It’s no surprise that Tracee Ellis Ross knows how to throw an amazing party. For her 40th birthday, the lively, Golden Globe-winning actress, producer, and entrepreneur didn’t just settle for a nice sit-down dinner. Instead, she invited her friends to watch her perform an original one-woman show—and she kicked it off by stripping down to her bra and underwear on stage.
These days, Ross stays fully clothed in her current solo show, Every Brilliant Thing on Broadway, but she’s still exposed in other ways. This 40-page monologue, written by Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe, centers on a list the Narrator started making as a child. After their mother’s attempted suicide, they began writing down reasons to live—starting with ice cream, water fights, and staying up past bedtime to watch TV. The list grows as the Narrator goes to college, falls in love for the first time, and faces their own struggles with depression. Both the list and the play end with the millionth entry.
Every Brilliant Thing opened on Broadway in March 2026 with Daniel Radcliffe as the Narrator. Both the play and Radcliffe earned Tony nominations, and then Mariska Hargitay from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit took over the role. Now, Ross is stepping in for Hargitay, making her Broadway debut—a milestone she’s been working toward for a long time.
Photo: Matthew Murphy
“My sisters were tortured growing up because I was always playing Mrs. Hannigan and singing Annie all over the house,” Ross recalls. One-woman shows by Whoopi Goldberg, Lily Tomlin, and Anna Deavere Smith further fueled her passion before she studied theater at Brown.
“It kind of felt like flying with my feet on the ground,” Ross says about taking the stage at the Hudson Theatre for the first time on July 7, after three weeks of rehearsals. (Her run ends on August 9.)
Macmillan and Donahoe first presented the show in its current form at the Ludlow and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, before Donahoe starred in an off-Broadway version at the Barrow Street Theatre in 2014. Hundreds of regional and international performances followed. As of 2024, the play has been translated into 66 languages and staged in 63 countries.
Ross credits the play’s wide appeal to its universal themes. “Although it’s not my story at all, it still feels like every feeling inside it is mine,” she says. “Even if the world weren’t the way it is, experiencing that kind of hurt inside is a human thing, whether there’s a reason or not. This play doesn’t dwell on that—it leans into the idea that things can change, and that there are brilliant things in life that make it worth living.”
Another key feature is the audience participation, with attendees playing roles like family members and teachers. As the United States faces a mental health crisis, Ross loves the chance to directly engage the audience in what she sees as a big celebration of being alive.
“My job is really to be a kind of conductor, filling the space with wonder and connection—setting the tone that we’re all here to flourish. There’s no wrong way to do it, and there are no mistakes,” Ross says. “One woman played the lecturer, and she said, ‘I’m nervous,’ and I said, ‘So am I. We can be nervous together.’ I feel so deeply grateful for the people who are willing to face their nervousness, discomfort, and uncertainty, and still show up, play in that moment, and play with me.”
Photo: Matthew Murphy
She adds, “This is why I love being an actor—both for sharing the human experience and for connecting with other people. So this show feels tailor-made for me.”
Having a Black woman perform Every Brilliant Thing also adds a meaningful layer to the show. Studies show that Black adults are less likely than their white counterparts to receive mental health care, and Ross’s performance brings a fresh perspective to the play’s message of hope and resilience.Peers are more likely to receive treatment for mental illness, while Black high school girls are more likely to report attempting suicide.
“Mental health for Black women—and Black people—in America is something that needs attention, care, and love. I think this play is a great way to start those conversations,” Ross says. “There’s a lot to learn from this play. I learned a lot that I didn’t know before. I didn’t know that suicide could be contagious—I didn’t know it was called the Werther effect. Some of these things really grabbed my attention. I was stunned. I don’t take lightly the responsibility of telling this story through my own being, and the impact it can have on people.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about Tracee Ellis Ross and her role in Every Brilliant Thing written in a natural tone with clear answers
1 What is Every Brilliant Thing about
Its a oneperson play about a person trying to help their mom who is struggling with depression As a kid they start making a list of all the brilliant things worth living for like ice cream and roller coasters The list grows over their whole life and the play is funny sad and hopeful
2 Is Tracee Ellis Ross the only person in the show
Yes its a solo show but the audience helps out She asks people in the crowd to read lines or play small roles so every performance is a little different
3 Why is this play a good fit for Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee is known for her warmth humor and emotional depth The play needs someone who can be funny and vulnerable at the same time and shes perfect for that It also lets her connect directly with the audience which she loves
4 Do I need to know the play or the movie first
Not at all Its a standalone play and youll understand everything from the start No homework required
5 Is this play sad or heavy
It deals with serious topics like depression but its surprisingly uplifting and funny The whole point is finding joy in small things Most people leave feeling moved but also happy
6 How long is the show
Its typically about 80 minutes with no intermission Its short enough to feel like a quick powerful experience
7 Where can I see Tracee Ellis Ross perform this
It has been performed in Los Angeles and other select theaters Check local listings or her social media for upcoming dates and venues
8 Is this a musical Does she sing
No its not a musical But Tracee has a great voice and the play has a lot of rhythm and storytelling She doesnt break into song though
9 Im not a theater person Will I still like it
Yes It feels more like a conversation or a story youre being told