UI, NIC collaborate on ‘Every Brilliant Thing’ performances

In recognition of National Suicide Prevention Week, University of Idaho will present two performances of “Every Brilliant Thing” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, at the Forge Theater, 404 Sweet Ave., Moscow.

North Idaho College will also host the play at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Sept. 17-18, at the Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center, 880 W Garden Ave., Coeur d’Alene.

“I’m thrilled to be producing ‘Every Brilliant Thing’ once again and to have the unique opportunity to share this remarkable play with NIC students and the Coeur d’Alene community in a co-production with NIC’s Department of Theatre,” said Robert Caisley, chair of U of I’s theatre arts department. “We hope the show resonates just as deeply at NIC and has the same lasting impact there that it has had on our campus and community.”

The play, which includes discussions of suicide and depression, is sponsored by Idaho Repertory Theatre, the U of I Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives, the U of I Dean of Students Office and Vandal Health Education.

Written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donohoe, the play explores depression and suicide through humor and audience participation. The Guardian described it as “one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see about depression — and possibly one of the funniest plays you'll ever see, full stop.”

The life-affirming play moves between humor and heartbreak as it considers the people, experiences and everyday pleasures that make life worth living.

This is the fifth consecutive year U of I has presented “Every Brilliant Thing” in connection with suicide awareness and the first year the show will be performed at NIC.

“This production represents a tangible first step in what we hope will become a sustained and meaningful partnership between our two theatre programs,” said Adam Kroeger, assistant professor of theatre at NIC. “By building stronger connections between NIC and the U of I, we can create more opportunities for our students. Collaborations like this allow us to expand what is possible for our students beyond the boundaries of any one institution.”

The shows in Moscow are free for U of I students and $10 for general admission. Tickets can be reserved online at uitickets.com.

Admission to the Coeur d’Alene performances is free. To reserve your tickets, email [email protected].

For information about other upcoming events from the Department of Theatre Arts, visit go.uidaho.edu/theatre-productions.