The PCPA Pacific Conservatory Theatre invites audiences to experience the tender, hilarious and life-affirming story of Every Brilliant Thing, October 9 – 26, 2025 at the Severson Theatre.
This is how a list starts of every brilliant thing that makes life worth living when a six-year-old child and a mom find it hard to be happy:
- Ice cream
- Kung Fu movies
- The color yellow
- Laughing so hard you shoot milk out of your nose
What begins as a child’s attempt to make sense of adult sadness, grows into a life-affirming journey through love, loss and the profound joy found in life’s smallest moments.
Director Don Stewart notes, “Every Brilliant Thing is a play that leans into the best of humanity even as it acknowledges the hardest parts of being human. It is a play that cultivates joy without ignoring pain. It asks us to consider two crucial questions: One, how do we summon the strength to face the challenging things thrown our way? And two, how do we lighten the load of others when they face their obstacles? We do that by remembering, as our Narrator reminds us, that ‘things get better. They might not always get brilliant. But they get better.'”
“I believe that plays, when they are at their best, make us feel as though we are leaving the theatre having gained something unexpected: a new insight, an answer to an old question, even a call to action. It is my hope that you will leave here with a stronger sense of connection and community. And that you will be inspired to have meaningful conversations, especially around mental illness.” – Don Stewart
Every Brilliant Thing is generously sponsored by Linda Stafford Burrows.
Cast and Creative team
The cast includes Associate Artistic Director Emily Trask as the Performer. Directed by Don Stewart, with scenic design by Kevin Dudley, costume design by Klara Wilson, lighting design by Michael Palumbo, sound design by Jon Zielke, production stage management by Jack D. Myles and stage management by Rebekah Carriere.
Ticket Information
Tickets for Every Brilliant Thing can be purchased online at PCPA.org or through their box office at 805-922-8313. Tickets start at $25. For Groups of 12 or more, contact Group Sales Manager Kelly Stegall at (805) 928-7731 ext. 4150.
Prologues & Talkbacks
In connection with Every Brilliant Thing, PCPA will be hosting a Prologue on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 1 p.m. Prologues provide a glimpse into the artistic process of the show and last approximately 15 minutes. Admission is free and held in the lobby before the performance.
PCPA will host a Talkback on Sunday, October 12, 19 and 26, following the 1:30 p.m. performance. Talkbacks are about 20 minutes long and provide audience members with insights into the artistic elements of the play.
Partnerships
PCPA’s production of Every Brilliant Thing is presented in partnership with Allan Hancock College’s Student Health Service and Transitions Mental Health Association.