Players By The Sea Presents Intimate 'Every Brilliant Thing' Production

Audience members will sit on stage and help bring the one-person show to life.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 2:48am

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Players by the Sea Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida will open an intimate, immersive production of the play "Every Brilliant Thing" this Friday, March 13. The solo show, which will be performed in rotation by two actors, invites the audience to sit on stage and participate by reading list items, playing small roles, and becoming part of the narrator's world. The theater notes that any audience participation is voluntary, guided, and gentle.

Why it matters

"Every Brilliant Thing" explores themes of love, loss, and finding joy in the small things in life, while also addressing mental health. The unique staging and audience involvement aim to create a deeply personal and life-affirming experience for attendees.

The details

The play follows a young person who begins compiling a list of everything brilliant about the world after their mother attempts suicide. As the character grows older, the list takes on new meanings and forms, shaped by relationships, setbacks, and life's challenges. The production at Players by the Sea will have a seating capacity of 50-60 per night to maintain the intimacy of the performance.

  • The show will open on March 13, 2026 and run through April 12, 2026.

The players

Lindsay Curry

One of the two actors who will perform the solo play in rotation.

Jillianne Tamillo

One of the two actors who will perform the solo play in rotation.

Bradley Akers

The managing director of Players by the Sea Theatre, who explains the importance of the audience's ability to see each other during the performance.

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What they’re saying

“the story unfolds through intentional audience involvement, and the ability for the audience to see each other throughout the performance is just as important as what's happening in the script.”

— Bradley Akers, Managing Director

What’s next

Tickets for the production are limited, so theatergoers are encouraged to purchase them soon.

The takeaway

This unique, immersive production of "Every Brilliant Thing" at Players by the Sea Theatre aims to create a deeply personal and life-affirming experience for the audience, exploring themes of mental health and finding joy in the ordinary through intentional audience participation.