Omar Sangare curates Theatre ROW October 20 – November 20, 2011 ➔ UnitedSolo.org United Solo Theatre Festival is an annual international festival for solo performances held in New York City. Through a diverse range of one-person shows, we explore and celebrate the uniqueness of the individual. From openly solicited submissions, we stage the most intriguing productions at the highly acclaimed Theatre ROW in the heart of the New York City theatre district on 42nd Street. The 2nd annual United Solo, the world’s largest solo theatre festival, presents 77 productions this year. Featured solo artists come from 4 continents, and represent 11 states of the USA as well as Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, Botswana, Canada, Ireland, Israel, The Netherlands, Poland, and Serbia. 29 one-man and 48 one-woman shows fall into a vast selection of categories, ranging from drama, storytelling, puppetry, and multimedia shows to stand-up, magic, improv, and dance. Through its inaugural edition in the fall of 2010, the Festival gained a reputation for presenting many unique and diverse solo productions. Last year, the Festival concluded at the Theatre ROW in a closing ceremony during which Anna Deavere Smith was awarded for her outstanding achievements in solo performance. Four-time Academy Award nominee Marsha Mason joined the event to present the award. There were also other reasons to celebrate, such as high attendance and the impressive donations that were collected to support The Actors Fund. In the selection of forty-seven shows coming from six countries and seven states, audiences could appreciate the work of respected artists, such as Austin Pendleton (a director who brought three solo performances), Jelena Stupljanin (European movie star, a lead in Cirkus Columbia by Oscar-winning director Danis Tanovic), Suzen Murakoshi (an actress directed by Obie Award winner Ching Valdes-Aran), Bill Bowers (NYU professor of pantomime, also popular from his Broadway appearance as Zazu in The Lion King). Ten shows were sold out at the Festival. Cherry Jones, Sarah Paulson, and other well-known figures came to watch the art of solo performance on stage. United Solo, established as the world’s largest solo theatre festival, remains consistent with its inaugural edition: celebrating individuality, promoting quality solo performances, and supporting The Actors Fund, the organization that serves professionals in the performing arts who are in need or transition. |