Tracee Ellis Ross is discovering joy in the small things that enrich her life, such as the click of a curling iron or the taste of olives. This focus aligns with her latest role as she begins her Broadway debut on Tuesday in the uplifting play, “Every Brilliant Thing.” The play, despite exploring the theme of depression, highlights the brighter side of life.
“Every Brilliant Thing” tells the story of a narrator who compiles a list of joyful things to show a depressed mother that life is worth living. These include ducklings, spaghetti Bolognese, and dancing in public. Among these is the unique joy of peeling a piece of wallpaper off in one intact piece. Ross says, “When you start doing this, you notice things you never thought of before. They’re everywhere, and that’s why this piece is so beautiful: It changes the way you see the world.”
Interactive Theater Experience
Ross takes over the Broadway role first held by Daniel Radcliffe and then by Mariska Hargitay. Although it is a solo performance, the audience plays an active part. Audience members are given tasks like reading items from scraps of paper, pretending to drive a car, or acting as the narrator’s parent. Ross selects and encourages audience participation, looking for both kindness and a hint of resistance. “A little bit of reluctance is actually a special quality in the roles that we need to cast,” she notes.
“It is a sense of being of service to the material.” – Tracee Ellis Ross
Written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe, “Every Brilliant Thing” allows the narrator to ad-lib, tailoring some elements to match their background. For instance, what was “wearing a cape” for Radcliffe becomes “tutus” for Ross. This adaptation helps the list feel authentic to each performer, reflecting what might have been brilliant at different stages of their life.
The play is revised for each new performer to accommodate their age and background, from their favorite cereal to childhood crushes. “They have their own personal reasons for connecting with material,” Macmillan explains.
Challenging Yet Rewarding Role
Despite its 70-minute length, Ross never pauses during the play, engaging in crowd work and delivering a 40-page monologue prepared in a brief three-week rehearsal period. “It felt like I was swallowing a whale,” she describes, highlighting the challenge and intensity of the preparation.
A Long-Anticipated Dream
Ross, a Brown University graduate who studied acting at The William Esper Studio, began her career auditioning for various roles in theater, film, and TV. Known for her work in series like “black-ish” and “Girlfriends,” Ross has always dreamed of performing on Broadway. This play, which connects with audiences through hope, fulfills a lifelong aspiration.
The story resonates deeply with Ross, as she expresses, “It’s a story about something real that so many of us struggle with, yet it’s presented through the lifeline of what makes life worth living.” Despite the daunting nature of hope, the play offers a way to bring balance and perspective.
Choosing not to watch Radcliffe or Hargitay perform the role, Ross aims to make the part her own. “It’s hard for me once I get somebody else’s performance or idea in my head,” she admits.
When asked to share a personal brilliant thing, Ross fondly recalls, “That moment when you and your siblings glance at each other because you know exactly what’s happening and only the five of us know but nobody else does.”