Now in its second decade, United Solo Theatre Festival, the world’s largest solo theatre festival, continues to amaze and delight audiences with its annual offering of exceptional solo plays from across the country & around the world. The artists this season delve into a variety of topics from personal family stories to allegories for the issues facing our world today. Using drama, comedy, music, poetry, movement and spoken word, these shows open the door to new worlds and new ways of thinking about life and theatre. More than sixty productions will take the stage this spring, including award winners, returning artists and world premieres.
This season includes the return of GUAC, My Son, My Hero, written and performed by Manuel Oliver. Oliver’s 17-year-old son, Joaquin (Guac), was killed in 2018 by a mass shooter at his school in Parkland, Florida. Directed by Michael Cotey and produced by Change the Ref and ENOUGH!, GUAC is a fearless, funny, one-man tour-de-force about a father turned activist, his undying love for his son and the story of an immigrant family in search of the American Dream only to be confronted by a uniquely American nightmare.
United Solo welcomes several other encore presentations of popular shows from the fall season, including Pulling It All Into the Current, starring Letta Neely, If It Bleeds It Leads, starring Sean Allison, Keith Moon, the Real Me, starring Nick Berry, and Lily the Tiger, starring Dana McCoy.
Veteran stage and screen performer Bellina Logan returns to the festival with her award-winning Confessions of a Mulatto Love Child, a heartfelt, funny, and at times sobering tale of a bi-racial child growing up with her larger-than-life, acerbic British mother.
Written and performed by Maegan Mandarino, Big Hair is a Vaudeville-esque musical highlighting the dynamic relationship between Gilda Radner and Gene Wilder. A portion of every ticket purchased is donated to the charity that Gene Wilder co-founded for Gilda Radner.
Sped Kid, written and performed by Adam Linn, tells the story of a scrappy, twelve-year-old city kid with failing vision who faces seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
Nadeen Gautier’s Mami, What’s Your 20? is a Spanglish dramedy that follows a Nuyorican single mother of two living in Los Angeles, who is on a mission to pass her Class A test to provide for her family.
