United Solo PRESENTS TWO SEASONS IN 2023
BEGINNING In SPRING
& CONTINUING IN FALL
September 25th through November 19th, 2023
Theatre Row
410 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
Featuring shows from across the country and around the globe,
the world’s largest solo theatre festival is entering our fifteenth season!
One performer + One Story + One audience = United Solo
United Solo Closes Fall 2023 Season with Awards Gala
Opening its 15th season on September 25 with a record-breaking week of sold-out shows, United Solo’s fall festival featured over sixty solo artists from across the globe in its eight-week run. Every genre, from comedy to dance, was represented, including twenty-eight sold out shows. The Festival attracted New York’s audiences including solo theatre enthusiasts, city visitors, the press, and show business stars. Over its season, United Solo brought audiences together and fulfilled its mission to promote diversity and awareness. The lineup of shows offered theatergoers plenty of variety and included the most popular piece, “Mister Halston,” performed by Ken Barnett. United Solo concluded its 15th season on November 19 with an Awards Gala.
The Festival’s special two-act Gala was a celebration of the talent, bravery, and dedication of solo artists. Act one featured Wendy-Lane Bailey, Associate Artistic Director of United Solo, in her performance Remembering My Dreams, a theatrical concert exploring the music of composer Michele Brourman and directed by Omar Sangare. The show was a song cycle featuring a dozen songs composed by Brourman.
In the second act, United Solo recognized the work of fall festival artists. Awards included Best Production, the Audience Choice Award, and the All About Solo Critics’ Award. In addition, United Solo presented its Special Award for an outstanding solo performance that took place outside of the current season. This year’s Special Award nominees were Lewis Black, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Charles Busch, Liz Callaway, Alex Edelman, Judy Gold, James T. Lane, Trevor Noah, Nancy Redman, and Wanda Sykes.
Sangare presented the 2023 Special Award to Charles Busch, playwright, director, cabaret performer, and author of the new book, Leading Lady: A Memoir of a Most Unusual Boy. Charles Busch, Tony Award-nominated writer of Tales of the Allergist’s Wife and the long-running hit Off-Broadway play Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, and a Sundance Festival award winner, has occupied a unique place in the entertainment world over his more than 40-year career.
In his acceptance speech Mr. Busch said, “It ain’t easy being a solo performer… I really would like to thank United Solo for this beautiful award and for making this solo performer, both on stage and off stage, feel a part of something bigger.”
As United Solo concludes its Fall 2023 season, it is accepting submissions for its Spring 2024 Season at Theatre Row. Artist and companies can apply at: https://unitedsolo.org/nyc-spring-2024/apply/.
In GUAC, recently featured by the New York Times, Manuel Oliver took the stage and shared his story about losing his son in the Parkland shooting. Susan Sarandon attended Mr. Oliver’s show and was truly moved by the message Oliver shared with the audience. Ms. Sarandon acknowledged the show as a “brilliant example of taking pain and loss and making art to bring change.”
Fall 2023 United Solo Award Recipients:
United Solo Special Award: Charles Busch in “Leading Lady”
Best Production: “GUAC” written & performed by Manuel Oliver
Best One-Man Show: “The Book of Shame” performed by Victor Verhaeghe
Best One-Woman Show: “Unseen” performed by Kimberly Prentice
Best International Show: “Macbeth (Solo)” performed by Paul Goodwin
The United Solo Audience Award: “Mister Halston” performed by Ken Barnett
Best Actress: Almanya Narula in “Noor Inayat Khan: The Forgotten Spy”
Best Actor: Ken Barnett in “Mister Halston”
Best Storyteller: Sean Allison in “If It Bleeds It Leads”
Best Direction: Greg Allen, “Pulling It All Into The Current”
Best Encore: “Tales of a Blerd Ballerina” performed by Valoneecia Tolbert
Best Musical: “My Grandmother’s Mind Is Like An Ocean” by Matthew Shifrin
Best Drama: “Pulling It All Into The Current” performed by Letta Neely
Best Comedy: “Does This Show Make Me Look Fat?” performed by Cathy Ladman
Best Storytelling Show: “Things I Learned In Isolation” performed by Mary Miller
Best Physical Theatre: “Medea’s Burqa” performed by Marsela Lena
Best Biographical Show: “My Life is Not My Own” performed by Lucinda Carr
Best Cabaret: “Hot Boys” performed by Kali Tripodis
Best Concert: “Keith Moon: The Real Me” performed by Mick Berry
Best Script: “Mister Halston” by Raffael Pacitti
Best Song: “Sleeping in America” composed & performed by Dana McCoy
Best New York Premiere: “Ms. Rebel” performed by Mehrnaz Mohammadi
Best Emerging Artist: Holly Smith in “Radically Unsure”
All About Solo Critics’ Award: “Under Your Skin” performed by Jackie Smook
*The winner of the 2023 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
As United Solo concludes its Fall 2023 season, it is accepting submissions for its Spring 2024 Season at Theatre Row. Artist and companies can apply at: https://unitedsolo.org/nyc-spring-2024/apply/.
Pulling It All Into The Current
Starring Letta Neely
September 26, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
To Distraction
Starring Frank Winters
September 27, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Pretty, Witty Nell
Starring Hannah Attfield
September 28, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
They Called Me Rita
Starring Nelia McNicol
September 29, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Does This Show Make Me Look Fat?
Starring Cathy Ladman
September 29, 8:30 PM | Buy Tickets
Midnight Cowboy Radio
Starring Ally Ibach
September 30, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Does This Show Make Me Look Fat?
Starring Cathy Ladman
September 30, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Does This Show Make Me Look Fat?
Starring Cathy Ladman
October 1, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Under Heaven’s Eyes – ‘the Systemic and Systematic Unjustified Killing’s of Black Lives’
Starring Christopher Tajah
October 3, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
HAVEN WAITS FOR EVERLY
Starring Tom Frueh
October 5, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Ms. Rebel
Starring Mehrnaz Mohammadi
October 6, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Anna
Starring Laura Walker
October 7, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
They Called Me Rita
Starring Nelia McNicol
October 8, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
If It Bleeds It Leads
Starring Sean Allison
October 10, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Hummingbird
Starring MIsha Gonz-Cirkl
October 11, 8:30 PM | Buy Tickets
Hummingbird
Starring MIsha Gonz-Cirkl
October 12, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Between Me & Them
Starring KiDané Kelati
October 13, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
I Feel The Need
Starring Loree Draude
October 13, 8:30 PM | Buy Tickets
Lee Marvin: Shadows of Saipan
Starring Matt DeCoster
October 14, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Unseen
Starring Kimberly Prentice
October 14, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Under Your Skin
Starring Jackie Smook
October 14, 8:30 PM | Buy Tickets
Messianic Moments And Cosmic Conversations
Starring Barbara Heller
October 15, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Baggage
Starring Melissa Rose
October 17, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Hoodwinked From Heaven
Starring Elisa Brown
October 18, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Messianic Moments And Cosmic Conversations
Starring Barbara Heller
October 18, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Things I Learned In Isolation
Starring Mary Miller
October 19, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Unseen
Starring Kimberly Prentice
October 19, 8:30 PM | Buy Tickets
The Persistent Guest
Starring Jodeen Revere
October 20, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Radically Unsure
Starring Holly Smith
October 21, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Keith Moon: The Real Me
Starring Mick Berry
October 21, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Unseen
Starring Kimberly Prentice
October 22, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
I’m Harvey Milk
Starring Ben Beasley
October 24, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Keith Moon: The Real Me
Starring Mick Berry
October 25, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
#MeToo, a one-woman show
Starring Star Stone
October 25, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
After I’m Dead, You’ll Have to Feed Everyone
Starring Vivien Straus
October 26, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Tales of a Blerd Ballerina
Starring Valoneecia Tolbert
October 27, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
After I’m Dead, You’ll Have to Feed Everyone
Starring Vivien Straus
October 27, 8:30 PM | Buy Tickets
Medea’s Burqa – With English Subtitles
Starring MARSELA LENA
October 28, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
The Book of Shame
Starring Victor Verhaeghe
October 28, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
After I’m Dead, You’ll Have to Feed Everyone
Starring Vivien Straus
October 28, 8:30 PM | Buy Tickets
Texas Hellfire
Starring Katharine Everett
October 29, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Alexa, Play
Starring Alexa Elmy
October 31, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
If It Bleeds It Leads
Starring Sean Allison
November 1, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Divine Presence
Starring ALGIIN FORD
November 1, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Texas Hellfire
Starring Katharine Everett
November 1, 8:30 PM | Buy Tickets
Divine Presence
Starring ALGIIN FORD
November 2, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
GUAC – The One Man Show
Starring Manuel oliver
November 3, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Two Realities
Starring Roman Golovach
November 4, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
My Life is Not My Own
Starring Lucinda Carr
November 4, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
I Feel The Need
Starring Loree Draude
November 4, 8:30 PM | Buy Tickets
My Grandmother’s Mind Is Like An Ocean
Starring Matthew Shifrin
November 5, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Pulling It All Into The Current
Starring Letta Neely
November 5, 4:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Welcome to Splitsville
Starring Matt Sadowski
November 7, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Mister Halston
Starring Ken Barnett
November 8, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Einstein’s Violin: A Play in Three Movements
Starring Tom Schuch
November 8, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Alexa, Play
Starring Alexa Elmy
November 8, 8:30 PM | Buy Tickets
Noor Inayat Khan: The Forgotten Spy
Starring ALMANYA NARULA
November 9, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Midnight Cowboy Radio
Starring Ally Ibach
November 9, 8:30 PM | Buy Tickets
Last Year’s Eve
Starring Zachary Kazepis
November 10, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
My Life is Not My Own
Starring Lucinda Carr
November 10, 8:30 PM | Buy Tickets
GUAC – The One Man Show
Starring Manuel oliver
November 11, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Katie’s Tales
Starring Agnieszka Kazimierska
November 11, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Mister Halston
Starring Ken Barnett
November 11, 8:30 PM | Buy Tickets
Lily The Tiger
Starring Dana McCoy
November 12, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Call Me Queen
Starring Cyrene Renee
November 14, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Mister Halston
Starring Ken Barnett
November 15, 2:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Macbeth (Solo)
Starring Paul Goodwin
November 15, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
The Book of Shame
Starring Victor Verhaeghe
November 15, 8:30 PM | Buy Tickets
Hot Boys
Starring Kali Tripodis
November 16, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Trust Me, I’m from Essex
Starring Lindsay Lucas-Bartlett
November 17, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Mister Halston
Starring Ken Barnett
November 17, 8:30 PM | Buy Tickets
Hot Boys
Starring Kali Tripodis
November 18, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
Mister Halston
Starring Ken Barnett
November 18, 8:30 PM | Buy Tickets
United Solo Closing Gala
Starring Wendy-lane bailey
November 19, 7:00 PM | Buy Tickets
