[NoHo Arts District, CA] – In this month’s Soaring Solo blog, Jessica Lynn Johnson talks about “Who is solo theatre for?”

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” – Edgar Degas

Do you ever wonder who is solo theatre for?

Is it for the audience? The solo artist? The creative team? The theatre staff? The theatre critics? The world? 

The answer is yes.

Solo theatre is for everyone, even those who never see the show.

Wait, how can that be? If they’ve never seen the show, then how can it be for them?

Maybe you’re familiar with the term the “Butterfly Effect.” 

If you’re unfamiliar with this reference, the Butterfly Effect is when a small change in one place has a large, possibly unpredictable, impact on something else, often far away. The idea is that small actions can have big, widespread consequences. 

The name stems from the classic example of a butterfly flapping its wings on one part of the earth and then, through a series of events, leads to a hurricane forming on a different part of the earth. 

Similarly, the art that a solo artist creates can largely influence the world around them. 

As the solo artist starts the process of creating a one-person show, they are given a choice for how they will proceed. Option A.)  the solo artist can write and perform a masturbatory script that is nothing more than naval-gazing, ranting, and treating the audience like a counselor as the performer has therapy on stage; or Option B.) the solo artist can accept an invitation to selflessly contribute to the Universe in a positive way through their own unique creative force. 

If the solo artist chooses the former, does this approach to solo theatre still reach people far and wide like the aforementioned Butterfly Effect predicts? Absolutely. However, this sort of performance can cause more harm than good because it is written and performed selfishly, fearfully, and with the ego at the helm. 

A solo artist whose mode of operation stems from this sort of narcissism will not consider the needs and challenges of their creative team. They won’t responsibly handle trigger warnings for their audience around sensitive subject matter. They won’t thank all of the people who helped them along the way. They will withhold the unflattering aspects of their story and they will instead only showcase their Instagram illusions, leaving the audience feeling disconnected.

So, how do you avoid such a trainwreck and successfully choose Option B?

To embark on a true Solo Theatre journey, a solo artist must bravely excavate their life. They must look honestly at their own character flaws. They must grapple with and admit to their mistakes. They must say the things that ruffle feathers and stir up commotion. They must grieve lost opportunities. They must step into the shoes of the characters they play and portray them without judgment. They must wrestle with unforgiveness, face unhealed traumas and courageously confront countless other things that the average human would prefer to sweep under the rug. They must ask how they can be of service. Solo artists must also dream big, imagine wildly, celebrate their wins ferociously, love and care for themselves and their sphere of influence passionately, be generous of spirit, take risks, be vulnerable and gift their audience with a meaningful message.

This type of creative work is not just solo work, it is soul work, and it does not happen overnight. It is a creative process. It is the striving to be the best version of ourselves, rather than the actualization of the goal, that truly matters.

It is nothing short of spiritual curriculum. 

This level of commitment to the craft fundamentally changes the solo artist at a core level. They will never be the same. And because they are changed, the way that they operate in the world is different. The dynamic that the solo artist has with their friends, family and even strangers begins to transform. The way that they interact with their creative team, the theatre staff, and even the barista at their local coffee shop is elevated. The words they speak to the audience come from a much deeper place and may be received by the audience in a far more impactful way. In turn, all of these people go out into the world, having taken something meaningful away from the show or from their interaction with the solo artist, and they begin to operate differently in their own life. This is where the reach of the solo show extends far beyond those who are directly attached to it or have seen it. 

We truly have the capability of reaching the ends of the earth with our message, and this is precisely why the work we do as solo artists matters. We are given the chance to better ourselves and literally better the world as a result.

This does not always mean that critics, audiences, friends, family and strangers will always praise our show, agree with our message and resonate with our story. Yet, if we are true to ourselves, stand on stage bravely and generously telling our truth, and present a piece of Solo Theatre that is our genuine expression, we have done our part and we can surrender the rest. At that point, it’s none of our business what other people think of us.

I hope this month’s blog on “Who Is Solo Theatre For?” doesn’t intimidate you. Instead, my hope is that it validates that this work is both deeply challenging and utterly important. 

Please continue to persist along on your solo journey. 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.