#solocom

The Bat Mitzvah girl does a dance.

.@raeroshow has prepared a special performance for her Bat Mitzvah. #SOLOCOM @thepitnyc pic.twitter.com/sblrmvNzzY

— Joanna Shaw Flamm (@CozyJosie) November 23, 2015

This weekend, I am proud to present my first ever solo show. It’s going up as part of Solocom  - a festival of comedian one-person shows. 

RITES: A One "Woman" Show

Written & Performed by Rachel Rosenthal Directed by Blayze Teicher

The year was 1992 and Rachel was about to become a “woman.” Travel back in time to fluorescent scrunchies, Boyz 2 Men hits and Rachel’s own Bat Mitzvah - as she takes us on her journey to womanhood through true stories, bigger than life characters, and obviously - choreographed dances. We were all awkward, right?

Watch the Trailer.

Even though this is a solo show, I couldn’t have done it without the help of many people. Huge thanks to Mike Zakarian and Douglas Widick. Also, thanks to Anthony Velez, Margaret Lyons, Natasha Rothwell, and my parents for all of the amazing old photos and kick-ass childhood.

SOLOCOM 2015 is just days away! The PIT recently caught up with SOLOCOM producer / powerhouse Peter Michael Marino (Desperately Seeking the Exit, Late with Lance) to get his take on why this festival celebrating the individual has exploded in popularity over its short three-year history. 

PIT: What inspired SOLOCOM? 

PMM: SOLOCOM was created to give solo performers the opportunity to stretch their muscles and create personal new work that focused on the funny. With only 8 weeks to create the show, it gives writer/performers a hard deadline - which results in results. There are many excellent solo show festivals in NYC and across the country, but there seemed to be a vacancy for brand new solo comedy shows. 

PIT: The festival is now in its third year. How has the fest evolved and what excites you about this year's fest? 

PMM: The festival has evolved from 60 shows to 120 shows, and there are more non-locals in the festival this year than any other year. I'm excited about so many show ideas, plus the addition of two more venues - the PIT Loft and the PIT Attic...which is home to a number of "immersive" shows that run 20-30 minutes, happening several times in an hour. I'm excited for the energy of the weekend, but mostly excited to launch these shows and see where they go in the future.

PIT: Why should people support solo performance? 

PMM: The best solo shows move and entertain the audience the way a play with a full cast would. I'm not sure your typical theater-going audience knows this. Yes, it takes balls to hold an audience's attention all by your lonesome. I mean, it's the most intimate form of theater. Just the performer and a tale to tell or character to share; and the audience. It's not so much about supporting solo performance as it is trusting that you can be just as entertained and moved by a solo performer as you can with a full cast. Often, audiences are more entertained and moved by one person!

PIT: What is the role of the solo show in the larger comedy and theater communities? 

PMM: Solo shows come in all shapes and sizes and they've been evolving so much over the years as more people use social media to share entertainment about themselves. Stand-ups are doing more storytelling. Storytellers are doing more traditional solo shows. With a solo show, you are creating your own work. Your own role - suited to YOU. Solo shows open the door for other opportunities with festivals and such. It's much more affordable to tour a one-person show than a play. And solo performers really are on their own for so much of the time...it teaches you how to be your own producer, booker, hustler.

  PIT: How do solo shows benefit the performer? And the audience?

PMM: Empowerment and connection. Many solo shows are born out of a moment of truth. Something unusual or unexpected that happened in someone's life that they somehow recovered from. Something that they feel driven to share. I'm not a fan of "therapy shows" which many people lump solo shows into. Like, there's some form of catharsis for the writer/performer who's sharing their story. I think the catharsis should happen in the writing of the show, not the performance. It has to be about all of us. Somehow, the creator has to find the universality. The best ones are cathartic for the audience, who unexpectedly learn something about themselves from hearing another person's story. And if one person's story can affect others in shared space, that can only be good for the world.

SOLOCOM 2015 is a 3-day festival in NYC takes place in 2.5 spaces at The Peoples Improv Theater in the Flatiron District and at the new PIT LOFT in Chelsea from November 20-22. Full schedule, tickets, and fest passes* are available here: https://thepit-nyc.com/festivals/solocom