eldridge said. "The format of the documentary-cabaret sounds very unique and enjoyable. And it seems like the concept takes something we all can relate to, and makes it universal."

Composer Michael Friedman's music and lyrics are featured in the show, and the styles of the songs include salsa and German art songs, Sullivan said.

The music of the show is another draw for Eldridge.

"On top of everything else, the music sounds like it will be amazing and very diverse," Eldridge said. "I think it would be really fun to see."

Along with the play, one hour before the performance, the Center for the Performing Arts will present "Artistic Viewpoints," which provides the audience with the chance to hear insight from the company.