Solo: The Everything Guide to Writing, Performing, and Producing Your One-Person Show

A comprehensive guide for anyone interested in creating solo performances

The art of solo performance has exploded in the last twenty years as an immediate and accessible art form. The number of solo festivals grows every year, and artists are hungry for the opportunity to center their own voices and experiences. Solo is designed to feed that hunger.

Seasoned theater educators and performers Arlene Malinowski and Julie Ganey have compiled an invaluable guide for students and practitioners alike. Topics include high-stakes narratives, compelling characters, and the role of narrators, as well as practical exercises, interviews with performers at every stage of their careers, and examples from real one-person shows. Performers will also find advice on collaborating with directors, incorporating technical elements, and producing and marketing strategies.

Whether you're just starting out or are a seasoned professional looking to refine your show-in-progress, Solo is an essential volume for anyone ready to bring their story to life onstage.


Author: Arlene Malinowski,Julie Ganey
Publisher: Northwestern University Press
Published: 12/15/2025
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Paperback
ISBN13: 9780810149717
ISBN10: 0810149710
BISAC Categories:
- Performing Arts | Storytelling
- Performing Arts | Theater | Playwriting
- Performing Arts | Acting & Auditioning

About the Author
ARLENE MALINOWSKI serves as education director and resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists and has taught solo writing and performing for over twenty-five years.

JULIE GANEY has taught storytelling and performance at The Theatre School at DePaul, the Goodman Theatre, and 2nd Story, where she is a longtime company member.