Shannon Emerick & Every Brilliant Thing

09/28/2024

I love everything about this, especially Ephraim M. Sykes saying of George, "Out of everything he has, he loves love the most." It's clear that Kenny Leon has created something amazing here. And of course, I am ever-proud of Jim Parsons.

Playbill

The Thornton Wilder classic is back on Broadway, directed by Kenny Leon, and featuring a diverse cast.

08/26/2024

I am beyond honored and very excited! Thank you so much, Houston Press. Truly. Getting to do Heidi Schreck's WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME changed my life deeply for the better, so being recognized with this award for that performance is extra moving for me. AND there is SO much amazing talent in - I'm so proud of our city and our theater community and am grateful to be a part of it and to have so many fantastic friends and colleagues. Congratulations to ALL.

With an appreciative nod to Charles Dickens, the 2023-24 Houston theater season was neither the best of times nor the worst of times. It was, in a manner, an intermediate time. Perusing the 70-plus playbills from the diverse season, one finds obvious standouts, numerous near-hits, but few clunkers.....

01/02/2024

10/19/2023

American Foundation for Su***de Prevention does amazing and important work.

November 17 is International Survivors of Su***de Loss Day—a day when people who’ve lost a loved one to su***de come together at over 360 gatherings around the world.

09/02/2023

I'm beyond honored, excited, humbled and terrified (in a good way!) to be performing in WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME by Heidi Schreck at Main Street Theater - Houston. It's a powerful, hilarious, devastating, raw, wonderful play, and mental health and women's rights are strongly featured.

https://mainstreettheater.com/what-the-constitution-means-to-me/

WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME
Regional Premiere
By Heidi Schreck
Fifteen year old Heidi earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions at American Legion posts across the United States. In this hilarious, hopeful and achingly human new play, she resurrects her teenage self in order to trace the document’s profound impact on women’s bodies—starting with her great-great-grandmother, a mail-order bride who died under mysterious circumstances. This witty and searingly personal exploration breathes new life into our founding document and imagines how it will shape the next generation of American women. Shannon Emerick will play Heidi.

Schreck’s timely and galvanizing play became a sensation off-Broadway before transferring to Broadway where it received two Tony Award nominations among countless other accolades, including Finalist for a Pulitzer Prize.

Content warning: We want to be sensitive to our audience members. Please note that What the Constitution Means to Me contains strong language and discussions of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and abortion and its stigmatization.

05/24/2022

The message below is from my friend Jessica about HER friend. If you have any info that could help, please message me, and I will get the info to her. Thank you so much.

*Mental Health Awareness Warriors, a friend of a friend needs help *
"Does anyone on here know anyone that works with people who have mental health problems? I have a friend who is borderline suicidal and doesn’t want to wake up daily. I want to find someone he can trust. I’m trying everything I can to help him. He keeps saying he won’t harm himself but the next sentence is filled with tears and not wanting to be in existence. I’ll take phone numbers, names, facilities, anything you got. You can leave the info here, private message me or call me. Thank you in advance."
When I asked if he'd be willing to talk to someone:
"I think he is open to anything right now. The things I say to him are not sinking in. He seems to have regressed on maturity and keeps saying he is ready to not wake up when he goes to sleep. They did a welfare check on him last week because he sought attention through Facebook then wouldn't answer his phone. "

02/15/2022

So grateful to be working on this amazing play right now!

01/14/2022

What a huge loss to the world… thank you for all you gave the world, Terry.

The Missouri-born author and musician also wrote biographies of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and H.L. Mencken

11/05/2021