River Rep Theatre will present Duncan MacMillan’s internationally acclaimed play EVERY BRILLIANT THING. opening Friday, November 4 at 7pm, with additional performances on Saturday, November 5 at 7pm, and Sunday, November 6 at 2pm.
EVERY BRILLIANT THING is the first co-production between River Rep Theatre and DVO., starring Donna Jean Fogel, directed by Arthur Aulisi and produced by Christopher Peditto.
Heart-wrenching and hilarious, EVERY BRILLIANT THING tells the story of a girl confronted with her mother’s depression, who, at age 7, begins writing a list of “every brilliant thing” that makes life worth living. This magical, uplifting show is “one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see about depression—and possibly one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see, full stop.” (Guardian UK).
Written by Duncan MacMillan with Jonny Donahoe, the play toured the UK, before going on to hit runs in London, and at the Barrow Street Theater in New York, in 2015 (which was also filmed by HBO). With a soulful soundtrack and heaps of audience participation, EVERY BRILLIANT THING “balances acuity and affability… with unobtrusive artistry… captivating…” (NY Times).
The play stars Donna Jean Fogel, and is directed by Arthur Aulisi (see bios, below).
River Rep Theatre is dedicated to presenting the finest contemporary playwrights, innovative group-generated plays, and bold new adaptations of classics. The company tours its work throughout the Sullivan Catskills region. Learn more at RiverRep.org. River Rep Theatre is a community-supported, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Donations are urgently needed and appreciated.
ARTIST BIOS
Donna Jean Fogel (“Narrator”) is an actor, director, deviser, and teacher. As an actor, favorite recent roles include Judy in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime and Robyn The Roommate, both at Boise Contemporary Theater, and An Agatha, in Another Agatha with Migration Theory: art that moves. In NYC she has worked with The Barrow Group (her NYC artistic home), Circle Rep Lab, Fourth Unity, Manhattan Theater Source, Blue Light Theater Company. Additional regional work at Philadelphia Fringe Fest 2019, Geva Theater (NY), Playwrights Theater of NJ, Opera House Arts (ME), Olney Theater (MD), and People’s Light (PA). On Screen, She has appeared on Law and Order and the independent film, Nine (by Jane Shepard). She loves traversing bridges above large bodies of water on her own steam, and spontaneous love fests with friendly dogs (and the occasional cat) she meets on her travels. donnajeanfogel.com
Arthur Aulisi (Director) is a theater artist whose home base was NYC for over 25 years. He has called Monticello home since 2017. Primarily an actor, Arthur has also directed, taught and wrote for the theater. As an original member of adobe theatre company, Associate Artistic Director of Andhow Theater Company and through his work with companies such as Manhattan Theatre Club, Soho Rep, and Ensemble Studio Theater, Arthur has premiered and helped develop hundreds of new plays. He has also helped develop the work of young playwrights through his participation in Off-The-Hook in Red Hook, Brooklyn. He was selected by nytheatre.com as a Person of the Year for his contribution to independent theatre. Arthur is a graduate of Northwestern University and has trained at theaters such as Actors Theatre of Louisville, Williamstown Theatre Festival and Circle Rep. He’s thrilled to finally be working “upstate”.
Duncan Macmillan is an English playwright and director. He is most noted for his plays Lungs, People, Places and Things, Every Brilliant Thing, and the stage adaptation of the George Orwell novel 1984, which he co-adapted and co-directed with Robert Icke.