Weidner Downtown
Presented in partnership with The Tarlton Theatre, The Weidner Downtown series brings a fresh and eclectic mix of arts and culture offerings directly to the heart of Downtown Green Bay in this historic, art-deco jewel. The on-going series showcases local and regional talent collaborating on chamber theatre, film, live lit, music, and more.
Upcoming Events
Featured Event
EVERY BRILLIANT THING
JANUARY 18-21, 2024 | 7:00PM
SHOW DETAILS
Every Brilliant Thing
by Duncan Macmillan & Jonny Donahoe
Performed by Greg Pragel
Directed by Cody Estle
“Ice cream.” “Water fights.” “Peeing in the ocean and nobody knows.” A boy’s handwritten list to cheer up his despondent mom becomes a surprisingly funny and poignant ode to humanity. The story follows a narrator who takes audiences on a transcendent and tender coming-of-age journey that reminds us to pay attention to life’s smallest joys—and to each other.
$20 Tickets – Table and dinner add-on available.
MEET THE CREATIVE TEAM
Greg Pragel | Actor
Greg hails from Buffalo, NY, moved here from New York City, resides in Green Bay, and is currently a Guest Professor at UW-Stevens Point where he just directed a staged reading of Animal Farm. He is a proud AEA actor and alum of Niagara University and the Stella Adler Studio, NY. Greg has performed in international tours, national tours, and regionally before working in New York for a decade.
Cody Estle | Director
Cody Estle became the Artistic Director at Next Act Theatre in December 2022. Before coming to Next Act Theatre, he served as the Artistic Director at Raven Theatre in Chicago. His directing credits at Raven Theatre included THE LUCKIEST (2022 Jeff Award nominee for Best Production and Best Director), SUNDOWN, YELLOW MOON, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE (named by Windy City Times as the best of Chicago theatre in 2019), THE GENTLEMAN CALLER (2019 Jeff Award winning new play by Philip Dawkins).
ABOUT THE PLAY & PLAYWRIGHTS
BACKGROUND
EVERY BRILLIANT THING was first produced by Paines Plough and Pentabus Theatre, on June 28, 2013, at Ludlow Fringe Festival. It was directed by George Perrin and produced by Hanna Streeter. The line producer was Francesca Moody and the stage managers were Alicia White, Charlotte McBrearty, and Hamish Ellis. It was performed by Jonny Donahoe.
EVERY BRILLIANT THING had its North American premiere at Barrow Street Theatre, New York City, on December 6, 2014, presented by Barrow Street Theatre and Jean Doumanian Produc-tions. It was directed by George Perrin and performed by Jonny Donahoe.
EVERY BRILLIANT THING was commissioned with the support of Anne McMechan and Jim Roberts. It was produced and toured with the support of Arts Council England’s Strategic Touring Fund.
PLAYWRIGHTS
Duncan Macmillian | Writer, Every Brilliant Thing
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 | Writer, Every Brilliant Thing
Donahoe is best known for his comedy band Jonny & the Baptists, a collaboration with Paddy Gervers, who have made several appearances on BBC Radio 4. He has toured internationally with the critically acclaimed Every Brilliant Thing, which he co-wrote with Duncan Macmillan, following a very successful off-Broadway run at the Barrow Street Theatre in New York City. In 2014/15 Donahoe was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance and the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Solo Show. Every Brilliant Thing was also filmed and screened on HBO in 2016.
