Every Brilliant Thing Tour 2024

January - March 2024

In an effort to help address the problem of youth depression and suicide, the Utah Shakespeare Festival is offering the life-affirming play Every Brilliant Thing to every public district high school in the state of Utah—absolutely free. We hope to see you at your school soon!

The Plot

The story begins when, at seven-years old, the lone character learns that their mother is in the hospital after her first attempt to take her own life. Afterwards, they begin a list. A list of everything brilliant about the world. Everything worth living for. With humor and inventiveness, the story explores depression and hope, uncertainty and change, relationships and solitude, risk and resilience, guilt and forgiveness. Throughout the play the character interacts with audience members to share their story.

Learn More about the Play with Our Study Guide

Project Goals:

1. Create an active dialogue between all stakeholders about emotional and mental well-being in regards to depression and suicide.
2. Increase awareness in Utah schools of mental health resources available for students and find applicable ways to use these resources. 
3. Provide an artistic experience that enables young people to see things from a new and positive perspective. 
4. Connection to content standards. The tour provides opportunities for students to both practice and participate in a number of skills related to Utah Core Standards across several subject domains. See a summary of our connections to standards here.
5. Inspire people to see the beauty in life. 

The Themes of the Play:

• You are not weird.
• You are not alone.
• It gets better.
• Life goes on.

Performance Length: 

Each event requires an hour and thirty-five minutes with each school. This includes a 15-minute pre-show interaction, sixty-five minute performance, and a 15-minute talkback with the touring company. We can usually accommodate more than one performance a day at a school or venue.

Storytelling Workshop:

Following the performance, schools have the option to book one or two rounds of a 45-minute interactive workshop. This workshop is led by 2 teaching artists and can accommodate up to 30 students. In it, through games and playful creation, students will explore turning personal stories into theatrical performance.

*This is a theatrical storytelling and performance workshop inspired by the dramatic structure of Every Brilliant Thing. This workshop is not directly connected to mental health or the themes of EBT.

Support for the Tour

We are honored to offer this production in partnership with SafeUT and with the support of Governor Cox and Attorney General Reyes. See links below for letters from the Governor and Attorney General.

Booking the Tour

If you wish for Every Brilliant Thing to come to your school or community, please complete this form: Tour Request Form.

Artists

The touring company consists of two actors alternating each performance of the one-person show, a stage manager, and a tour manager. Get to know our company!

Questions

If you have any questions, contact the Tour Manager, Jordan Simmons, at 435-299-0567 or brillianttour@bard.org.