Every Brilliant Thing - Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival

"One of the funniest plays you'll ever see about depression... explored with unflinching honesty"

- The Guardian (UK)

By Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe
Directed by Anne Hering

June 7 - June 19 | Schubert Theater

You’re six years old. Mom’s in the hospital. Dad says she’s “done something stupid.” She finds it hard to be happy. So you start to make a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything that’s worth living for. 1. Ice cream. 2. Kung Fu movies. 3. Laughing so hard you shoot milk out of your nose. 4. Me. You leave it on her pillow. Soon, the list will take on a brilliant life of its own.

A poignant and stirring story examining a family’s resilience in the face of severe depression through laughter and appreciation for life. In this captivating one actor play, a fellow traveler confronts from youth to adulthood the joy and grief surrounding us all. An affirming alchemy emerges in the accounting of life’s everyday blessings and a witnessing of what we’ll do to save the ones we love. Contains mature themes (see advisory below). Ages 12+

Content Advisory: Every Brilliant Thing speaks openly about depression, mental illness, and suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis or thinking about self-harm or suicide, there is help available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1.800.273.TALK [8255]. Resources from local health agencies will be available in the lobby before and after each performance. More resources here: preventsuicidepa.org

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Show Extras:

Evening performances are at 6:30pm on Tuesday and 7:30pm on Wednesday through Saturday. Matinee performances are at 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Meet the actor for an informal talk-back after every performance.
The Perfect Prescription For A Smile: Thank you to the Lehigh Valley Therapy Dogs, and their owners, for supporting our patrons “On the Green” prior to the Thursday, June 16 performance.
Masks are required for all performances.

Artists

Creatives

Alaina Hurley
Sound Supervisor

Anne Hering
Director

Chiara H. Johnson
Assistant Stage Manager

Duncan Macmillian
Playwright

George Hamrah*
Stage Manager

Suzanne O’Donnell*
Narrator

Whitney Morse
Narrator

Artist information coming soon. Please check back during the season for updates.

Show Photos

Show Features

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival opens Every Brilliant Thing: “The Funniest Play You’ll Ever See About Depression”

CENTER VALLEY, PA: June 3, 2022— 1. Ice cream. 2. Kung Fu movies. 3. Laughing so hard you shoot milk out of your nose. 4. Me. In the face of severe depression, a child begins a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. The list soon takes on a life of its own in this captivating play by Duncan Macmillan, with Jonny Donahoe. Every Brilliant Thing opens June 9 at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, the professional theatre on the campus of DeSales University.

The Guardian (UK) calls it “One of the funniest plays you’ll ever see about depression—and possibly one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see, full stop.” Every Brilliant Thing previews June 7 and 8, opens June 9, and runs through June 19 in the Schubert Theatre at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts.