PCPA will present the tender, funny, and life-affirming story of “Every Brilliant Thing,” Oct. 9-26 at the Severson Theatre.

“One, Ice cream. Two, Kung Fu movies. Three, the color yellow. Four, laughing so hard you shoot milk out your nose. That’s how you start the list of every brilliant thing that makes life worth living when you’re six and your Mom finds it hard to be happy,” PCPA said.

But in “Every Brilliant Thing,” what begins as a child’s attempt to make sense of adult sadness grows into a life-affirming journey through love, loss, and the profound joy found in life’s smallest moments.

“Every Brilliant Thing is a play that leans into the best of humanity even as it acknowledges the hardest parts of being human,” said director Don Stewart. “It is a play that cultivates joy without ignoring pain. It asks us to consider two crucial questions:

“One, how do we summon the strength to face the challenging things thrown our way? And two, how do we lighten the load of others when they face their obstacles?

“We do that by remembering, as our Narrator reminds us, that ‘things get better.  They might not always get brilliant. But they get better,” Stewart said.

“I believe that plays, when they are at their best, make us feel as though we are leaving the theatre having gained something unexpected: a new insight, an answer to an old question, even a call to action,” he said.

“It is my hope that you will leave here with a stronger sense of connection and community. And that you will be inspired to have meaningful conversations especially around mental illness,” Stewart said.

The cast includes associate artistic director Emily Trask as the Performer. The show is directed by Stewart, with scenic design by Kevin Dudley, costume design by Klara Wilson, lighting design by Michael Palumbo, sound design by Jon Zielke, production stage management by Jack D. Myles, and stage management by Rebekah Carriere.

For tickets, visit PCPA.ORG or call the box office, 805-922-8313. Tickets start at $25. For Groups of 12 or more, contact Kelly Stegall, group sales manager, 805-928-7731 ext. 4150.

“Every Brilliant Thing” is sponsored by Linda Stafford Burrows.