Mia Raye Smith's I AM HOPE Premieres at United Solo Today

Mia Raye Smith's solo show, I AM HOPE, will have its World Premiere at the United Solo Theatre Festival today, September 23rd.

The play was developed in Matt Hovermen's Go-Solo Workshop. A shorter version of the play was produced at Emerging Artists New Work Series in the Fall of 2014. The production is directed by Mary Catherine Donnelly whose recent directing credits include Jay-Z & Me (Edinburgh Fringe, Amsterdam Fringe, 59E59).

Mia can be anybody she wants to be without a drink in her hand. Her soul is as old as Detroit's Motown records. Mia was revving up to travel the world, until it became the size of her studio apartment. Can she overcome her biggest fear that grandpa can't help her shake?

Performances take place today, September 23rd at 3:30 pm at Theatre Row/Studio Theatre, 410 West 42nd Street (between 9th & 10th Avenues), New York, NY 10036. Subways: A/C/E to 42nd Street. Tickets are $19.25 and are available at the Theatre Row box office, or at 212-239-6200, or online at www.unitedsolo.org/us/iamhope-2015. Running time: 60 minutes.

Mia Raye Smith (Writer/Performer) Creative. Artistic. Visionary. Mia is a proud graduate of the William Esper Studio. Mia's most recent work includes the role of Lisa in the Web Series Black Actress. While enrolled in Matt Hovermen's Go-Solo Workshop, Mia wrote, developed, and performed her One Woman Show, I am Hope, which was featured at Emerging Artists Theatre Company's, New Work Series.

Mary Catherine Donnelly (Director) is a theatre director, performer and writer based in NYC. Mary Catherine underwent rigorous Lecoq-based physical theatre training at Helikos: Scuola Internazionale di Creazione Teatrale in Florence, Italy where she trained with an ensemble of international performers in mime, mask work, clown and acrobatics. As a theatre director of one-person shows and movement coach, she has worked in New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, San Francisco and Italy. This past summer she was awarded a scholarship by the Tectonic Theatre Project to study with Moises Kauffman in their Moment Work Training Lab. Recent directing credits include Brenda Cullerton's Jay-Z & Me (Edinburgh Fringe, Amsterdam Fringe, 59E59), Lauren Letellier's The Fiery Sword of Justice (Women at Work Festival, NYC), Mia Smith's I am Hope (Emerging Artists Theatre) and is the dramaturg & movement coach for Ingrid Griffith's long running hit solo Demerara Gold (premiered Midtown International Theatre Festival, now touring internationally). Her own solo show, Inside Orion premiered at NYC's Estrogenius Festival, October 2013 and "Solo Sundays" at StageWerx, San Francisco, December 2013. She will be in Tbilisi, Georgia in May as part of collaboration with the International Culture Lab and The Margo Korableva Performance Theatre with whom she has been co-devising a show called DIVA DIVAN.

United Solo, the world's largest solo theatre festival, celebrates its 6th anniversary season and its dynamic expansion in scope and popularity. Over 130 shows from six continents are staged at Theatre Row: 410 West 42nd Street, New York City. For more information, visit www.unitedsolo.org.