(bright music) - "Tiny Beautiful Things" is a heartfelt stage adaptation of Cheryl Strayed's bestselling book.

And co-director and actor Tamara Howell joins us to share how this powerful production explores healing through vulnerability and connection.

Hi, Tamara.

So great to have you here.

I always love watching you in productions, by the way.

- Thank you.

- You're so good.

You're so good.

So, tell us about this one.

What's it about?

- Cheryl Strayed, famous, famous author.

She wrote "Wild" and "Tiny Beautiful Things," "Torch," bestselling author, she's amazing.

She, for a stint, was an advice columnist for an online paper called "The Rumpus."

And so people would send her letters and she would give them her responses, her advice based on her life experience.

So Nia Vardalos, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" woman.

- Ah-huh.

- Yeah.

So, she adapted it for the stage and collected some of the letters and sort of made a story out of it.

So, I play Sugar and there are three people that play the, that represent sort of all those letter writers.

- Okay.

And I know you said it's a very meaty role.

- Yes, yes, very much so.

Cheryl lived and continues to live an amazing life.

She's done a lot of stuff, so she had a lot to say.

- And I know it probably really resonates with people now.

- For sure.

It's about, I mean, in times where I feel like we're so polarized and different from each other.

And the play is about connection.

It's about finding ways to connect with other humans.

- Great, and I know just briefly, you are actually co-directing this with your daughter.

- I am, I am.

It's been amazing.

My daughter's an incredible director.

Like we were saying, it's having adult children is the best thing because they become your friends.

And she's, I've always admired her work, so it's a real privilege to get to work with Maddie.

- Great.

Well, I can't wait to see it.

And thank you so much for being here.

Thank you.

- Of course, thanks.

- And if you'd like to know more about that upcoming production of Pygmalion Theater, "Tiny Beautiful Things."

November 7th to 22nd at the Rose Wagner Center for the Performing Arts.

Go to pygmalionproductions.org.

That's pygmalionproductions.org.

I'm Mary Dixon.

Thanks for watching "Contact."

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