TALK THROUGH IT ◊ EPISODE EIGHT
PART TWO OF STUART MELTZER’S CONVERSATION WITH GREGG WEINER, STAR OF EVERY BRILLIANT THING. WE’LL HAVE ONE MORE EPISODE WITH GREGG NEXT WEEK REFLECTING ON HIS PROCESS THROUGHOUT THIS PRODUCTION.
Stuart: Gregg Weiner!
Gregg: Stuart Meltzer!
Stuart: Back, again!
Gregg: With my pants down!
Stuart: Yes, he says that because he is in the process of getting into his costume for Every Brilliant Thing which is in it’s second week at the Arsht Center!
Gregg: Yep!
Stuart: I really want to talk about: What are some things you discovered, or are discovering now that you are in week two of the show.
Gregg: uhm…
Stuart: I know, it’s a hard one, I’m sorry.
Gregg: No! It’s not hard, there are just so many things that I’ve discovered and continue to discover every single show. The overall factor is that every show profoundly touches somebody, and I always feel that connection. Last night I felt it, and I came off stage and spoke with a few people, friends of mine, and they literally said “this show made me feel good, I needed something like this”. So, I mean, you can’t ask for much more than that. And then, the improvisational nature that’s going on is a joy. Even if things run off course it’s still a joy because we’re all together in it and so nothing can really go wrong because we’re protected for an hour.
Stuart: The feedback that I’m hearing from audience members have been “oh my gosh my experience with this was so touching and unique and different”, and it’s really weird—I heard recently that somebody in an environment of, lets say, self-improvement, mentioned it to everyone else in that environment and they said this experience was something that really touched them on their day to day life.
Gregg: Their group, or this show?
Stuart: This show! They mentioned it in their group. It’s really something, and for me- because I’ve been in rehearsal for Sweeney Todd, I haven’t seen Every Brilliant Thing in a bit and I’m excited to get a chance to see it this weekend again. I look forward to seeing how much it’s grown, and how much more comfortable you are. In your day, what is your preparation? How do you prepare for this show?
Gregg: Well I’ve been working every morning this week—
Stuart: on the radio!
Gregg: right, on the radio. At The Beach. 102.7 The beach, so this week has been waking up at 4am, getting a nap in, and getting here around 6[pm] to meditate. I just took a half an hour to breathe, I do my own little thing, and you know, I can’t wait to get here every day. Which is such a pleasure. Sometimes we do jobs where, you know, not just plays but anything, where you feel ‘ugh I just don’t want to go’. So I feel so blessed that I’m able to enjoy my job.
Stuart: That’s wonderful. I feel blessed that you’re here doing a show with us, I really do, and I think that next week I’m going to come speak to you and we’ll talk a bit more about your full journey—if you don’t mind.
Gregg: No, of course not!
Stuart: Maybe I’ll even bring you, like, candy!
Gregg: Oh…. I can’t wait…. Thank you…
Stuart: Thank you, Gregg!
Gregg: Thank you, Stuart.