Debuting in 2013 at the Ludlow Fringe Festival in the United Kingdom, Every Brilliant Thing caught on with audiences immediately. In 2016, HBO released a special filmed version starring comedian Johnny Donahue, who originated the role. Written by Duncan Macmillan (with a credit to Donahue as well), Every Brilliant Thing is a unique play, with truly admirable intentions.
"The storyline starts out with a young man who's back in hindsight as a little boy, the first time he is called to the hospital for his mother's attempted suicide," explained co-director (and PACA artistic director) Mark Tanenbaum. "And he's nine years old. He decides to make a list to write down every wonderful thing, every brilliant thing worth living for, and he shares it with his mother, in the hopes, of course, that his mother sees that life is worth living." Tanenbaum noted that "it is actually a true story."
