GUEST ARTIST PACK Thank you for your work on this magical production! Through all the madness, you’ve made such an impact on our audiences.
• Click for Production Photos • Click for ABC-7 Video • Click for WGCU Interview Link • JUMP TO Promo Video • JUMP TO Playbill Insert • JUMP TO BroadwayWorld Review • JUMP TO Florida Weekly Review • JUMP TO NBC-2 Review • JUMP TO Patron Feedback Thank you again, Bryelle Dafeldecker
PROMO VIDEO
FLORIDA REPERTORY THEATRE
GREG LONGENHAGEN, Artistic Director • JOHN MARTIN, Executive Director
2019-2020 SEASON
ARTSTAGE STUDIO THEATRE • FORT MYERS RIVER DISTRICT PRESENTS
SPONSORED BY MEDIA SPONSOR: WGCU PUBLIC MEDIA
STARRING
MICHAEL SATOW* DIRECTED BY
ELEANOR HOLDRIDGE**
SET DESIGNER TIM BILLMAN
COSTUME DESIGNER BROOKE ARTHUR
SOUND DESIGNER KATIE LOWE
LIGHTING & PROJECTION DESIGNER ANNALISE CAUDLE
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER AMY L. MASSARI* ensemble member
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.
2019-20 GRAND SEASON SPONSORS
IN THE KNOW. IN THE NOW.
This entire season sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. Florida Repertory Theatre is a fully professional non-profit LOA/LORT Theatre company on contract with the Actors’ Equity Association that proudly employs members of the national theatrical labor unions. *Member of Actors’ Equity Association. **Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. ***Member of United Scenic Artists.
THE CAST Narrator Michael Satow
TIME AND PLACE Present day
PRODUCTION STAFF
Production Assistant/Understudy: Hunter Clark Lighting/Sound Board Op: Drew Kobus EVERY BRILLIANT THING will be performed without an intermission. The video and/or audio recording of this performance by any means whatsoever is strictly prohibited.
†Member of Florida Repertory Theatre’s Ensemble of Theatre Artists. See page 31 for the entire ensemble.
* The Actors & Stage Manager employed in this
production are members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
**
***
ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT DUNCAN MACMILLAN Plays include: People, Places and Things (2015-2017, National Theatre/ Wyndham’s Theatre, West End); 1984, adapted from George Orwell (2013-2017, Headlong/Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company, West End, Broadway, international tours, co-adapted/co-directed with Rob Icke); Every Brilliant Thing (20132017, Paines Plough/Pentabus Theatre, Edinburgh Festival, UK and international tours, HBO); City of Glass, adapted from Paul Auster (2017, 59 Productions, HOME, and Lyric Hammersmith); 2071, cowritten with Chris Rapley (20142015, The Royal Court/Hamburg Schauspielhaus); The Forbidden Zone (2014-2016, Salzburg Festival and Schaubühne Berlin); Wunschloses Unglück, adapted from Peter Handke (2014, Burgtheater Vienna); Reise Durch Die Nacht, adapted from Friederike Mayröcker (2012-2014, Schauspiel Köln, Festival d’Avignon, Theatertreffen); Lungs (2011-2016, Paines Plough and Sheffield Theatres/Studio Theatre, Washington, DC); and Monster (2006, Royal Exchange Theatre).
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
ELEANOR HOLDRIDGE** (Director) Off-Broadway productions include world premieres of Selma ’65 (LaMaMa), Steve & Idi (Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre), and Cycling Past The Matterhorn (Clurman Theatre). Regional credits include World Premieres of David Grimm’s adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac, Meg Miroshnik’s FiCKLE: A Fancy French Farce, Lauren Gunderson’s The Revolutionists (Cincinnati Playhouse), Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley (Roundhouse Theatre) and I and You (Olney and Geva Theaters); Caleen Sinnette Jennings’ Queens Girl in the World (Theatre J) and Darius & Twig (Kennedy Center TYA), and Zorro (Constellaton Stage), which she co-wrote. She has directed 24 of Shakespeare’s plays, some of them multiple times. Eleanor holds an MFA from Yale and is Chair of The Catholic University of America’s Department of Drama.
WHO’S WHO
MICHAEL SATOW* (Narrator) Returning for his fourth show at Florida Rep, Michael is giddy to be back with such a beautiful play. Previously at the Rep: Lend Me a Tenor, Hound of the Baskervilles, Arsenic and Old Lace. Off-Broadway/NY Stage includes A Better Place (The Duke) Final Analysis (Pershing Square Signature Center), Hot Season (Sheen Center), Raft of the Medusa (Secret Theatre), Look Upon Our Lowliness (HSA Theatre), Blacken the Bubble (Dixon Place), Merchant of Venice (Westbeth), Betwixt, Between, and BeTWAIN (The Crown), Hell For the Company (Bridge Theater) and numerous readings/workshops including NYTW, Joe’s Pub, New Dramatists, EST, The Director’s Company, The Lark and TMTC. Regional Stage includes Time Stands Still, On Golden Pond (Bristol Riverside Theatre), Rumors, Betrayal (Theatre Workshop of Nantucket), Red (Vero Riverside Theatre), Hannah (Premiere Stages), Shipwrecked! (Capital Rep), Proof (Seacoast Rep), Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet – w/ Jeffrey Donovan (Commonwealth Shakespeare Co.), and the world premieres of Jericho (Florida Studio Theatre), I Heart Kant (CoLab @ George Street Playhouse) and Charlotte the Destroyer (Boston Center For the Arts). TV: Recurring as Stark Schiff in The Good Fight (CBS), Elementary, Instinct (CBS), Manhattan Love Story, All My Children (ABC), Last Week Tonight w/ John Oliver (HBO). Film: Under Jakob’s Ladder (w/ Jeff Stewart), How To Break Up With Your Mother, Middle Ground, One Last Dream of America. Web: Website Story (College Humor), PX This, Conversations from the Afterlife, Yes We Candidate. Numerous commercials and voiceovers. Graduate of Northeastern University and Maggie Flanigan Studio. Michael lives in New York City with his
brilliant wife and his brilliant daughter. – AEA, SAG-AFTRA. Other brilliant things found at michaelsatow.com, @michaelsatow. BROOKE ARTHUR (Costume Designer) is in her first year as Costume Shop Manager at Florida Repertory Theatre where she oversees more than 15 productions throughout the season. Every Brilliant Thing is her first costume design on the Florida Repertory Theatre ArtStage. Previously she has worked as Crafts Artisan/ Design Assistant for When You Wish at Tuacahn Center for the Arts, Wardrobe Supervisor/Assistant Costume Shop Manager at Arizona Opera, Wardrobe at Shakespeare & Co, and Crafts Artisan/Wardrobe Supervisor at Illinois Shakespeare Festival. She attended Pratt institute for Fashion Design and is a proud Costume Design & Technology graduate of University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music. TIM BILLMAN (Set Designer) joined the Florida Rep family in 2014 as the Technical Director and has become the Production Manager. Tim’s scenic design credits include Always… Patsy Cline and productions for Blowing Rock Stage Company (NC), Temple Theatre (NC), Ensemble Stage (NC), Riverside Theatre (FL), Gardner-Webb University (NC), and the Blue Ridge Wine and Food Festival. He has served as the Technical Director for the Hayes Center of Performing Arts, Blowing Rock Stage Company, Troy State University at Montgomery and Riverside Theatre. In 2009, Tim was a founding member of Ensemble Stage, a professional theatre in Banner Elk, NC, now in its 10th season and just celebrated its 100th production. Tim also spent time supervising rigging installation and upgrades for theatres all across North and South America and is a charter member of the Mormish Council. He resides in Fort Myers with his wife Jamie and three children: Brooklyn, Jack, and Bridget.
2020-2021 SEASON For the first time ever, we’re bringing you THREE musicals, plus Tony and Pulitzer Prize-Winning Plays, A World-Premiere, Plenty of Comedies to Keep you Laughing and MUCH MORE!
I LOVE A PIANO
music & lyrics by Irving Berlin • conceived & written by Ray Roderick & Michael Berkeley
SEPT 29-NOV 8, 2020
PACKED WITH OVER FIFTY OF IRVING BERLIN’S GREATEST HITS! A JOYFUL & NOSTALGIC MUSICAL SALUTE TO AMERICA’S FAVORITE COMPOSER! • In the ArtStage Studio Theatre •
THE WOMAN IN BLACK
adapted by Stephen Mallatratt • from the novel by Susan Hill
OCT 27-NOV 15, 2020
A ROLLERCOASTER OF THRILLS AND CHILLS! “A MASTERPIECE!” -The Guardian • In the Historic Arcade Theatre •
WEST SIDE STORY
book by Arthur Laurents • music by Leonard Bernstein • lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
NOV 24-DEC 16, 2020
A Co-Production with Florida Rep’s Conservatory Program ENSEMBLE MEMBERS AND CONSERVATORY STUDENTS UNITE IN THE MOST MEMORABLE MUSICAL LOVE STORY OF ALL TIME! A THRILLING PARTNERSHIP! • In the Historic Arcade Theatre •
DRIVING MISS DAISY by Alfred Uhry DEC 18, 2020-JAN 24, 2021
A PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING AMERICAN CLASSIC! “DRIVING MISS DAISY IS A TOTAL DELIGHT.” -NY Daily News • In the ArtStage Studio Theatre •
THE HUMANS by Stephen Karam JAN 7-29, 2021
Contains Adult Language. “A HAUNTING, BEAUTIFULLY REALIZED PLAY ... BLISTERINGLY FUNNY AND ALTOGETHER WONDERFUL!” -The New York Times • In the Historic Arcade Theatre •
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
PACKAGES ARE AVAILABLE FOR 9, 8, or 7 SHOWS! *All Titles and Dates Subject to Change
2020-2021 SEASON SUBSCRIBE NOW AND SECURE YOUR SEATS EARLY! SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE JULY 15!
INTO THE BREECHES by George Brant
FEB 9-MAR 3, 2021
A HILARIOUS & VIBRANT NEW COMEDY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE’RE ALL IN IT TOGETHER. • In the Historic Arcade Theatre •
GOOD AMERICANS by Bruce Graham
FEB 23-MAR 28, 2021
Contains Adult Language. AN ELECTRIFYING WORLD PREMIERE! CHOSEN FROM THE 2019 PLAYLAB! • In the ArtStage Studio Theatre •
BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY by Alan Janes
MAR 16-APR 11, 2021
BEFORE THE BEATLES, BEFORE THE STONES, ROCK AND ROLL WAS BORN! BUDDY WILL HAVE YOU DANCING IN THE AISLES! • In the Historic Arcade Theatre •
MORNING AFTER GRACE by Carey Crim
APR 13-MAY 23, 2021
Contains Some Adult Language and Situations. HILARIOUS AND HEART-WARMING! THIS UNCONVENTIONAL NEW COMEDY TACKLES LOVE, LOSS, AND GROWING OLD WITH STYLE! • In the ArtStage Studio Theatre •
FLORIDA REP IS
“One of America’s TOP Repertory Companies!” —The Wall Street Journal
WHO’S WHO
ANNALISE CAUDLE (Lighting/Projection Designer) is a lighting designer based in New York, but originally from DeSoto, TX. Some of her regional design credits include: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (Gallery Players), The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Bye Bye Birdie (Maine State Music Theatre), Rep Lab (Milwaukee Rep), Elephant and Piggie (ZACH Theatre). Some of her regional ALD credits include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Paramount Theatre), Winter’s Tale (The Goodman Theatre), Things I Know to be True, The Chinese Lady, In the Heights (Milwaukee Rep). annalisecaudle.com KATIE LOWE (Sound Designer) is the resident sound designer at Florida Repertory Theatre. Previously, she has been an electrics intern at Florida Rep and sound apprentice at Endstation Theatre Company after graduating from the University of Kentucky. Previous credits include Matilda, Spring Awakening, Disney’s Newsies (Sound Engineer, Florida Repertory Theatre Education), A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Always…Patsy Cline, Romeo and Juliet, Hay Fever, August Wilson’s Fences, Tenderly: The Rosemary Clooney Musical, A Christmas Carol: The Tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, Damascus, Steel Magnolias, Becoming Dr. Ruth,
Refugee, The Cat in the Hat (Sound Designer, Florida Repertory Theatre), Cabaret (Florida Repertory Theatre, A2), Million Dollar Quartet (Endstation Theatre Company, A2), Sense and Sensibility (University of Kentucky, Sound Designer). Katie would like to thank her parents and Ben for their endless support and love! AMY L. MASSARI*† (Production Stage Manager) is pleased to return for her 11th season as Florida Rep’s resident stage manager and an ensemble member. Amy has been a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association for the past 30 years, working in some of the country’s finest regional theatres: the Alley Theatre (Houston, TX), the Dallas Theatre Center (Dallas, TX), Stage-West (Springfield, MA), the Pioneer Memorial (Salt Lake City, UT), and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival (Boulder, CO). Among her favorite Florida Rep productions are Barefoot in the Park, Always…Patsy Cline, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Split in Three, The Fantasticks, Lend Me a Tenor, August: Osage County, Sylvia, and God of Carnage. Amy has been happily married to her husband of 23 years, Michael. Michael teaches theatre at Marymount Manhattan College in NYC and is a terrific partner and father to their children Jesse Cheyenne and Caleb Dakota.
SPECIAL THANKS Paul Simeone, Ph.D and Lauren Walker - Lee Health Lori Brooks, M. Ed., Sherry Wenzel - Lee County School District Florida Rep Scene Stealers
ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA) was FLORIDA PROFESSIONAL founded in 1913 as the first of the American THEATRES ASSOCIATION (FPTA) Actor unions. Equity’s mission is to advance, is a statewide organization of promote and foster the art of theatre as an professional theatre companies essential component of our society. Today, and theatre professionals interested in the Equity represents more than 40,000 actors, development and promotion of professional singers, dancers and stage managers working in theatre throughout Florida. Florida Repertory hundreds of theatres across the United States. Theatre is a proud FPTA member theatre. Equity members are dedicated to working in the theatre as a profession, upholding the highest Florida Repertory Theatre artistic standards. Equity negotiates wages and is a member of THEATRE working conditions and provides a wide range of COMMUNICATIONS GROUP benefits including health and pension plans for (TCG), the national organization its members. Through its agreement with Equity, for the American Theatre. this theatre has committed to the fairPreviews treatment $20 of the actors and stage managers employed in this production. AEA is a member of the AFLFlorida Repertory Theatre CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an international is a proud Associate Member organization of performing arts unions. For more of the NATIONAL NEW PLAY information, visit www.actorsequity.org. NETWORK.
TICKETS $45 •
HELPLINES The resources below provide free and confidential support for people in distress, as well as prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 Lee County Survivors of Suicide: 239-541-1151 Crisis Helpline: 239-262-7227 | Toll Free: 800-329-7227
ONLINE RESOURCES Kids’ Minds Matter | www.leehealthfoundation.org/kids-minds-matter Valerie’s House | www.valerieshouseswfl.org The Center for Progress and Excellence, Mobile Crisis Unit | www.progressandexcellence.com/mobile-crisis FGCU Counseling Center | www.fgcu.edu/mariebcollege/counseling/ communitycounseling Elite DNA Therapy Services | www.elitedna.us | 239.223.2751 National Alliance on Mental Illness | www.nami.org The Kim Foundation | www.thekimfoundation.org American Foundation for Suicide Prevention | www.afsp.org SalusCare | www.saluscareflorida.org Park Royal | www.parkroyalhospital.com Charlotte Behavioral Healthcare | www.cbhcfl.org Centerstone | www.centerstone.org David Lawrence Center | www.davidlawrencecenter.org | 239.572.9070 Hope Clubhouse | www.hopeclubhouse.org | 239.267.1777 Community Awareness in Recognizing and Educating on Suicide | www.caresprevention.org Center for Child Stress and Health | www.med.fsu.edy/childStress/home Project HELP (Naples) | www.projecthelpnaples.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS & FLORIDA REP STAFF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
R. Marc Laviolette, Chair Arthur Zupko, Treasurer Dinah Bloomhall Alexandra Bremner Rachel Burttram Janice Danzig
Naomi Bloom, Vice Chair Doris Colgate, Secretary
David M. Fritz Fay C. Gronski David Hall Greg Longenhagen
Sunny Lubner Martin McLaughlin John Martin
ADVISORY BOARD
Don Abbott • Liz Abbott • Lori Collins • Marc Collins • Stephanie Davis • Don Gurule • Deb Jonsson Jane Lane • Marc Laviolette • Darrel Lieze-Adams • Clive Lubner • John Martin • Jeff McCullers
Greg Longenhagen Artistic Director
STAFF
John Martin Executive Director
Jason Parrish Associate Artistic Director
ADMINISTRATION Julieta Figueroa Finance Director
Renee Pesci Development Director Daniel Benzing Director of Operations Bryelle Dafeldecker Marketing Director Neil Curiel Group Sales & Playbill Ad Sales Marketing Manager Aaron Martin Company Manager Brendan Powers Community Outreach Coord. Rebekah Lynn Development Associate
Chris Clavelli Resident Director
EDUCATION
Kody C Jones Education Director Christina DeCarlo Asst. Education Director Catalina Porterfield Tour Manager
INTERN STAFF Kiana Pinder Education
Kylie Gray Mask Bethany Ellen Mansfield Bailey Cecile Tyler Hunter Clarke Asher Van Meter Thomas Hadzeriga Acting
Drew Johnson Technical Director Josh Schacht Asst. Technical Director Shellie Raleigh Miranda White Carpenters Brooke Arthur Costume Shop Manager Jasmine Harvey Asst. Costume Manager Katie Lowe Resident Sound Designer
Jackson Berkhouse Drew Kobus Lighting
Jeff Sammarco Master Electrician
Andrew Burns Anthony Tony Kelsey Waller Costumes
KateLynn Foster Asst. Company Manager
Ansley Gayton Sound
Sally Joslyn Volunteer Coordinator
Tim Billman Production Manager
Danica Murray Rachel Van Pamel Stage Management
Joseph Dafeldecker Digital Media Specialist
Karen Downey Business Associate
PRODUCTION
Nicholas Lease Paint Kaitlyn Gumm Props Max Conoley Company Management
Isabella Trevino Scenic Charge Shannon Rossi Props Master Jesseca Terhaar Props Assistant Katie Wilhelm Asst. Production Manager/ Stage Management Intern
Isabella Cintron Tyler Colmery Cassandra Dayton Jesse Massari Keifer MacDonald Gerrie Benzing Kalie Miner Artistic Associate Box Office Manager Matteo Occhino Contains strong language, adult situations, & brief nudity. Box Office Associates Jamie Billman Box Office and Sales Associate
Stephanie Stanley Front of House
BWW Review: EVERY BRILLIANT THING at Florida Repertory Theatre by Emily Yorgey Mar. 2, 2020
EVERY BRILLIANT THING at Florida Repertory Theatre, directed by Eleanor Holdridge, is a beautiful show about mental health, love, loss, and what makes life brilliant. The story follows the narrator as he reflects on his life from his childhood to the present day. He grew up with a mother who was depressed and suicidal, and so, he decided to write a list of everything he thinks is brilliant and worth living for in this world for her. Throughout his narration of the project, you get to hear and see his journey as he grows up and learns his own lessons about life and death. Michael Satow plays the narrator in this production, and I thoroughly enjoyed his performance. He showed so much genuine joy as he reflected on happy moments, or heard a number on his list of brilliant things that was funny, and you could also see the emotion he had when talking about the harder, sad moments. One-man shows can be a bit tricky as the actor has to hold the attention of the audience the whole show, and Satow more than did that. You could tell everyone was completely captivated by this story and his acting, and for good reason. It was, in a word, brilliant. This is a very special show not just because of the storyline, but also because the audience is very involved in it. A few audience members get to play significant roles in the narrator's life, but almost everyone
ends up with a card as well, which has a number on his list of brilliant things. As he performs, he calls out numbers and the audience members get to yell out what that brilliant thing is accordingly (I had number 7, but you'll have to see the show to find out what that is). If you get the chance to see this show while it's playing at Florida Rep, I absolutely recommend you do so. You will laugh, cry, and everything in between as you witness a beautiful, heartbreaking, incredibly important story. Whether you yourself have struggled with mental health or you know someone who has, I think it's a very necessary topic, and this show handles it perfectly. EVERY BRILLIANT THING is playing in Florida Rep's ArtStage Studio Theatre now through March 29. Performances are Tuesday-Thursday at 7 PM, Friday-Saturday at 8 PM, with 2 PM matinees on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. To buy tickets, you can visit www.floridarep.org, call Florida Rep at 239-332-4488, or stop by the box office at 2268 Bay Street, Fort Myers, FL, 33901. Photo Credit: Joe Dafeldecker
“Every Brilliant Thing” reminds you of what makes life worth living fortmyers.floridaweekly.com/articles/every-brilliant-thing-reminds-you-of-what-makes-life-worth-living/ | March 11, 2020
March 11, 2020
Above: Michael Satow prompts an audience member to read aloud from a card. JOE DAFELDECKER / FLORIDA REPERTORY THEATRE
¦ A kitten sneezing for the first time ¦ A dog’s head resting on your thigh ¦ A phone call from an old friend ¦ A giggling baby ¦ Rubbing a dog’s tummy 1/5
¦ An unexpected joke ¦ A perfect sentence ¦ Dancing with those you love at a wedding ¦ Babies’ Buddha bellies ¦ A cup of tea on a rainy day If I were making a list of things that make life worth living, those 10 things would surely find their way on it somewhere. Good theater, and the one-man play “Every Brilliant Thing,” would also appear on that list. In “Every Brilliant Thing,” the unnamed character begins a list of things that make life worth living. He’s all of 7 years old, and his mother has just tried to kill herself. He thinks that if he makes a list of “every brilliant thing” in life, it will help her. His list begins like this: ¦ Ice cream ¦ Water fights ¦ Staying up past your bedtime and being allowed to watch TV
2/5
Right: Satow plays the piano during “Every Brilliant Thing.”
It is, of course, a kid’s list, from a child’s perspective. (It also includes Batman, the color yellow, things with stripes and people falling over. Things adults, too, can enjoy.) Michael Satow plays the narrator, portraying him up through adulthood. A list can’t cure his mother’s depression. But it surely helps him recognize the good in life, the things he’s grateful for, life’s small daily joys. And it reminds us of those things, too. This play by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe is not your typical one-man show. It’s a hybrid offering: part acting/part improv/part stand-up.
3/5
Mr. Satow performs it in the round, on a pile of overlapping patterned rugs. Up above hang scores of different kinds of lamps: stark modern, Tiffany glass, some in mason jars, some with fringed shades. It’s an interesting set by Tim Billman that provides comfort yet also reminds us that light (and hope) can come in various containers. Mr. Satow is an amiable actor, friendly and relatable. He breaks the fourth wall, talking directly to theater-goers, and delivers the dialogue so naturally, it’s as if he’s making it up on the spot. It’s a compelling performance. While he tells his story, he picks people from the audience to fill in as his family’s veterinarian, his father, his school counselor (and her sock puppet), his college professor, his first girlfriend. People are coaxed and charmed out of their seats to take part. (If you don’t like audience participation, this show might make you nervous.) Before the show begins, other audience members are handed a yellow card with one of the list’s “brilliant things.”
Nancy STETSON
When Mr. Satow calls out the number during the show, that audience member reads aloud what’s printed on their card. Sometimes he reads list items himself: “315: The smell of old books,” “324: Nina Simone’s voice,” “575: Piglets.” Somehow, Mr. Satow builds a community out of an audience of strangers. We see each other and we root for the people who are spontaneously chosen from the audience. We are drawn together by our laughter. And also by our tears. (Bring tissues. When Mr. Satow borrows an audience member’s sweater and, folding it into a soft bundle, cradles it as if it’s his beloved dog, Sherlock Bones, dying in his arms, I felt the first tears.) Of course, audience ad libs add unexpected humor to the play. (The woman whose sweater was borrowed voiced concern whether he’d give it back.) For Mr. Satow, performing this play must be like walking on a tightrope without a net. He is talented, and that keeps him up in the air, but it’s also the audience’s goodwill and belief in him that helps him across without falling. Which is pretty much the point this show is making about this crazy journey called life: We all need each other, each other’s support, care and encouragement. 4/5
As the Narrator grows older, through his teen years, college years and adulthood, his list of brilliant things grows and the types of things he enumerates change. Some of the strongest, most powerful sections, for me, had to do with music: music the Narrator’s father would listen to, songs the family would sing when they gathered around the piano in their kitchen. He talks about the way Ray Charles howls the word “you” in “Drown in My Own Tears” and about Curtis Mayfield’s incredible song “Move On Up.” (“Move On Up” would definitely appear on my list of “brilliant things” for its inspirational lyrics, its energy and its incredible percussion jam that turns the second half of the almost nine-minute-long song an exuberant instrumental celebration.) Director Eleanor Holdridge keeps the show from getting too hokey and takes us on an emotional ride that has us both laughing and crying. And, depending upon the audience and its responses, this play is different every time it’s performed. But one thing is a sure anchor: “Every Brilliant Thing” is a moving show that reminds us of the importance of remembering the good things in life, and asking for help when we need it. Life is full of confusion, ugliness and uncertainty. We’re facing a presidential election, a viral epidemic and economic confusion. It would help to think on the things that are lovely and good and, yes, brilliant. “Every Brilliant Thing” just might inspire you to make your own list of all the things that make life worth living. ¦ In the KNOW “Every Brilliant Thing” When: Through March 29 Where: ArtStage Studio Theatre of Florida Repertory Theatre, downtown Fort Myers Cost: $55 Info: 239-332-4488 or www.FloridaRep.org
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5/5
2's Review: 'Every Brilliant Thing' reminds us to embrace our lives Actor Michael Satow is charismatic and does a wonderful job narrating this story.
Monday, March 9th 2020, 12:54 PM EDT by Dave Elias
Updated: Monday, March 9th 2020, 1:23 PM EDT
'Every Brilliant Thing' is giving Southwest Florida audiences more than a million reasons to live and enjoy life in paradise.
This show by Duncan Macmillian with Johnny Donahoe is a reminder to embrace life and remember it always gets better.
The show is a subtle depiction of suicide as 123 people die each day in America from suicide. Don't let this scare you about the show. Sometimes the most uncomfortable topics make the best and this one act, single actor play, accomplishes this in the intimate setting of the Artstage Studio Theatre.
Actor Michael Satow is charismatic and does a wonderful job narrating this story about a 7year-old boy whose mother is clearly struggling with mental illness and attempts to take her life. He's convincing in his role and will have you believe it's his own personal story as he successfully connects with audience members.
The little boy creates a list of reasons for his mom to live. First on the list is icec ream, and as he grows, so does the list and the reasons to live mature with the story.
The show is very audience interactive as Satow encourages chosen audience members for a moment to play the characters in his life. That impromptu act adds to the delight and could potentially make each show uniquely different creating its own comedy, keeping Satow on his feet and prepared to adlib as attendees become part of the story.
In closing it's a show worth seeing and no doubt in a weird way the probably the most endearing story you'll see about suicide. The show succeeds and had me counting my blessings walking out of the theater and to my car. One of those blessings was having the opportunity to see the show in sunny Southwest Florida.
The show runs through March 29th. Click here for more information about tickets and showtimes.
© Copyright 2020 WBBH/WZVN (Waterman Broadcasting). All rights reserved.
Pictured: Michael Satow | Photos by Joe Dafeldecker
Patron Feedback Highlights for EVERY BRILLIANT THING
provoking and at times humorous. Well done 5 stars
As positive of an experience as one would expect at the theater!
Suicide is a very difficult subject for a play. But, it wasn't until after the play when I described it to my Mom, that I realized that this was the subject. We were so captivated by the incredible performance of the Actor and the cleverness of the play writer to write this play to focus on happy things to think about as a precaution to depression. Suicide is a very relevant issue for me and I have experienced very severe depressive episodes throughout my life (until drugs finally have contained it). I loved how well the actor expressed his own despondency over his mother's multiple attempts to commit suicide and his swings of heroic attempts to focus on the good things in life. It was a very difficult thing for him to work with the audience so intimately with no idea how the audience member would react or improvise. The actor handled this brilliantly. His evolution in the play to its conclusion made me cry at the end. I left stunned and desperate to find the actor to let him know how much his performance had moved me. Of course, he had left when the show was over. I want him to know that in my opinion he deserves an oscar or whatever award is given to live acting. Bravo! And Thank You
Fun evening Add this to the list...1,000,001...A Brilliant Performance! The Actor Michael Satow was AMAZING Great show! loved the rugs and lamps it was great! Loved the show!! So different!! Always exceeds expectations It was a remarkable piece of theater. How ironic that Michael chose the lady he did to act as the vet. She is a dear friend of mine and the reason we are here in Ft Myers and season subscribers to Florida Rep. I can’t believe she made it through as she is a super animal lover and went through the process with her cat! I was crying with her! We liked the uniqueness of the play and the production. Actor was outstanding. Powerful performance! What a delightful experience! Sensitive material but wonderfully performed. I loved the involvement of the audience. Such a difficult subject was thought
Acting excellent. Audience participation interesting This was a terrific performance. Very unique, engaging, informative, heartbreaking and uplifting all at the same time. "Brilliantly" executed. When opened thought "this is going to be a loser" but turned out to be Amazing!!
The performance was outstanding! An amazing experience Amazing production Engaged the audience very well Thoroughly enjoyed Have recommended production to many Excellent production. Loved the involvement of the audience. Actor was very personable and did a great job! Genius! I thought the actor was fabulous! The audience participation was an interesting sideline. I loved it. An extremely well-written play that was exquisitely performed. It exceeded all of my expectations for the way it dealt with the subject matter. A serious subject that needs to be brought up in an environment like this. Glad to hear proceeds are benefiting local youth mental health initiatives. Loved the idea of an “every brilliant thing� list! Have decided to start one myself. This was an incredible show! I have already mentioned it to a couple of our doctors and some friends. Thanks, Florida Rep for bringing this show to us! This was the most clever performance I've ever seen. I am enthusiastically recommending it to all my friends. I LOVED this. the actor was magnificent and the topic newsworthy. Thanks Love the Entire performance I enjoy the performances that make me reflect afterwards.
Top notch to promote thinking and questioning on the sensitive issues surrounding mental health. Excellent Subject Wonderful actor. Presents himself so warmly. Excellent in interactions with the audience. we like longer productions and this was very short but extremely entertaining. I found the show very intriguing and the actor excellent. His interaction with the audience superb and even the distractions by the audience handled with fineness. I liked the audience integration. It made the play much more enjoyable. The play is very original. I was amazed at what he did- change of moods, involving the audience, any little glich- audience member slightly musing their etc.- he flawlessly went on, often making us laugh more. Truly amazing. We really LOVED this play. The writing was powerful, and Michael Satow was both engaging and delightful. From the moment he started interacting with the audience you felt his presence and affirmation as he made everyone immediately at ease, because he was so at ease. He was able to portray deep emotion as well as a quick wit when he would ad lib with audience members. Eleanor Holdridge did an excellent job directing this talented actor. With very few props the audience was totally engaged in this performance. There was a wonderful warmth and response from the audience
toward this actor. It was a touching and heartwarming experience that we thoroughly enjoyed. We hope to see more of Michael on stage at FL Rep!!!! The energy of the actor was tremendous. Getting the audience to participate was great ! Putting this performance on in the "small" theatre was great. This was a very sensitive and controversial topic to bring to the stage. The actor made it meaningful and introspective. GREAT JOB ! Great show . Actor was wonderful Original and satisfying in many ways. Very thought provoking play. Excellent acting and audience interaction. One of the best inspirational shows acted superbly and the talk back put the icing on the cake
RESOURCES Thank you, Michael Satow, for a brilliant performance. Michael's performance was brilliant! He was able to tackle anything that was thrown at him by the audience and turn it into a funny situation. This was one of the most unique plays I have ever seen. It brought audience participation to a new level. Very interesting and thoughtprovoking. We were tremendously impressed by the overall skill and talent of the performer, considering the combination of the time spent prior to the play setting up the audience participation, the diversity of emotions as well as the performing skills needed. overall, excellent job done. Talented young man who knew how to work an audience
Production and actor were excellent! Truly enjoyed it.
As a one man show this was a very good show The actor was excellent
When I read about "audience participation" I was prepared not to like this production. WOW. It was superb and unforgettable. We laughed, we cried, we left in awe. Florida Rep, you continue to bring high quality theater to this area!
It was a wonderfully powerful production. Audience participation was great and acting was superlative. Congrats on a great show.
Mental health on this level is often overlooked today especially in regard to depression. Kudos to the wonderful job done by the actor. What energy!! I think that for a difficult subject like suicide it was well presented. I was happy to see the page for HELPLINES and ONLINE
I liked the audience participation and the actor's ability to continue on without hesitation when a cell phone went off and an audience member forgot to shout out his word. We were thrilled with this play and the actor. We didn't know what to expect. The topic was serious but it was handled beautifully. We loved the audience participation. Very enjoyable. Different. Fun.
This was different and the young man who played the part was first class. Very interesting perspective and a valuable message to hear. Add this to the list of "Every Brilliant Thing"...1,000,001...A Brilliant Performance!!! This is our most favorite play this season. Michael was OUTstanding. MOST enjoyable. We have talked about it every day since. Brilliant performance!!!!! The actor was amazing. I was even impressed with the audience participation. Thoroughly enjoyed the play. Excellent choice for the venue& extremely talented actor What an amazing play, blending pathos and comedy! Audience participation was fun, rewarding and certainly much better than one would expect. Michael Satow must have a great sense for reading character in others! I want to write a play like this one! Hats off, kudos, congrats to Duncan MacMillan! One of my favorite plays of any season! Very captivating, intense ,wonderful performance enjoyed the conversation afterwards also. Great audience participation, believable narrator, compelling pace of the play. Great job Loved the interaction between the Narrator and the audience
The audience interaction was a nice change, and the Narrator did a terrific job of improvising in response to spontaneous input from audience members. The talk-back after performance was informative and heartfelt. So glad that this performance will be offered to hundreds of area students. I was also delighted that audience members were asked to contribute a Brilliant Thing on sticky notes after the performance. (“Waterfalls!�) Really enjoyed the show! Excellent Actor! We thought that this was SO different than usual entertainment that it was refreshing! Outstanding performance. Loved the subject matter. Funny, Sad and thoughtful. Great !! This was a very difficult subject that was handled beautifully by the playwright and performer. In the beginning, I was a little hesitant about where we were going. I had a family member commit suicide. But this subject was handled so gently, with emotional realism and with spot on therapeutic messages, that at the end of the performance I was on my feet with everyone else. Brilliant! Thank you. All of these old people came stumbling in, including me, looking frumpy and aged, as the night progressed, we were the actors and actresses too.Hey they/we did a great job.The ending by everyone giving examples of reasons to live and be happy was very touching. First I ever heard of play was in your ad. I am so glad that we chose to go. Topic is relevant, relates to my experience. But a real
WOW for the young actor who carried the play. My husband and I felt that he was so in character, so believable, gave such a good performance, that we never cared that it was basically a one man show. We very much enjoyed the involvement of the audience The set, too, was interesting. A wonderful evening, another of the many we've experienced at the Rep. This was a fantastic performance! A hard subject portrayed and acted superbly! Your performances only get better and better. I’m proud to be a season ticket subscriber. Great shows, fabulous acting and a wonderful value! Thank you for continuing to bring a great theatre experience to SW Florida very clever, well-thought out audience participation, funny enough to make the serious subject matter tolerable, performer was absolutely outstanding A wonderful presentation == the actor was amazing-Audience participationI is not always a favorite of mine but I was selected to be Mrs Patterson and found it delightful. Dad and Susan were great additions, as was the professor. Very difficult subject, I have a son who suicided; I’m grateful for this presentation, especially the playwright. The acting versatility was superb. Your plays just get better and better. He was FANTASTIC!!!!!! Interesting re: audience participation written into the play. Probably every performance is different with how different audience members respond. Wish I could see a few to compare. (I know, I know--- you'd be happy if I did.....) Last night was very special. Thanks to all of you.
The narrator was fantastic, the interaction with the audience was suberb!! He did a wonderful job with such a subject matter! I absolutely loved the improvisation with audience participation! A very unique experience. One of the best that we have seen exceptional The play wasn’t what I had expected, but it was great. Kudos for a very brilliant performance; funny,sad, poignant, and topical. I visited with the set director and he was cordial and very interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed our time and the rest of my party were envious. He does a magnificent job with every set especially A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder. Absolutely superb The actor was fabulous. We thoroughly enjoyed the play. It went by too quickly! Great job! Depression is serious problem and isn't always addressed. There is still a shame to the condition of depression. And yet society needs to be address it. The actor was fantastic and was able to subject the message of depression and the impact of people's lives. Great job!!! Loved eye contact actor made with the audience. Play had some slow moments but story was excellent. Tempo needs to pick up ( high 5’s excessive) saw this on opening night. Would be interesting to see it after polishing actor has great potential. I really
enjoyed him. Why do young people not attend shows? I couldn’t get over how aged the audience was. excellent one man show! he did a very good job My wife and I agree that this turned out to be one of our all-time favorite Florida Rep productions. right up there with "Tru," "Native Gardens," "Best of Enemies" and "Twelve Angry Men," to name just a few of our other favorites. The actor's intimate connection with the audience and his encouragement og their participation was really quite astounding!! Pat & David Rosenquist Fabulous! Both acting and play! The subject matter, suicide and depression, I'm sure, would be difficult for many people to watch unfold in a play. However, my husband and I both felt the play was an excellent production. The actor was amazing in his role as narrator. He certainly kept things moving along with all the audience participation. Very enjoyable, for a one-man show So creative. Unique experience. Loved the audience participation. Acting was amazing. On stage alone the entire time. So glad we saw this. A one man show is hard to pull off and we felt he was one more “brilliant thing. Very enjoyable We wondered at the beginning what was happening and when would it start! It turned out to be a very enjoyable evening! The actor was fantastic!
Wonderful acting Loved this play and the interaction with the audience. It was very different than anything I have attended. I love seeing plays in this intimate theatre. I loved the audience interaction and my hubby was a great professor. Get the word out! This is a must see play! Already have recommended and some are going to see it! The subject is most important I love the "Reps" bravery and growth this year. I have told all my friends not to miss it. Have already recommended it to several.