A new play, touring Central Oregon, will immerse the audience in an emotional journey.
Ellipse Theatre Community (ETC) is presenting “Tiny Beautiful Things” starting May 9. Actress Nia Vardalos from “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” adapted the play from Cheryl Strayed’s advice column and memoir “Wild.” It’s based on Strayed’s experiences as an advice columnist. The play uses letters to explore topics such as grief, love, healing and forgiveness.
Director Craig Brauner says the play has a minimalist style. The audience will sit in a circle, surrounding the actors for a more intimate experience. “And I think this kind of more intimate setup, where I could be on one side, you could be sitting across the way from me and I can see you experiencing the show. You can see me experiencing the show and we’re experiencing this all together,” Brauner explains.
The production features Emily Cady as the advice columnist, with Amy Anderton, Nicholas Boragno, Carlie Clippinger, and Whitney Garner portraying the letter writers.
“I chose Tiny Beautiful Things” because it felt like the perfect show for this time. You know, there’s a study right now that loneliness is a huge epidemic. That’s what they’re calling it. I just thought it was important, especially in times that may appear divisive in our nation and even in our world, to present a show about love and loss and the things that connect us, as opposed to divide us,” Brauner says. All letters used in the play are authentic.
After the 90-minute performance, the audience will have the opportunity to ask Brauner and the cast questions. “I don’t want somebody to just come see the show and leave. I want them to come and continue a conversation beyond just seeing the performance,” he says.
Brauner co-founded ETC in 2020. Because it doesn’t have a dedicated theater space, the cast performs in different locations throughout Central Oregon, which he calls road shows. “It allows us to go into different non-traditional theater spaces such as community centers. We performed in libraries before, art galleries before — it’s a really dynamic opportunity and program,” Brauner says.
In Bend, there will be three performances at Open Space Event Studios and one at OSU-Cascades. From there it’ll be at the High Desert Music Hall in Redmond, the Sisters-Camp Sherman Firehouse Community Hall and the Bowman Museum. Tickets are $22.94 online or $20 at the door, except at the Bowman Museum which is donation only.
Inspired by “Tiny Beautiful Things,” ETC is also planning the “Tiny Beautiful Letter Project.” Brauner is asking for anonymous letters to be submitted by May 19, which will be read out loud on May 28 at Scalehouse Gallery. Brauner says, “So far, we have received letters from Oregon, California, Indiana, Montana, Kentucky and Texas!” Many of the letters submitted deal with regret, grief and love.
This article appears in Source Weekly May 1st, 2025.
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