EVERY BRILLIANT THING Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 2/20/26 at 12:00am

Get that list ready!

The Broadway premiere of Every Brilliant Thing is tomorrow afternoon (February 21) at the Hudson Theatre. Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe’s play about the things that make life worth living has been performed in over 80 countries and was seen Off-Broadway in 2014. This mounting, starring Daniel Radcliffe and featuring a generous dose of audience participation, is co-directed by Macmillan and Jeremy Herrin. Opening night is March 12 for a limited run through May 24.

“In this one-of-a-kind solo show, a man looks back at his life and the glimmers of hope that carried him through. All told through a list of every wonderful, beautiful, and delightful thing — big, small, and everything in between — that makes life worth living.”

Who’s going?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/20/26 at 10:01am

Going tomorrow! I'm looking forward to it as I love Daniel Radcliffe.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 2/21/26 at 12:49am

This play is really special.  Have seen two productions; Geffen Playhouse with the ever charming Daniel K. Issac and the most recent production in London with the irresistible Minnie Driver.  Excited for folks that get to see it for their first time.  

For those that have seen, what is the stage seating experience like?  Are you too close?  Seeing it at Soho Place and The Geffen's small theater invited a sense of intimacy that I think is integral to the show. Mulling over seeing it again with a 5pm Sat curtain cam see 3 shows in one day.  Ambitious but oh so curious. 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 2/21/26 at 5:49am

MERCH

[John Adams]

Posted: 2/21/26 at 11:38am

I watched the filmed version of this on HBO Max this morning, with Jonny Donahoe as the Performer. 

FYI: There is no worry regrading "spoilers" should anyone also choose to watch before attending the show. There are no plot elements per se, and I can easily see how the show could/would never be the same from one performance to another.

As I watched, I experienced a desire to be selected as an audience participant, and especially to have the opportunity to interact improvisationally with Radcliffe (or for that matter, anyone in the role of the Performer). 

For me, and from what I saw in the filmed version, the enjoyment of the show is equally as dependent on the audience as it is on the actor. I very much enjoy the idea that the Performer is facilitating an  experience (conversation?) as opposed to portraying a character.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 2/21/26 at 11:42am

Radcliffe has no standby for this.

An approximate 85-minute runtime is listed on the website, with no intermission. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 2/21/26 at 4:28pm

From some curtain call videos just posted, Radcliffe bows to the familiar refrain of The Five Stairsteps’ “Ooh Child” and takes the time to shout out some of the notable onstage audience participants.

How was the show, everybody?

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 2/21/26 at 4:33pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Radcliffe has no standby for this.

An approximate 85-minute runtime is listed on the website, with no intermission."

weird that they couldn't find someone to cover...

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 2/21/26 at 4:39pm

Falsettolands said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Radcliffe has no standby for this.

An approximate 85-minute runtime is listed on the website, with no intermission."

weird that they couldn't find someone to cover..."

Weird but not unprecedented; Sarah Snook didn't have an understudy for Dorian Gray last season

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 2/21/26 at 4:50pm

Fordham2015 said: "Falsettolands said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Radcliffe has no standby for this.

An approximate 85-minute runtime is listed on the website, with no intermission."

weird that they couldn't find someone to cover..."

Weird but not unprecedented; Sarah Snook didn't have an understudy for Dorian Gray last season"

I guess I just refuse to believe there wasn't a single unemployed actor in New York.

[Dolly80]

Posted: 2/21/26 at 7:46pm

It’s not weird at all. People are paying to see him.

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 2/21/26 at 8:22pm

Runtime apparently came in closer to 70 minutes this afternoon

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 2/21/26 at 8:31pm

Curious to see how much people are willing to pay to see this. 
BoringBoredBoard40 said: "Runtime apparently came in closer to 70 minutes this afternoon"

 

Updated On: 2/21/26 at 08:31 PM

[rg7759]

Posted: 2/21/26 at 10:22pm

Re: snook:

At the risk of offending someone, its because women are required to be their own standby with no bump in pay

Updated On: 2/21/26 at 10:22 PM

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 2/22/26 at 12:06am

rg7759 said: "Re: snook:

At the risk of offending someone, its because women are required to be their own standby with no bump in pay"

huh?

[Kad]

Posted: 2/22/26 at 1:20am

rg7759 said: "Re: snook:

At the risk of offending someone, its because women are required to be their own standby with no bump in pay"

This makes zero sense.

[WldKingdomHM]

Posted: 2/22/26 at 3:03am

rg7759 said: "Re: snook:

At the risk of offending someone, its because women are required to be their own standby with no bump in pay"

say what ….oh jan

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/22/26 at 7:31am

Fordham2015 said: "Falsettolands said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Radcliffe has no standby for this.

An approximate 85-minute runtime is listed on the website, with no intermission."

weird that they couldn't find someone to cover..."

Weird but not unprecedented; Sarah Snook didn't have an understudy for Dorian Gray last season"

I thought Equity required that all shows have an understudy, even if they aren’t listed or have no chance of going on. I know for the revival of HEDWIG, the titular role had no official understudy, but Paul McGill was the silent, uncredited understudy

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 2/22/26 at 8:44am

If I had to guess David Hull (played White Josh on Crazy Exgirlfriend) who is the credited associate director is also the unlisted understudy (fun fact he understudied Radcliffe in How To Succeed) 

Updated On: 2/22/26 at 08:44 AM

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 2/22/26 at 11:26am

After seeing the video of the curtain call from yesterday's show, I just found an on stage ticket (that was half the price of Orchestra in the theater) and HAD to pick it up.  This play is so uniquely special and yeah it's cool to sit on stage.  

Good job to the marketing folks at EBT.   It got me to purchase a ticket - and thank you for making it a 5pm show so I can see other things...keeping that evening slot open 

[kingfan011]

Posted: 2/23/26 at 11:10pm

Anyone seen this how is it?

[JSquared2]

Posted: 2/24/26 at 3:14pm

rg7759 said: "Re: snook:

At the risk of offending someone, its because women are required to be their own standby with no bump in pay"

Uh...WTF?

 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 2/24/26 at 3:15pm

quizking101 said: "

I thought Equity required that all shows have an understudy, even if they aren’t listed or have no chance of going on. I know for the revival of HEDWIG, the titular role had no official understudy, but Paul McGill was the silent, uncredited understudy"

 

100% incorrect.

[suicidalmickeymouse]

Posted: 2/25/26 at 11:32pm

How important are the hanging lights in this show to the design? I think my rear orch seats may have them out of sightline.

[Ensemble1670470656]

Posted: 2/26/26 at 5:04am

Fordham2015 said: "Falsettolands said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Radcliffe has no standby for this.

An approximate 85-minute runtime is listed on the website, with no intermission."

weird that they couldn't find someone to cover..."

Weird but not unprecedented; Sarah Snook didn't have an understudy for Dorian Gray last season"

It's easy to see why Dorian Gray didn't have an understudy with all the pre recorded stuff, there's no reason for EBT not to have one.