NEW YORK CITY: The United Solo Festival recently completed its sixth season, which featured 150 solo productions from six continents over the course of 10 weeks.
Festival participants also competed for awards in 40 categories. In addition, James Lecesne received the honorary United Solo Special Award for his contributions to the solo art form. Upon receiving his award from festival founder and artistic director Omar Sangare, Lecesne said, “I really applaud you all for using your voice, speaking out, and telling your stories. It’s the greatest thing you can do in your life. Thank you so much for this honor.” Previous awards recipients include Anna Deavere Smith, Patti LuPone, John Leguizamo, Fiona Shaw, and Billy Crystal.
United Solo is the world’s largest solo theatre festival, having presented more than 600 shows in its six-year history. It’s currently taking submissions for its 2016 season, visit www.unitedsolo.org.
The complete 2015 winners list is below.
Best Production
Uncle Philip’s Coat by Matty Selman, directed by David Spital
Best Direction
Risa Brainin for That Wonder Boy
Best One-Man Show
That Wonder Boy by Bob Stromberg
Best One-Woman Show
One Funny Mother: I’m Not Crazy!! by Dena Blizzard
Best Encore
Beyond Words by Bill Bowers, directed by Scott Illingworth
The United Solo & Backstage Audience Award
That Wonder Boy by Bob Stromberg
Best Actor for Alfredo Tauste
The last call. A micro-play from a story by Jean Cocteau
Best Actress for Anna Bridgforth
The Good Adoptee
Best Comedian for Joe Gulla
Daddy
Best Storyteller for Shaun O’Hagan
It’s Later Than I Think
Best International Show
Marilyn-After performed by Nonnie Griffin
Best Drama
Do You Know Me? performed by Mina Samuels
Best Comedy
Auditions, Zoe’s Auditions performed by Suzanna Geraghty
Best Musical
RACHEL CALOF: A MEMOIR WITH MUSIC performed by Kate Fuglei
Best Documentary Show
Tiananmen Annie performed by Ann Starbuck
Best Biographical Show
Oh Sarah! performed by Edith Acker
Best Autobiographical Show
Smoker performed by Bob Brader
Best Physical Theatre Show
Butoh Medea performed by Yokko
Best Period Piece
Work is the Curse of the Drinking Classes performed by Johnson Flucker
Best Satire
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow—retold by Jonathan Kruk
Best Stand-Up
Chasing Ballerinas: A Coming of Gay Story performed by Quinn Marcus
Best Poetry Show
Namely Muscles performed by Claire Porter
Best Experimental Show
Jeremiah’s Tuesday created by Stefan Mrowinski & Steven Kennedy
Best Non-Fiction Show
3 MEN performed by Mike Folie
Best Avant-Garde Show
Oh My Goddess! performed by Sherry Glaser
Best Educational Show
She Gon’ Learn performed by Lisa Strum
Best Dramatic Script
Move on the Cha-Cha’s written and performed by Diane Ripstein
Best Comedic Script
It’s About Time written and performed by Steve Belanger
Best Adaptation
Angry Conversations With God written and performed by Susan E Isaacs
Best Non-Fiction Script
The Miracle of Long Johns written and performed by David Lefkowitz
Best Documentary Script
Marília written and performed by Rogério M. Pinto
Best Biographical Script
BRIGHT SWORDS written by Rick Creese, performed by Ryan Vincent Anderson
Best Storytelling Script
All Aboard written and performed by Tulis McCall
Best Autobiographical Script
The Good Adoptee written by Suzanne Bachner, performed by Anna Bridgforth
Best Premiere
YEAH, THAT HAPPENED written and performed by Nic Rafello
Best Emerging Actor
Clyde Engle in Don’t Cry for Me Banks of Wall Street
Best Emerging Actress
April Dae Rochon in I’mma Do Me
Best Festival Debut
Clipping In performed by Terrence S. Gray
Best Choreography
Wolf Red performed by Elinor Randle, directed by Yorgos Karamalegos
Best Sound Design
Behind the Random Denominator created by Mart Sander
Best Lighting Design
The last call created by Alfredo Tauste & Rafael Abolafia
