[NoHo Arts District, CA] – In this month’s Soaring Solo blog, Jessica Lynn Johnson interviews “30 Minutes or Less Festival Producer Matthew Quinn.”
“One step at a time is all it takes to get you there.” – Emily Dickinson
Mounting a 60- to 90-minute solo show can feel like an overwhelming feat. Writing an entertaining full-length script, memorizing all of that material, and then being brave enough to tell the story from the stage in front of a live audience can be enough to scare even the most tenacious solo artist off this path and out of this genre.
The good news is, if you allow yourself to take small, but powerful, steps, you can walk down the solo theatre road one step at a time and eventually cross the finish line.
My first solo show, Oblivious to Everyone, started as a two-minute monologue that featured about a dozen characters. I utilized it for auditions until one day I decided to turn it into a solo show. I expanded it into a 30-minute piece inspired by the content of the shorter monologue. I performed the 30-minute version at multiple venues and was able to grow in my character portrayal and overall performance. From there, I was selected for the New York City International Fringe Festival (now known as Frigid NY). I discovered that my show needed to have a 60-minute runtime for the NYC Fringe, so I dove into expanding the narrative once again. And after touring the 60-minute version for over a decade, there were many alterations and rewrites along the way.
This process allowed me to gradually prepare myself for performing a full-length solo show, which took stamina, focus, and courage that I did not initially have when I was sharing the content as a short monologue.
All to say, the development of my one-woman show did not happen overnight; it happened over many years and after many steps forward.
So, rather than looking at your own solo show development process as a rocketship that goes from 0 to 60 mph at liftoff, I invite you to look at your solo show creative process as a journey with many preparatory stops along the way. This point of view will help it feel much more doable.
You can take your time and enjoy the adventure.
With all of that in mind, in today’s blog, I am going to spotlight an awesome theatre festival that provides solo artists with a very special opportunity to put a meaningful and manageable stake in the ground with their solo shows, the 30 Minutes or Less Festival.
Returning to the Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre in Los Angeles from January 15–25, 2026, this unique festival will showcase bold, original, and wildly diverse short works that prove big impact doesn’t need a long runtime.
From theatre, comedy, and dance to music, multimedia, and experimental hybrids, each piece will deliver its punch in half an hour or less. With dozens of shows or all genres and styles, the festival celebrates creativity, community, and the thrill of live performance in its most concentrated form.
And what better way to explore this innovative festival than to meet the executive producer, Matthew Quinn, and pick his brain.
Let’s dive right in with my interview with Matt!
JESSICA: Matthew, thank you so much for agreeing to do this interview so that my blog readers can better understand what the 30 Minutes or Less Festival has to offer. So, to begin, what inspired you to create this wonderful festival?
MATTHEW: The inspiration came from several converging factors. Starting in 2019, I noticed a significant increase in 30-minute shows at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, more than 30 in a single year. Having seen many of these productions through the Hollywood Fringe Encore Awards, I fell in love with the format and the ability to tell a compelling, complete story in a short amount of time.
At the same time, through many conversations with theatre teachers and directors, especially those working with solo artists, I kept hearing the same challenge. Students were creating strong short works, but there were very few opportunities to present them outside of the classroom.
I have also long been interested in the stage-to-film model, and the 30-minute format aligns naturally with episodic television and streaming series. More recently, conversations with sponsors and industry leaders revealed that this format is also valuable for educational and corporate presentations. Seeing the response after just two years, it is clear that this festival is meeting a real need.
JESSICA: Wow. I love all of that. So many good points. Why do you think your festival is a good fit for solo theatre artists in particular?
MATTHEW: While the format works well for everything from musicals to ensemble pieces, it is especially well suited for solo work. It gives artists a crucial development step where they can explore their story without the pressure of filling a full hour, while still focusing on structure, flow, and storytelling. We’ve seen solo artists use our platform to develop a piece they will later perform at another festival in a longer format. Last year one of our solo artists had their piece selected to develop into a short film.
Equally important is the community of support. Artists are encouraged to see each other’s work, and the festival includes independent judges and awards that provide meaningful feedback and recognition. Creating solo work can be isolating, and the 30 Mins or Less Festival offers a supportive incubator to develop a piece, along with an official platform to present a finished work.
JESSICA: Well said. I concur that this festival provides a wonderful platform to develop solo theatre content in a shorter form as the artist discovers what it is they truly want to say. And yes, the creative community is so very vital. I always say that even though it is a solo show, you cannot go it alone. Now, I have known you for over a decade and see all that you do in the LA theatre scene. However, your theatrical involvements extend far beyond Hollywood. You are active in theatre all around the world. Being that involved in theatre everywhere, are there any other opportunities you would like to make solo theatre artists aware of in the future?
MATTHEW: Los Angeles is fortunate to have many accessible opportunities for solo artists, particularly for presenting finished work. Soaring Solo Studios offers a full range of workshops with performance opportunities and provides a very supportive solo theatre community. Additional opportunities include the Whitfire Solo Festival, the Binge Fringe Festival, and the global Fringe network, which offers festivals around the world. For artists interested in the micro theatre model, the Short and Sweet Festival and the Blink Festival both provide platforms for 10-minute pieces in English or Spanish.
For those seeking feedback on short scenes, LAFPI’s Micro Series is an excellent option. And of course, the free monthly One Person Play Class offered through Soaring Solo Studios is a great entry point for anyone interested in telling their story.
JESSICA: Those are all amazing opportunities you listed. Thank you for such a generous and robust list for my blog readers to look into! Now, if someone is reading this blog and wants to get involved with the 30 Minutes or Less Festival, how can they connect with you and/or submit their work?
MATTHEW: We have open applications through January 7, as long as performance slots remain available. All information, including the application, can be found on our website at www.30minutesorlessfestival.com . All shows are welcome, they just need to be 30 minutes or less and two shorter shows can share a 30-minute slot.
JESSICA: Great! There is still time. I am sure people will be happy to read that news. As we wrap up today, is there anything else you would like the Soaring Solo Blog readers to know?
MATTHEW: At Combined Artform + Asylum, we understand how challenging it can be to produce work in Los Angeles, even under the best circumstances. This festival was designed to be economically accessible while still providing all the essential elements needed to create a successful show, from technical support to marketing.
With more than 25 years of experience producing theatre, we are committed to sharing what we know and helping artists set their work up for success.
JESSICA: Thank you so much, Matt! I cannot wait for my readers to take in all of the knowledge you dropped today. Look forward to seeing you at the theatre!
And thank YOU for reading today’s blog interview.
Hopefully, this month’s blog has opened your eyes to some small steps you can take that will eventually lead to your solo success.
Let this information be your guide as you continue down the solo path. It may not be easy, but it is so worth it!
Jessica Lynn Johnson
Founder & CEO of Soaring Solo LLC
SoaringSoloArtist@gmail.com
www.SoaringSoloStudios.com
Enjoy these Solo Theatre Resources to Further Guide You on Your Solo Journey!
Tune in and support the Soaring Solo Community as we share our stories from stage!
Award-winning director and developer Jessica Lynn Johnson hosts a slew of powerful solo show script readings and full staged productions addressing various impactful and inspiring topics.
This enticing lineup can be found by CLICKING HERE FOR MORE INFO.
Start Writing Your Own Solo Show One Freewrite at a Time With “FREEWrite Friday”!
Join BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST WINNER Jessica Lynn Johnson for FREEWrite Friday!
Utilizing thought-provoking writing prompts, Jessica will lead you in writing exercises that are sure to assist you in the development of your solo show.
A one-person play is not typically written in one fell swoop. Rather, the Soaring Solo Methodology teaches that the creation of solo art is much like that of creating a Mosaic…one beautiful piece at a time.
All that is required to attend this inspiring event is a willingness to explore, having a pen, paper, or some other means of capturing your thoughts, the ability to access Zoom, and signing up on this page as your official RSVP.
We look forward to having you join the Soaring Solo Community in this event because your story matters!
CLICK HERE TO RSVP and obtain the Zoom link and password.
Attend the Soaring Solo FREE One-Person Play Development Class ONLINE!
No matter where you are in the creation of your solo show, idea phase, curiosity phase, full draft written, touring the festival and college market, BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST and founder of Soaring Solo, Jessica Lynn Johnson, will meet you where you are at and take you to the next level! All that is required to attend is a willingness to explore, a pen, and some paper. No previous writing or performance experience necessary, and no need to have written anything to bring to class. Each week Jessica will guide you in exercises to help generate and stage NEW material! So come and meet other creatives in a supportive space for expression and exploration! The class is ongoing and so you may pop in and out as you please as long as you RSVP BY CLICKING HERE for this FREE ONE-PERSON PLAY CLASS.
Schedule an Online Coaching Consultation
Schedule an Online Coaching Consultation with Jessica Lynn Johnson to discuss the possibilities for your solo show!
Jessica brings her 15+ years of solo theatre expertise to work privately with solo artists from all over the world on an as needed basis.
A 1 on 1 Consultation is for you if…
-You are curious about creating a solo show, but you need writing prompts to help you generate material.
– You are tossing around ideas for your solo show, but you need some accountability and encouragement to commit those ideas to the page.
-You have already written some material, but you need expert feedback on editing, story structure and play formatting.
-You have a great first draft, but need guidance on how to utilize multimedia and solo theatre technique in order to make your show a dynamic piece of solo theatre.
-You already premiered your solo show and now you want some tips on how to tour colleges and festivals, and garner accolades and great reviews!
-You have heard great things about Jessica’s work and you’re curious about hiring her as a Director & Developer for your solo show, but first, you want to feel her out and see if she is the right fit for you and your project.
Wherever you may find yourself on your solo journey, Jessica will help you overcome whatever immediate obstacle stands between you and your solo success.
If you resonate with many of the things on this list, then take the next step by emailing SoaringSoloArtist@gmail.com for more information.
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