The play follows a child who begins compiling a list of “every brilliant thing” worth living forâice cream, water fights, staying up lateâafter their motherâs suicide attempt. As the child matures, the list continues, evolving into a deeply moving reflection on love, mental illness, and human connection.
Directed by ARTfactory Producing Artistic Director Kimberly Kemp, the production stars David Johnson as the storyteller. Johnson, a longtime ARTfactory actor and director, has had his sights set on this play for years. âI remember (in 2017) telling the theatre arts director of the ARTfactory about this breathtakingly beautiful play and how badly I wanted to do it in the theatre on the third floor of the ARTfactory,â Johnson states in a press release. The project finally came to fruition when Kemp expressed her desire to direct it in 2022.
Johnson has experienced the loss of a young performer from ARTfactoryâs Pied Piper Theatre program and likened him to the playâs protagonist. âHe reminded me of the character because he was so fearless in his creativity and expression,â Johnson said. He also referenced the loss of actor Robin Williams, a world-renowned entertainer who privately battled depression. Johnson hopes to encourage open conversations about mental health and seek support through this production.
Initially performed in 2013 at the Ludlow Fringe Festival, Every Brilliant Thing gained widespread acclaim for its poignant storytelling. It premiered in North America in 2014 at New York Cityâs Barrow Street Theatre and earned a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Outstanding Solo Show.
The ARTfactoryâs production will be staged in an intimate in-the-round setting, enhancing audience engagement. While the play incorporates optional audience participation, attendees can enjoy the performance with or without direct involvement. However, given its subject matter, audience members should be aware that the play discusses themes of depression and suicide.
Performances will occur on February 28 and March 1 at 7:30 p.m. and March 2 at 2 p.m. in the Wind River Theater at the ARTfactory. Tickets are available for purchase at virginiaartfactory.org.
Latoya Crabbe, the Manasas woman accused of shooting and killing her estranged husband, Curtis Crabbed, was released from jail on Friday, February 21, 2025. At the county jail, she had an emotional reunion with her mother, Marilyn Martin, who patiently waited for officials to release her from the lockup sheâd been in since being charged on October 21, 2024.Â
A short time later, at home, Crabbe waited anxiously for her three children, whom she had not seen in four months, to come home from school. "Iâm relieved to be back home, but Iâm still anxious about the pending trial," she said. "The most important thing for me is to hug and kiss my babies right now."
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or create a FREE account today. Make the smart choice for staying informed about your community. Thank you!
Happy Friday, Manassas!
Welcome to another City Council preview, this time for the Feb. 24 regular meeting. This weekâs meeting will be held at the City Hall Council Chambers at 9027 Center St.
Sign up for our FREE news email and never hesitate to email me at [email protected] with comments, questions and/or news tips.
Important links
Key agenda items
This article is for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade and Become a Locals Only Member today! Make the smart choice for staying informed about your community. Thank you!
Prince William County Assistant prosecutor D. Burke Walker told Circuit Court Judge Angela Horan that his office would file a motion on the first day of trial not to prosecute Latoya Crabbe on her 2nd-degree murder charge but instead will move to indict her on 1st-degree murder charge.
Crabbe is accused of murder in the death of her estranged husband, Curtis Crabbe. Curtis had made threats over text messages in the days leading to the shooting, police said. In evidence presented at a preliminary hearing in December, officers admitted they found an unsheathed and extended Italian Stiletto knife that Crabbeâs defense attorney, David Daughtery, argued showed Crabbe was in imminent fear for her life. Such knives were illegal in Virginia until a law changed in 2023. The trial is scheduled to begin on March 3, but Walker's admission questions the timeline.
This article is for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade and Become a Locals Only Member today! Make the smart choice for staying informed about your community. Thank you!
The Rotary Club of Manassas hosted its 25th Annual Reverse Raffle on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Bishop Russell Hall, 9290 Stonewall Road in Manassas. The highly anticipated event successfully raised over $20,000, benefitting Connections Family Resource Center, Medical Missionaries, and The Knights of Columbus - George Brent Council.
The evening featured a dinner catered by The Bone BBQ and honored Rotarian William âBillâ Burton, a dedicated club member since 1983, who sadly passed away on December 11, 2024. Attendees paid tribute to Burtonâs contributions and his legacy within the Rotary community.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or create a FREE account today. Make the smart choice for staying informed about your community. Thank you!
The Northern Virginia real estate market is experiencing an increase in home listings, with notable pricing and inventory level changes across Fairfax, Prince William, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties. This shift comes amid large-scale federal job cuts, prompting some government employees to list their homes out of economic uncertainty.
Federal Job Cuts and Housing Market Impact
This article is for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade and Become a Locals Only Member today! Make the smart choice for staying informed about your community. Thank you!
The Manassas City Council honored Police Chief Douglass Keen for serving as the cityâs interim leader for over a year. The council recognized Keen for his dedication and leadership during a transition period.
During the Monday, February 10, City Council meeting, officials commended Keen for his role in ensuring the smooth operation of municipal services, overseeing key infrastructure projects, and helping secure a AAA credit rating upgrade for the city. Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger led the tribute, reading a proclamation that highlighted Keenâs achievements:
This article is for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade and Become a Locals Only Member today! Make the smart choice for staying informed about your community. Thank you!
On Feb. 5, the Board formally met for the first time to discuss the intent, purpose and goals of the committee. The first mention of the committee in the new Board term was at the Jan. 28 meeting by Board member Sara Brescia.
Many of the other Board members expressed interest in forming such a committee but wanted to move quickly due to President Donald Trump's swift actions on immigration.
This article is for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade and Become a Locals Only Member today! Make the smart choice for staying informed about your community. Thank you!
Fish Window Cleaning owner Lona Bryan and her crew volunteered to clean the windows at the Boys & Girls Club of Manassas during National Random Acts of Kindness Week, giving back to the organization that first introduced her children to organized sports.
A random act of kindness can make a big difference. Thatâs the mindset of Lona Bryan, owner of Fish Window Cleaning, who brought her crew out to the Boys & Girls Club of Manassas Thursday. The Fish crew volunteered to clean the windows at the nonprofit, which provides before and after-school activities to community children including sports and educational programs. The initiative was in celebration of National Random Acts of Kindness Week.
