Back by popular demand!
The story blends comedy, improv, and audience interaction to tell one individual's story of growing up in the shadow of their mother's struggle with suicidal depression. Surprisingly charming and delightful, Every Brilliant Thing provides a life-affirming jolt of humanism, reminding us that hope comes from the miracles of life’s minutiae.
Thanks to the generosity of Sentara, Virginia Stage Company’s exhilarating production of Every Brilliant Thing will hit the road coming to a location near you! This one-hour powerhouse performance will be performed in and beyond the Hampton Roads area.
Any and all spaces are welcome to host a performance. Traditional theatre venues are not required, all we need is a large flexible room, that can host 30 -200 people. Whether you’re a school, library, community center, or art space, our production is built to travel and perform anywhere.
September 10th, 2024 - 5:30 PM
James Madison University
REGISTER HERE
September 25th, 2024 - 6:00 PM
Rawls Museum Arts
22376 Linden Street Extended
Courtland, VA 23837
REGISTER HERE
September 30th, 2024
Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
621 First Colonial Rd
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
REGISTER HERE
October 3rd, 2024
Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth, VA 23709
October 20th, 2024 - 2 PM
Williamsburg Library Theatre
515 Scotland Street
Williamsburg, VA 23185
REGISTER HERE
CONTACT Us for booking inquiries
In the title of your email, put Venue | Desired Performance Date
ex. Slover Library | December 8th
Include in your email:
Your contact information
Best time of day to contact you
Estimated Audience Size Venue Address
About the Show
The story is told from the perspective of a single performer. It is an immersive experience that blends comedy, improv, and audience interaction to tells one individual's story of growing up in the shadow of their mother's struggle with suicidal depression while also learning to grapple with their own journey and life experiences. Surprisingly charming and delightful, "Every Brilliant Thing" provides a life- affirming jolt of humanism, reminding us that hope comes from the miracles of life’s minutiae. The aim is to destigmatize the conversation around mental health and encourage the audience to see the many ways in which we all experience joy and hardship.
Audience Interaction:
This production involves audience participation. All Interactions are optional and confirmed by consent. The production may be enjoyed with or without directly participating.
sponsored by Sentara Health Plans
Jeffrey Meanza and Kathryn Hunter-Williams in VSC’s Spring 2022 mainstage production of Every Brilliant Thing.
Every Brilliant Thing now on tour through 2023.
Cast
Laura Agudelo (Laura) is delighted to be performing in this beautiful play. In the past 15 years, Laura has worked with Core Theatre Ensemble, an internationally touring independent theatre company based out of Hampton Roads. With CTE, she has performed in Frankenstein, Antigone, Macbeth, and Niobe. Other credits include Matilda the Musical at Virginia Stage Company, Doubt, Little Women, and Loves Labours Lost at Tidewater Community College. Laura has also performed at La Mama ETC, Sanford Meisner Theatre, Repretorio Español in New York City and at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ. Laura is currently the Theatre Arts and Spanish teacher for Chesapeake Public Schools. She directs three shows per year and is proud to share that her students are the reigning VHSL 6A State Champions. Laura also proudly shares that she was named Chesapeake High School Teacher of the Year in 2018.
Greg Dragas (Greg) is pleased to be working with Virginia Stage Company as part of the team bringing this production to the stage. Born in Norfolk, VA, Greg has spent most of his professional career as a high school history teacher in Virginia Beach. He has been active on stages around Hampton Roads for a number of years and holds degrees from The College of William & Mary and Wake Forest University. Recent credits include The Tempest with Tidewater Community College’s Shakespeare in the Grove, Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville with The Little Theatre of Virginia Beach, and Macbeth with CORE Theatre Ensemble.
Candunn Jennette (Candunn) is elated to embark on another journey with the Virginia Stage Company. Between touring the country with the World-Famous Harlem Globetrotters, she has nestled into several creative ventures such as writing, but most importantly, being immersed in performance as a true lover of the arts. Some of her works include Regional: Comedy of Errors (Duke/Adriana/Kim Karcourtesan), Beneath the Surface (Dr. Alexander), (Virginia Stage Company) Miss Understood (Nia), Zeiders American Dream Theatre University: Funny House of a Negro (Sarah), The Colored Museum (Lala Lamazing Grace), The Wiz (Church Lady/Ensemble), The Amen Corner (Margret/Odessa), Black Nativity (Ensemble), The Color Purple (Ensemble), Fences (Rose), For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide (Lady in Green), Anna Alone (Anna) (Norfolk State University) Other Credits: Spread Game World Tour (Gran’Mama/Dr. Broke Ankles) (Harlem Globetrotters Inc.) Education: Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Performance from Norfolk State University.
Bethany Mayo (Bethany) is a actor and teaching artist from Des Moines, IA. She has come to Norfolk by way of Kansas City, Pensacola, and Baltimore. Her favorite credits include Powell in Men on Boats/Cohesion Theater; Mistress Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor/Baltimore Shakespeare Factory; The Player, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead/Fells Point Corner Theater; and Elise in The Miser/Classic Theater of Maryland. She holds a BA in Musical Theater from William Woods University and a MA in Theater Education from The Catholic University of America. She is a founding member of the Black Classical Acting Ensemble at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. She does not thank her dog or her husband, who never want to run lines.
Anna Sosa (Anna) is a proud Norfolk native and Filipina American and is honored to join the beautiful team bringing Every Brilliant Thing to life. At Virginia Stage Company, Anna was last seen as Bardolph and M. Le Fer in Henry V, Kili and Gollum in The Hobbit, and will be joining the 2023 production of A Merry Little Christmas Carol as an ensemble member. Her work spans theater, film, voiceover, and sketch and improv comedy. She has worked with Core Theater Ensemble on Macbeth as Malcolm, Antigone as Tiresias, and as ensemble for The Yellow Wallpaper. Other favorite productions include A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Puck for TCC’s Shakespeare In the Grove directed by Trey Clarkson, and as Artemis in ARTEMIS, I and The Women of Troy written and directed by Deborah Wallace. When she is not onstage, she is a Teaching Associate in the Standardized Patient program at Eastern Virginia Medical School.
What VSC Patrons said about the show:
I appreciated the humor while at same time dealing with a serious topic in such a sensitive manner, enjoyed interaction of audience. Thank you for addressing this sensitive topic in such a respectful, creative way. - Phyllis S.
Although the topic was sad, it was handled in a thoughtful way. There was talk of taking the show on the road, I personally think this is an excellent idea to get conversations started about suicide and how it impacts family and friends. This play was one of the best I’ve seen this year. - Martha T.
Exceptionally well done. Even though I was a bit anxious about the audience participation aspect, I relaxed once I saw how well the actor read the audience and selected the perfect people for the characters.... even my husband and I as the "old couple"! I've recommended it to several friends since it handles a sensitive topic with care and empathy. - Marianne S.
Wonderful play, a sensitive way to discuss/explore serious mental health disorders and their affect on family members. - Joseph N.
Y’all, this is a great show. My heart felt lighter after seeing it. Funny, sad, heartwarming. Go see it. - Ann S.
“‘[A] heart-wrenching, hilarious play…One of the funniest plays you’ll ever see about depression—and possibly one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see, full stop.’
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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.
Every Brilliant Thing is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.
Every Brilliant Thing was first produced by Paines Plough and Pentabus Theatre, on 28 June 2013 at Ludlow Fringe Festival. The play had its North American premiere at Barrow Street Theatre, New York, on 6 December 2014, where it was presented by Barrow Street Theatre and Jean Doumanian Productions.
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