United Solo » uNews

United Solo Expands With Additional Presentation In Europe

usolo-admin — Tue, 28 May 2013 17:00:10 +0000

After three successful seasons in New York City, United Solo, the world’s largest solo theatre festival, is expanding its operations beyond the United States. A selection of high-quality one-person productions, including those awarded in previous seasons, will be presented in the fall of 2013 on the stage of Teatr Syrena, a premier three-hundred-seat venue located in downtown Warsaw, Poland.

This European presentation, billed as United Solo Europe, features Regina Advento, a member of Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, and her new solo show, “Dreamlines.” Regina will be joining United Solo veterans and award winners Bill Bowers, Mark Gindick, Herbert Kaluza, Ewa Kasprzyk, and Anthony Nikolchev.

The annual United Solo in New York remains unaffected. This year, for the fourth time, the Festival will present the world’s largest selection of solo theatre at Theatre Row on 42nd Street in NYC in October and November. United Solo will continue to bring solo shows to New York in upcoming seasons as it looks to expand its presence both domestically and internationally.

Submission Deadline Extended to May 6, 2013

usolo-admin — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 04:37:05 +0000

We received many requests to extend our submission deadline, so if you need a little more time to get your submission packet ready, you can still submit by May 6, 2013. All LATE submissions postmarked after the original April 22 deadline must include a late application fee of $50. Festival shows will be announced in June 2013.

Updated information and the application form can be found here.

2013 United Solo Award Nominations

usolo-admin — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 04:02:45 +0000

United Solo is proud to announce the nominees for its annual special uAward. This honor recognizes artists with outstanding achievements in popularizing the form of solo performance locally, nationally, or through their international exposure. A resident company at Theatre Row on 42nd Street in New York City, United Solo has nominated several artists for its special 2013 uAward: Alan Cumming in Macbeth, Alec Mapa in Baby Daddy, Bette Midler in I’ll Eat You Last: A Chat With Sue Mengers, Anthony Rapp in Without You, William Shatner in Shatner’s World: We Just Live in It, Fiona Shaw in The Testament of Mary, and Holland Taylor in Ann.

As in past years, the recipient of the special uAward will be announced at the United Solo Festival Closing Ceremony. The winner will join an illustrious group of previously awarded artists, including Anna Deavere Smith (2010), Patti LuPone (2011), and John Leguizamo (2012).

This year the Festival will begin October 3rd and conclude with the Closing Ceremony on November 24th at Theatre Row. During its eight-week program, the Festival will present a variety of local and international performances. The producers are currently accepting submissions from all over the world. Artists and performance companies are invited to submit their solo shows now through April 22, 2013.

Media coverage: Playbill and BroadwayWorld.

More information about the submission process may be found here.

For more details about the uAward click here.

New Collection Published By Indie Theater Now

usolo-admin — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 02:50:31 +0000

This year, United Solo Festival introduces another new collection of scripts published by Indie Theater Now, a digital library of contemporary plays. A newly launched selection of solo plays was compiled after reviewing one hundred theatre productions presented at the Festival this past season. Solo artists from around the globe brought their shows to the world’s largest solo theatre festival at Theatre Row on 42nd Street in New York City. Each production offered a unique story in various performance categories including drama, multimedia, puppetry, stand‑up, and others. The Festival concluded by awarding selected artists for their excellence in solo performance and by recommending several plays for publication on Indie Theater Now.

The United Solo Collection offers exposure to outstanding theatre plays and promotes solo scripts among theatre goers, actors, directors, educators, students, and library subscribers. The collection can be found at indietheaternow.com, run by The New York Theatre Experience, Inc. (NYTE) and curated by Martin Denton. Users may browse and purchase digital versions of plays to read them online.

Artists interested in participating in the United Solo Theatre Festival this year are encouraged to submit their solo works by April 22, 2013. Selected shows will be presented at Theatre Row this fall, and will have the opportunity to be considered for the next collection published by Indie Theater Now.

More information about the submission process may be found here.

Media coverage: Stage Directions, Plays and Playwrights, and BroadwayWorld.

Indie Theater Now Podcast with United Solo Artists: Part 1 and Part 2.

2013 Submissions NOW OPEN

usolo-admin — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 05:01:38 +0000

Local and international artists are invited to submit their shows to the world’s largest solo theatre festival. Proposals may represent all varieties of solo performance, including storytelling, puppetry, dance, improv, stand‑up, magic, drama, and others. Selected shows will be presented between October 3 and November 24, 2013 at Theatre Row in New York City. Deadline for submissions is Monday, April 22, 2013.

Last season, the six‑week Festival featured one hundred solo productions from fourteen countries and nineteen states. This fall, in an eight‑week run, the Festival will once again present high quality solo works performed by renowned artists and emerging talents. Solo artists will have the opportunity to showcase their performances to multicultural audiences in the world‑famous theatre district on 42nd Street, as well as present their talents to the industry, receive media attention through previews, profiles, reviews, and other articles, generate income from ticket sales, may be selected for play publication, and may win awards at the Festival, including best acting, best script, or the audience choice award. Among the winners from past seasons are Austin Pendleton, Pedro Almodovar, LynnMarie Rink, Anita Hollander, Mark Gindick, Michael Growler, Jelena Stupljanin, and Bill Bowers.

A number of awarded artists will join the United Solo Academy, a creative group that helps the Festival nominate and select solo performers to receive a special uAward. Nominees for this year’s uAward will be announced in the spring. In the past years, the uAward was presented to Anna Deavere Smith, Patti LuPone, and John Leguizamo.

Media coverage: Stage Directions, The Dance Enthusiast, and BroadwayWorld.

More information and the application form can be found here.

The 2012 United Solo AWARDS Have Been Announced

usolo-admin — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 04:05:43 +0000

United Solo, the world’s largest solo theatre festival, concluded its third annual season with a closing ceremony held on Sunday, November 18, 2012 at Theatre ROW on 42nd Street in New York City. Local and international performers, special guests, and festival team members gathered to celebrate the one hundred solo productions that were offered this fall.

The awards were presented by Allan Corduner, a British actor internationally acclaimed for his role in the Oscar‑winning film “Topsy‑Turvy,” by Martin and Rochelle Denton, the founders of Indie Theater Now, and by several members of the United Solo Academy.

The 2012 United Solo Awards went to:

Best Production for Wrap Your Heart Around It by LynnMarie Rink, produced by Paul Miller

Best One-Man Show for Beyond Words by Bill Bowers

Best One-Woman Show for Longing for Grace by Grace Kiley

Best Direction for Austin Pendleton for Longing for Grace

Best Actor for Anthony Nikolchev in The Echoes Off The Walls Underground…

Best Actress for Ann Morrison in Linda Lovely Goes To Broadway

Best Comedian for Frank Ingrasciotta in Blood Type: RAGU

Best Storyteller for Antonio Sacre in Let Them Eat Meat

Best International Show for Medea’s Got Some Issues by Ana Asensio, Spain

Best Encore for OH MY IRMA by Haley McGee

Best Drama for Neon Man and Me by Slash Coleman

Best Comedy for BIO‑HAZARD: (a relative comedy) by Sarah Elizabeth Greer

Best Musical for Normality by Pedro Kruger

Best Period Piece for Death In Venice In First Person by Rory Lance

Best Variety Show for Bubba by Michael Thomas Walker

Best Stand-up for EMERGENCY A La Carte by Nancy Redman

Best Multimedia for free•dom – a solo of many people by Andressa Furletti

Best Educational Piece for For the BENEFIT of Miss JENNIE GOURLAY by Billy Hipkins

Best Movement for Rebecca VerNooy in Across Time

Best Improvisation for Talk to me about Shame by Julian Goldhagen

Best Documentary for Cry of the Mountain by Adelind Horan

Best Dramatic Script for On The Outskirts Of Everything by Tim Collins

Best Comedic Script for The Bronx Queen by Joe Gulla

Best Non-Fiction Script for URBAN ZEN by Navida Stein

Best Adaptation for Modern Prometheus: Frankenstein with Mary Shelley by Virginia Bartholomew

Best Premiere for Trevor’s Fire by Blake Walton

Best Short Solo for Daughter of Salt by Kathleen Cole Burke

Best Emerging Artist for Sebastien Heins in Brotherhood: The Hip Hopera

Best Lighting Design for Coby Beck, Mutant Olive

Best Costume Design for Michael Growler, Beyond Words

Best Makeup for Elle Murphy, Longing for Grace

Best in Social Networking for Father Forgive Me For I Have Sinned by Jose Roldan Jr.

First Sold-Out Show for Bully by Lee J. Kaplan

Audience Award for Anita Hollander in Still Standing

The 2012 uAward went to John Leguizamo for his outstanding performance in Ghetto Klown.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Leguizamo said: One-man show is the thing that I live for, the thing that made me, the thing I can’t live without because it’s my mode of expression. I wanted to do this piece to inspire the youth of America that if I can make it, then you can make it. And that was the simple message. And I think one-man shows can do that. They can give a very personal message because… it’s the most honest communication that I know of. So this particularly means a lot to me. And I want to thank all of you and especially the people nominated alongside of me. Hugh Jackman, the great Kathy Griffin, John Hurt, all these great talented people, and this award is for all of us. Thank you.

The festival’s mission is to unite people from around the world, celebrate multicultural diversity, and support the theatrical community. Each season, United Solo collects donations for The Actors Fund. At the closing ceremony this year, David Engleman, director of communications and marketing for The Actors Fund, received a check of one thousand two hundred and six dollars on behalf of the organization, which supports entertainment professionals in need.

During its six-week run, the festival sold out thirty-four shows and attracted widespread media interest. Distinguished guests included Oscar nominee John Guare, who opened the festival with his remarks, Golden Globe Award winner and Oscar nominee Marsha Mason, Primetime Emmy and Tony Award winner Cherry Jones, Stella Adler Studio instructors Joanne Edelmann and Alice Saltzman, renowned writer and actor Taylor Negron, and Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch members Regina Advento, Pablo Aran Gimeno, Daphnis Kokkinos, and Jorge Puerta Armenta.

United Solo will continue to build a community of people drawn to solo performance and to welcome local and international productions alike.

Media coverage: Playbill and BroadwayWorld.

The Festival Goes On

usolo-admin — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 19:40:22 +0000

Temporarily interrupted by Hurricane Sandy, the Third Annual United Solo resumes its schedule on WEDNESDAY, October 31, 2012. The Festival will continue to present a variety of one-person performances until November 18, 2012. Please, check out the schedule, find something for yourself, meet us in the theatre, and support the community of solo arts!

A NOTE ON TRANSPORTATION: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that its bus services would return to their full regular schedule starting on Wednesday, October 31. The MTA also announced that beginning Thursday, November 1, there will be limited subway service on several routes, supplemented by a bus shuttle.

TICKETS for our shows are available at the Theatre ROW Box Office (410 West 42nd Street, NYC) and via Telecharge (www.telecharge.com or 212‑239‑6200).

More information can be found here.

A full list of shows is available here.

Follow our daily updates at Facebook and Twitter.

Hurricane Sandy Affects Our Program

usolo-admin — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 18:35:13 +0000

Due to the official weather warnings and the subway service shut down, there are changes in the Festival schedule. On Sunday, October 28 only the 2pm show will be presented. All shows scheduled on Monday, October 29 (which are ENCORE performances) will be cancelled.

UPDATE: As a result of the suspension of public transportation and additional safety precautions implemented due to severe weather conditions, all shows scheduled on Tuesday, October 30 will be cancelled as well. We hope to resume our schedule on WEDNESDAY, October 31.

We apologize for the inconvenience. All pre-puchased tickets will be refunded by Telecharge (212-239-6200) or the Theatre ROW Box Office. Further updates will be posted via Facebook and Twitter.

More information at BroadwayWorld.

The Worldʼs Largest Solo Theatre Festival Begins

usolo-admin — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 04:01:01 +0000

The Third Annual United Solo opens tonight at Theatre ROW in the heart of the New York City theatre district on 42nd Street. Through the following 6‑week period, the festival will offer 100 productions ranging from 2 up to 5 different shows per day. This broad assortment of shows targets the multicultural nature of the New York City population. 17 solo shows have been sold out before the opening night of the festival, and other popular shows will run out of tickets fast. 15 productions returning by popular demand, as well as those that received United Solo awards, will be presented in a special Encore category.

Featured solo artists represent 19 U. S. states and 14 countries. 51 one‑woman and 49 one‑man shows fall into numerous categories, ranging from drama, storytelling, puppetry, and multimedia shows to stand‑up, magic, improv, and dance. Recently, United Solo’s diverse collection of shows was introduced in the New York Times selections for The New Season.

All artists compete for various awards, such as: best in acting award, best show, best script, and the audience award. The recipients will be announced at the Closing Ceremony on November 18, 2012 at Theatre ROW. Awarded artists will be extended an invitation to join the United Solo Academy, a group of theatre creators dedicated to the genre of solo performance, including, among other members: Marsha Mason, Austin Pendleton, and Anna Deavere Smith. During the Ceremony, the festival board will be also honoring an outstanding solo performer with a special uAward. This year nominees are: Kathy Griffin, John Hurt, Hugh Jackman, and John Leguizamo.

Tickets are available at the Theatre ROW Box Office (410 West 42nd Street, NYC) and via Telecharge (www.telecharge.com or 212‑239‑6200).

A full list of performers and more information on the Festival are available here.

Find us in media.

Check out our daily updates at Facebook and Twitter.

Q&A Preview by nytheatre.com

usolo-admin — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 02:37:16 +0000

One of the major resources dedicated to NYC theatre, nytheatre.com, launched a special preview that features our solo creators. Now you can discover exciting facts from behind the scenes of the 2012 United Solo Theatre Festival. The questions are answered not only by the solo performers, but also by playwrights, directors, and other collaborators.

To read the Q&As at nytheatre.com, choose from below:

8 Ways my Mother was Conceived

Across Time

The Apple Tree, or Penis no. 7

Auditions, Zoe’s Auditions

Brotherhood: The Hip Hopera

The Bronx Queen

Bubba #1