Tips for Doing a One-Person Show?

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 7/7/19 at 11:18pm

My college has a fringe theatre company, it's my senior year, and I'm considering, as an independent study of sorts, to do a one-man show (Another Medea, by Aaron Mark, for those interested). I'm not sure how one goes about tackling such a challenge, is there anyone who's worked on one-person shows that has any advice to share?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/7/19 at 11:37pm

You need a solid director to guide you. You learn the text then do your own take on it and your director will steer you properly: pacing, pausing, etc. They will basically be looking at your performance in the audience’s eyes.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 4:50am

My advice exactly. Dont be your own director.

Also...dont ignore using a set.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 8:33am

I write and perform my own one-woman play, and I agree that it'll almost always turn out better if you utilize a director. Also, interacting with the audience is something great you can do in this kind of piece, especially if you are telling a very personal story.

If you'll be in the city on July 26th, I am actually performing said piece at The Tank Theatre...feel free to ask me for details...would love to have any of you in attendance!

[JBroadway]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 10:13am

I have never performed a 1-person show, but I did direct one once, and I've seen quite a few. 

So my main piece of advice is from an audience member standpoint: 

As much as you can, talk TO the audience, and not AT them. One of the biggest problems I see with 1-person shows is that the actor can get so wrapped up their own monologue that they forget to use the audience as their scene partner. And it often ends up feeling like a dull recitation, even if the writing is good. And when I say "use the audience," I don't necessarily mean it in the traditional sense of "audience interaction." I just mean that you should incorporate them into your character's world, and not forget that the character is up there talking to the audience for a reason. The more you put your attention on the audience, and your desire to convey something to them, the more the audience will pay attention to you. 

Since we don't know anything about this 1-person show, my advice might not be applicable. Most 1-person shows are very narration based (a person stands in front of the audience and tells their story), but some are structured differently. If yours is different, my advice might not apply, in which case just ignore it.