Over 130 Works Set for 5th Annual United Solo Festival, 9/18-11/23

More than 130 one-person shows will participate in this year's annual United Solo, the world's largest festival of solo theatre. The event will take place between September 18 and November 23 at New York City's Theatre Row on 42nd Street, where United Solo is a resident company. The Festival has grown five times since its inaugural run in 2010; it began as a two-week-long event and will span over ten weeks this year.

In the last five years, United Solo found a unique place on New York's cultural map, with a frequenting audience, considerable media attention, and enthusiastic interest among solo performers. Every year, the festival features an Encore category for artists returning to the event after the grand success of their shows in previous years. There will be over 25 Encore shows at this year's United Solo, including "The Doctor Is Not In" performed by Nancy Redman, directed by Austin Pendleton and "Beneath My Fathers' Sky" starring Zara Phillips and co-directed by Oscar nominee Eric Roberts.

Other renowned artists in this year's United Solo include Emmy-winning writer Addie Walsh, who will perform her own solo show on opening night, September 18. Oscar winner Estelle Parsons contributed to directing "Rhapsody in Black" by LeLand Gantt, scheduled for September 27. On September 28, Malgorzata Bogdanska from Poland, in collaboration with Cannes Film Festival's Best Actress Krystyna Janda, will bring "My Dear B" to the stage. Emmy Award winner Gary Schreiner is musical director for "My Life Is A Woody Allen Film," a show by Aja Nisenson, scheduled for October 10. Renata Hinrichs, decorate with a Cannes Film Festival award and an Obie-winning play, will present "Random Acts" presented on October 12. Furthermore, a show "Roberta" will be performed on November 10, directed by Padraic Lillis, recipient of New York Innovative Theatre Award.

The Festival will feature not only award-winning, world-renowned performers, but also uprising new talents, and it will present shows in a wide array of categories, including drama, comedy, musical, mime, stand-up, and magic. There will be shows based on original texts, as well as adaptations from classical literature and solo versions of classic plays. A number of famed authors have chosen this year's United Solo to premiere their shows, giving the Festival's audience the opportunity to see never-before seen shows.

"Solo performance is the highest test for a stage actor," says Omar Sangare, artistic director and founder of United Solo. "It requires a lot of craft, as well as talent. I'm happy that we can bring so many skillful performers from around the globe for New York audiences to enjoy."

Shows accepted to United Solo benefit from unique exposure opportunity, and will compete for various awards, such as Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Script, and Audience Award. Their works can also be selected to a digital script library, or chosen to perform overseas as part of United Solo Europe, an international showcase.

Tickets for all shows at the Festival are available at Theatre Row box office, 410 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036, as well as over the phone at 212.239.6200 and online at telecharge.com.