Every Brilliant Thing

What makes life worth living? Perhaps it’s “1857: planning a declaration of love” or… “996: Really good oranges.” Or maybe just “1092: conversation.”

Every Brilliant Thing is a one-person play by Duncan MacMiller. The narrator, from the age of seven, strives to cope with his mother’s depression and suicide attempts by creating a list of everything that makes life worth living.

Filling the space with gratitude, hope, and joy, audiences will be invited to help the performer create and recite the list. 

The format of the event will consist of:

• 65-minute performance of Every Brilliant Thing. Please plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early.
• 3-4 community panelists will kick off the discussion with their gut responses to what resonated with them.
• We will open the discussion to the audience, facilitated by a member of the production team. The event in total will last 2 hours. 

PLEASE NOTE: Every Brilliant Thing includes discussions of mental health, depression, suicide, suicide attempts and prevention, death, and brief mentions of drug overdose, self-harm, needles, loss of a parent, loss of a pet, and hospitalization. 

Production Team

• Director: Samantha White '23
• Producer: Jun Ge '23 SOM
• Dramaturg: Marty Chandler '21
• Stage Manager: Kayla Wagonfeld '24
• Lighting Designer: Eitan Acks '21
• Sound Designer: Dominic Sullivan '23
• Props Designer: David Donnan '24

About Creative & Performing Arts Award Projects

Experimentation is inherent in all forms of artistry, and Yale Schwarzman Center holds space for students who come to explore. Creative and Performing Arts (CPA) Award Projects are free performances and exhibitions by undergraduates selected through the Yale College CPA Awards process. CPA Award Projects are a great way to see tomorrow’s stars today. Subscribe and never miss an update.