Every Brilliant Thing

Written by: Duncan Macmillan
With Jonny Donahoe

Directed by: David Smith-English and Jayson Shanafelt

Assistant Director: Karlyn Love

Starring: Jayson Shanafelt

September 5-29, 2024
Preview September 5
Opening night September 6
Thurs-Sat 7:30 p.m., Sun 2:30 p.m.

Content Advisory: Please be aware that this show explores themes of suicide, mental health and emotional distress. The material may be triggering for some audience members. Viewer discretion is advised.

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide or would like emotional support, please call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. 

Ice cream. Water fights. Peeing in the ocean and nobody knows. A boy’s handwritten list to cheer up his despondent mother becomes a surprisingly funny and poignant ode to humanity. This one-person show starring Jayson Shanafelt (One Man Two Guvnors, The 39 Steps, Harvey) takes audiences on a transcendent and tender coming-of-age journey that reminds us to pay attention to life’s smallest joys — and to each other. With lots of audience participation, each performance is an entirely different experience. Come and enjoy! And then, enjoy again!

 

“Brilliant in every way! Put it on your list and don’t miss this one!” — Audience Response

“Unlike any theatre production I’ve seen or participated in. Jayson Shanafelt is transparent and nuanced. A remarkable delivery and performance. Go see it.”  — Audience Response

“Challenging topic, dealt with compassion and sensitivity…Excellent performance! Highly recommend everybody seeing it, because the theme – and its antidote – are universal.” — Audience Response

“‘Every Brilliant Thing’ is BRILLIANT! Jayson is wonderful in bringing the entire audience together to laugh and cheer – and keep them in the palm of his hand for the sad moments. A tour de force performance.” — Audience Response

“…Shanafelt, directed by David Smith-English, is our guide through it all…it’s a warmly compelling performance, precise and yet loose and active, taking in the whole room, improvising now and again, paying attention to the crowd and keeping it with him. It’s a benevolent performance, even when Shanafelt’s character flails and makes mistakes, and it wraps the audience in the fragile hopefulness of its story.”  — Bob Hicks, Oregon ArtsWatch

 

Sponsored by Nancy Hungerford, Jean Uzelac, Bob Macy.

Cast

Featuring: Jayson Shanafelt*

*The Actor appears through the courtesy of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.