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Hudson Theatre, Midtown, Manhattan

Every Brilliant Thing

Tracee Ellis Ross makes her Broadway debut in the disarming solo show about every reason to stay alive — her very first Hudson Theatre performance.

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BroadwayFirst Night

Tonight is the first time Tracee Ellis Ross has ever stepped onto a Broadway stage, and she's doing it in the most intimate show on the street — a one-person piece where audience members hold slips of paper and become part of the story. The Black-ish and Girlfriends star follows Mariska Hargitay in a role that reshapes itself around each performer, so this run is genuinely a new show. For a Broadway night that feels like an event, a star's debut is as electric as it gets.

What to expect

A stripped-bare staging, house lights half up, with Ross moving through the audience and handing out entries from the list — you may be asked to read one aloud. It's funny and devastating in equal measure, running about 75 minutes with no intermission, and no two performances play the same.

Good to know

  • The Hudson Theatre is on W 44th St — take the N/Q/R/W or 1/2/3 to Times Sq-42 St
  • Audience participation is built in; aisle seats increase your odds of being handed a line
  • Runs about 75 minutes with no intermission
  • The subject matter touches on depression and suicide, handled with warmth — recommended for teens and up
  • Ross's engagement is strictly limited to 40 performances, so demand will build fast

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Common questions

Is this Tracee Ellis Ross's Broadway debut?

Yes — Every Brilliant Thing marks her first-ever Broadway role, a limited engagement of 40 performances at the Hudson Theatre following Mariska Hargitay's run.

Will I be forced to participate?

Participation is gentle and optional in practice — some audience members read short list entries aloud or play small parts, but the performer never pushes anyone who looks unwilling.

How long is Every Brilliant Thing?

About 75 minutes, no intermission.

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