Solo

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.

• Take the Plunge! You Can Do It What the Heck Do I Write About? Getting Words on the Page Be Accountable for Your Actions There’s More Than One Way to Get Where You're Going Fourteen Types of Solo Shows The Nuts, Bolts & Buckles of Your Play Seven Keys That Make a Solo Show Work Your Brain's Got a Soft Spot Story vs. Anecdote The Beginning The Middle The End Something at Stake Essential Questions Your Work is Going to Suck People Your Play Building Characters Types of Narrators Dialogue: Finding the Voice of Your Characters Make a Scene! Telling the Stories of Others Making a Good Show Better The Power of POV Make it Multisensory In General, Be Specific Untangling Tenses Universal Truth Four Ways to Never Just Tell Write from the Scar Humor & Levity Truth vs. Accuracy Putting it Together Bit by Bit Who Needs Narrative Structure? An Organizing Principle Stitching, Knitting & Using Narrative Theatrical Elements Create Some White Space Construction & Deconstruction Writing & Rewriting (Ugh) Getting Feedback (Eeeeek) Editing Techniques (Yikes) How Do You Know When Your Solo Show is Done? Rehearsing and Performing The Great Script Debate Acting for Solo Bringing Characters to Life Do I Really Need a Director? How Will You Rehearse? When Should the Writer Leave the Room? Performing Your Show (Hallelujah! Finally Doing It!) Reviews Selling Yourself Finding a Venue In Solo, You Are Your Own Brand Creating PR Materials Press Releases & Media Kits Getting Butts into Seats Fundraising for Your Show Festivals, Fringe & Touring Protecting Your Work The Ghost Light Acknowledgements Credits

“Solo is spearheaded by two of the greatest to ever do it. An exceptional how to guide, it is friendly, funny, and bursting with craft. Malinowski and Ganey give a full scope of the history of solo theater and a path towards becoming the future of it. They don’t miss a beat. Get writing!” —Khanisha Foster, writer, actor, and director