“Every Brilliant Thing” Will Kick Off Suicide Prevention Week in Missoula

September 7-14 is Suicide Prevention Week in Missoula and Project Tomorrow Montana is presenting a play to kick things off. “Every Brilliant Thing” is a play that shines a light on mental health issues. Susan Hay Patrick is the CEO of United Way of Missoula County and chair of Project Tomorrow Montana. She says the play is produced by Helena’s Grandstreet Theatre and is made possible by a grant from Blackfoot.

“We are so excited to bring this message of hope, humor and healing through the arts in the form of this one actor play called ‘Every Brilliant Thing”, which the playwright describes as the funniest thing you will ever see about the least funny subject in the world.”

According to Patrick, the play explores mental health, families and love in a production described as “hilarious and uplifting” for both adults and young people.

“It is the story of a little kid who comes home from school and the dad says ‘mom has done something stupid’,” Patrick said. “We are led to believe that the mom has made a suicide attempt. The little kid decides to make a list of all the things worth living for. What begins as a little list to cheer up the child’s mother, becomes sort of a brilliant litany of all the little things in life that make life worth living.”

Patrick says admission is free, but donations are appreciated. The play will be performed at 7 p.m. at Missoula Community Theatre on Friday, September 6 and Saturday, September 7.  Tickets may be reserved right here. A panel discussion featuring local suicide-prevention experts and audience talkback will follow each performance.