[NoHo Arts District, CA] – In this month’s Soaring Solo blog, Jessica Lynn Johnson has “A Conversation with United Solo Vice Artistic Director with Wendy Lane Bailey.”
“London is satisfied, Paris is resigned, but New York is always hopeful. Always it believes that something good is about to come off, and it must hurry to meet it.” – Dorothy Parker
Back in 2004, I recall driving into New York City in my red Volkswagen Beetle and immediately having a panic attack as drivers honked ferociously at me, pedestrians boldly walked right in front of my car disregarding the green light, and all of the street signs had so many directions on them, I was certain I would be towed if I tried to park anywhere.
As a naive 20-something from Missouri, I didn’t know that you really don’t need a car in the Big Apple. That was the first of many culture shocks that I experienced as I made the Empire State my new home.
Eventually, I learned the subway system, became a daring pedestrian myself, got a job at a celebrity doctor’s office, landed an agent, and saw Sarah Jones’s solo show in BRIDGE AND TUNNEL, produced by Meryl Streep, on Broadway.
While I had been dabbling with writing my own work in college, Sarah was the first exposure I had to the genre of solo theatre in a formal way, and man, did I get bitten by the bug, as they say.
Before I knew it, I was working with an independent producer and performing my first one-woman show, OBLIVIOUS TO EVERYONE, on 42nd Street at Theatre Row.
Twenty-two years later, it touches a special place in my heart as I witness dozens of my solo theatre clients step onto that same stage, earning their first off-Broadway credit as part of the largest solo show festival in the world, United Solo.
United Solo is also meaningful to me because the founder and artistic director, Omar Sangare, played a pivotal role in the trajectory of my solo theatre career. He selected my one-woman show to be in the Dialogue One Solo Theatre Festival and then awarded me the title of Best National Solo Artist in 2007.
So, years later, when I learned that Omar created United Solo, I was elated to be able to guide my clients toward this wonderful performance opportunity in New York City.
Now that you have a little background information as to what makes United Solo so special to me, you’ll understand why I wanted to dedicate this month’s blog to highlighting a very fierce female on the United Solo team, Wendy Lane Bailey.
Wendy is the vice artistic director of United Solo. She is a singer, actor, writer, director, producer, and arts educator whose performances in venues across the country have earned critical praise for versatility and sophistication. She has appeared as a guest artist on several recordings, including those of Leslie Gore and Susan Egan. Her debut solo recording, Breathing, was produced by Michele Brourman. In addition, she is the founder of the Washington, DC Area Cabaret Network and was the associate director of the Cabaret Conference at Yale University. She served on the board of Pioneer Productions, for whom she produced and directed plays and oversaw the company’s social media outreach and education programs.
So, without further ado, let’s jump into my conversation with United Solo’s Wendy and grab some pearls of wisdom from her very experienced mind.
JESSICA LYNN: Hi Wendy! Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to chat with me about solo theatre today. Given my own backstory with Omar Sangare, I am super curious to know how the two of you crossed paths and became involved with the festival.
WENDY LANE: It was one of those serendipitous things. A friend who was working on a show Omar was directing recommended that he hire me to be part of the production team. From there, we discovered we worked well together and shared a passion for solo theatre.
JESSICA LYNN: I love divine appointments like that! Seems very meant to be. I know you are a solo artist yourself. So, can you please tell us about your own solo artistry? How did you discover solo theatre? What inspired your own solo expression? What is it that most endears you to this genre of performance? What trials and triumphs have you experienced in this form of theatre?
WENDY LANE: I started out as a musical theatre performer but soon realized I had a desire to create and share stories from my own point of view. What I love most about solo theatre is that you can bring everything you are to the table. There are no limitations; whatever tools you have in your artist’s tool kit, you can bring to the stage. It makes for a terrifying yet amazing creative rush. The most difficult part of solo theatre is that you are wearing several hats at once – creator, performer, producer, press agent, designer- but that is also one of the greatest benefits. If you can do this, you can do anything.
JESSICA LYNN: Very true. Similar to what they say about making a life in NYC. If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. Much like solo theatre! Speaking of solo theatre, most of my readers are solo artists or aspiring solo artists. What words of advice do you have to offer them as they traverse this path of Solo Theatre?
WENDY LANE: Trust yourself and your voice, then find collaborators who will help you bring your vision to life. We may be alone onstage, but it takes a great team to make a great solo show.
JESSICA LYNN: I am literally expressing that exact same sentiment to my clients every single day. Yes, it’s a one-person show, but so many people contribute to bringing it to fruition. With the help and support of the creative community, dozens of members of the Soaring Solo Studios family have performed their solo shows in the United Solo Festival over the years. Many of them are not local to NYC. In the case of solo artists who are traveling to New York City from out of town to be a part of this event, what do you recommend that they do to make the most out of this opportunity?
WENDY LANE: I always start with two essential things that apply from the moment you consider applying until after you’ve brought your show to the stage.
The first is PREPARE – preparation is the key to having a wonderful festival experience. Beyond getting your show ready, take the time to read the information the festival puts out. We provide a lot of information on our website and in our application, which continues through the acceptance process when participants receive a participant packet and regular updates. We want our participants to have the knowledge they need to excel. And if you don’t see the answer to your question – ASK.
The second thing is to ask yourself, “Why am I doing this, and what do I want to get out of the experience?” For some people, it’s fulfilling a dream, for others, it’s taking their show to the next level. There are as many answers as there are artists. Once you’ve answered this question, you will find all your decisions about presenting your show will flow from there.
I should mention that on our Solo Screen platform, we have a series of videos that address preparing to do a festival. The information there applies not only to United Solo but to any festival.
JESSICA LYNN: Well said. On the note of being prepared and making the most out of such an awesome opportunity,what mistakes have you seen solo artists make that my readers can be mindful to avoid?
WENDY LANE: Editing! Editing! Editing! The temptation with a solo show is to throw everything you have in it. Know what story you’re trying to tell and what your arc is. This is a place where having strong collaborators helps. Having another eye can really be helpful in knowing what is essential to your piece.
JESSICA LYNN: I could not agree more! There is nothing worse than having an audience fidget in their seats because a solo show is going on for far too long. Editing is absolutely key. Assuming a solo artist edits down their script and has a solid show, what constitutes a successful and enticing submission for selection in United Solo? And is it too late for solo artists to apply to be a part of the 2026 season of United Solo, or can solo artists still submit?
WENDY LANE: We want to get a strong sense of both the piece and the artist behind it. Video is always great to have. It doesn’t have to be the full show; it can be a scene or two. We ask for a lot of information in our application because we want to get a full idea of the show. A cover letter is always a good idea, as it helps us get an idea of what your goals are.
It is definitely not too late! Artists may apply for our Spring or Fall 2026 seasons or both. Giving the artists the option to participate in both seasons is a wonderful way to help them establish a presence in NYC. We always hold a few slots for late applicants in every season, so even if the deadline has passed, don’t be afraid to contact us to ask. Our current application is HERE.
And don’t forget about our Solo Screen program, which is like Netflix for solo shows. If you have a quality recording of your show, this is a great way to get it out to a larger audience. Info on that is HERE.
JESSICA LYNN: Until this interview, I had not heard of your Solo Screen program. It sounds amazing. So, aside from providing innovative opportunities like the Solo Screen program, being the largest solo theatre festival in the world, and being held on 42nd Street at the beautiful Theatre Row, what makes United Solo so special in your eyes?
WENDY LANE: United Solo gives creators a unique opportunity to present their work their way. We aren’t looking for any one style, genre or story type, we want to present the breadth and depth of what the art form has to offer. What we want most are passionate voices with something to say.
We want everyone who comes to United Solo, from the artists and their teams to our audiences to our own staff, to feel welcome. United Solo is inclusive, not exclusive; we celebrate everyone who has the bravery to get up onstage without a net and make their voice heard, as well as the people who come to see them. People entrust us with presenting their stories, and that is a sacred thing.
JESSICA LYNN: I have certainly witnessed that diversity in United Solo, as all of my clients who have performed in the festival have come from such different backgrounds with such unique stories to tell. Well, we have covered a tremendous amount of ground today, but is there anything else you want to share with my blog readers?
WENDY LANE: The time is now! We need your stories more than ever, so don’t procrastinate telling them. Never underestimate the power of a single artist on stage telling their truth. You can change the world, but first you have to create the vehicle to do it. What are you waiting for?
Thank you so muc,h Wendy! What an inspiring and informative conversation. And thank you, my blog readers, for continuing to check out the Soaring Solo blog every month.
My hope is that this month’s blog has lit a fire under you to submit to United Solo and enjoy your own solo show success.
Solo theatre 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!
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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!
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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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