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From the Director
Directing a one-person show is quite a bit different than anything I've ever done. I'm lucky that I got to work with one of my best friends from college. He gave me lots of patience and grace in learning how to best support him. Basically, I just had to get out of his way so he could the do the work involved. I hope you enjoy the work as much as I have enjoyed watching it develop and take shape.
This is an important play for our times. I have been blessed to raise a son, who is now 19, who struggles with mental illness and suicidal ideation. I, too, have faced mental health challenges. I think we all have to grapple with this at some point or an other. If the pandemic taught us anything, it's that we should be here for one another. There is a lot of need that has become more prominent and/or evident since 2020. We need to lead with heart and empathy as we interact with one another from this point forward.
Our next season--season 26--is themed Once More, With Empathy. The theatre world, along with the rest of the world post-pandemic, is changing. Theatre doesn't have to be cutthroat, it doesn't need to lack empathy, it doesn't have to be backstabbing. It can be joyful and inclusive, and I want to be part of that. I'm going to prioritize this as our company moves forward.
Finally, I want to dedicate this show to our good friend George Plautz, who passed away earlier this year. I never expected him to go--I never thought about my life without him. It makes me realize how fleeting it all is. We have to to slow down, take it all in, savor those brilliant things. I am not always good at this and commit to doing better. I hope this play inspires you to do the same and maybe even call someone you love on the way home to tell them "I love you."
CAST AND CREW BIOS
Directing a one-person show is quite a bit different than anything I've ever done. I'm lucky that I got to work with one of my best friends from college. He gave me lots of patience and grace in learning how to best support him. Basically, I just had to get out of his way so he could the do the work involved. I hope you enjoy the work as much as I have enjoyed watching it develop and take shape.
This is an important play for our times. I have been blessed to raise a son, who is now 19, who struggles with mental illness and suicidal ideation. I, too, have faced mental health challenges. I think we all have to grapple with this at some point or an other. If the pandemic taught us anything, it's that we should be here for one another. There is a lot of need that has become more prominent and/or evident since 2020. We need to lead with heart and empathy as we interact with one another from this point forward.
Our next season--season 26--is themed Once More, With Empathy. The theatre world, along with the rest of the world post-pandemic, is changing. Theatre doesn't have to be cutthroat, it doesn't need to lack empathy, it doesn't have to be backstabbing. It can be joyful and inclusive, and I want to be part of that. I'm going to prioritize this as our company moves forward.
Finally, I want to dedicate this show to our good friend George Plautz, who passed away earlier this year. I never expected him to go--I never thought about my life without him. It makes me realize how fleeting it all is. We have to to slow down, take it all in, savor those brilliant things. I am not always good at this and commit to doing better. I hope this play inspires you to do the same and maybe even call someone you love on the way home to tell them "I love you."
CAST AND CREW BIOS
Brian Pilling (Narrator) is excited to return to the stage after an almost pandemic-length hiatus. Favorite past performances include roles in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged, A Bright New Boise, Happy, and The Real Inspector Hound. Of the many brilliant things in his life, the most brilliant are his wife Nicole and his daughters (are you both really adults now?) - and his collection of Trisha Yearwood CDs. Thanks to Jim for this whirlwind theatrical experience. It does get better.
Duncan Macmillan (Playwright) 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 Nineteen Eighty-Four, which he co-adapted and co-directed with Robert Icke. Macmillan's play Lungs had a major revival at the Old Vic Theatre in 2019, starring Matt Smith and Claire Foy.
Macmillan co-created and wrote the 2020 BBC television drama series Trigonometry with Effie Woods. Macmillan first rose to prominence through the Bruntwood Playwriting Competition at Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre, winning two awards in its inaugural year for his play Monster, which was also nominated for a TMA Best New Play Award and a Manchester Evening News Best New Play Award. Many of Macmillan's major plays take as their central theme a contemporary socio-political issue: Lungs explores parenthood, People, Places and Things addiction and recovery, and Every Brilliant Thing considers the issue of suicidality.
Macmillan co-created and wrote the 2020 BBC television drama series Trigonometry with Effie Woods. Macmillan first rose to prominence through the Bruntwood Playwriting Competition at Manchester's Royal Exchange Theatre, winning two awards in its inaugural year for his play Monster, which was also nominated for a TMA Best New Play Award and a Manchester Evening News Best New Play Award. Many of Macmillan's major plays take as their central theme a contemporary socio-political issue: Lungs explores parenthood, People, Places and Things addiction and recovery, and Every Brilliant Thing considers the issue of suicidality.
Jonny Donahoe (Playwright) was born in 1983 in Dublin, Ireland. While he is well known for many of his creative projects, he is best known for being the frontman for the comedy band Jonny and the Baptists. Further showing his comedy chops, Donahoe frequently performs as a stand-up comedian. His writing career expands further than just his collaboration with Macmillan for Every Brilliant Thing. In addition, he wrote “30 Christmases, which premiered at The Old Fire Station in Oxford and then moved to the New Diorama Theatre in London, and he has an upcoming series called Josie and Johnny Are Having a Baby (With You),” which will air on the American Podcast Network (http://www.jonnydonahoe.co.uk/). This is a collaboration between Donahoe and his partner, Josie, as they await the arrival of their first child. Donahoe is known for blurring the line between art and real life.
Jim Martin (Director) has been with Wasatch Theatre Company since day one. Jim is currently working on his Master of Fine Arts with an emphasis in directing from the University of Idaho at Moscow. He is slated to graduate in early 2024. Jim has directed many shows including most recently George Plautz's The Final Act, Hands on a Hardbody, Caroline, or Change, and the Page-to-Stage Festival. Jim's next project is to bring George's words to life in this year's Page-to-Stage Festival: Short Shorts. Jim would like to thank George for being his friend, his mom for raising him with love and determination, his son Jayden for being himself, his dad for always supporting even when he doesn't understand what the hell I'm doing, and his several pets for the cuddles (Chuck, Rosie, Misty, and Milo).
WTC Core Values
Diversity and Representation
Engagement
Empathy
Empowerment
Creativity
Accountability
Engagement
Empathy
Empowerment
Creativity
Accountability
WTC Ensemble
WTC has an Ensemble of artists. These individuals have shown amazing talent and energy toward making WTC a success. As Ensemble members, they earn recognition on the WTC website and in playbills. They also have opportunity to contribute to WTC seasons and other ideas. They are the first to be considered when casting a show and have an automatic "in" when it comes to the Page-to-Stage Festivals and any staged readings. We are thrilled to have these artists associated with WTC!
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