United Solo is back at Theatre Row in New York City!
October 4th through November 20th, 2022
Theatre Row 410 West 42nd Street New York, NY 1003
One performer + One Story + One audience = United Solo
In the culmination of a seven-week run that featured over seventy one-person theatre productions from across the globe, the world’s largest solo theatre festival concluded its thirteenth season at Theatre Row on 42nd Street in New York on November 20, with this year’s awards gala. On behalf of the United Solo Academy, Dr. Omar Sangare, artistic director of the festival, presented the United Solo Special Award to Dael Orlandersmith for her performance in “Until the Flood.” In her acceptance speech Ms. Orlandersmith said, “I’m more than honored, and very humbled — because I’m looking at the other nominees, and to be in this company I’m in…oh yes! And I’m glad also that you acknowledge this genre of theatre, as many people don’t recognize how hard solo theatre is. Thank you so very much for the work you do!” Dael Orlandersmith will join illustrious honorees of the United Solo Special Award including Anna Deavere Smith (2010), Patti LuPone (2011), John Leguizamo (2012), Fiona Shaw (2013), Billy Crystal (2014), James Lecesne (2015), Staceyann Chin in collaboration with Cynthia Nixon (2016), Michael Moore (2017), Renée Taylor (2018), Aasif Mandvi (2019), Ian McKellen (2020), and Lee Roy Reams (2021).
The full list of award winners at the 2022 United Solo Festival includes:
United Solo Special Award: Dael Orlandersmith in “Until the Flood”
Best Production: “The Shot” performed by Sharon Lawrence Best One-Man Show: “Love/Love” by Josh Raff Best One-Woman Show: “La Divina: The Last Interview of Maria Callas” by Shelley Cooper
The United Solo Audience Choice Award: “The Shot” performed by Sharon Lawrence Best International Show: “The Child Behind the Eyes” performed by Manca Ogorevc Best Actress: Sharon Lawrence in “The Shot” Best Actor: Raoul Bhaneja in “Hamlet (solo)” Best Storyteller: Michael Irvin Pollard in “By The Light” Best Direction: Gretchen Cryer, “Escape from Daddyland” & “Fingernails in the Side of the Cliff”
Best Encore: “DISORDERED…” performed by Bella Florence Best Drama: “RAG HEAD: An American Story” performed by Sundeep Morrison Best Musical: “Doing Time With Lavinia” performed by Susan Campanaro Best Comedy: “FURY!” performed by Lauren Bone Noble Best Physical Theatre: “HOMO AMERICANUS” performed by Paul Cimpoieru Best Storytelling Show: “Hold On Tight: A Love Story” performed by Meg Flather Best Autobiographical Show: “Un-M-Othered…” by Liz DeBetta Best New York Premiere: “Norwid’s Return” performed by Marek Probosz
Best Emerging Actor: Leeth Singhage AKA Shoodie in “GROWTHesque” Best Emerging Actress: Tami Evans in “Off The Rails” Best Festival Debut: Kathryn Taylor Smith in “A Mile In My Shoes” Best Concert: “Fingernails in the Side of the Cliff” performed by Tina deVaron Best Composer: Lynn Portas, “Doing Time With Lavinia” Best Song: “She Has Wings” by Michele Brourman & Adryan Russ Best Lighting Design: Vicky Scott, “The Shot”
All About Solo Critics’ Award: “Too young to be a widow” by Susana Hornos
*The winner of the 2022 All About Solo Critics’ Award was chosen by the staff writers of www.allaboutsolo.com **The winner of the Audience Award was chosen in an online poll at United Solo ***Winners are selected by an independent panel of over eighty theatre professionals, including The United Solo Academy Members