Josh is out of town…and I’m finding myself sad and lonely. I don’t quite know how couples do long separations, due to travel, business, military duty etc. In preparation for life as single gal I packed my schedule this week, and so far it has been exhausting. I am doing a cabaret at the Rendezvous on Thursday at 8, which should be excellent, and everyone should come if they’re around. This has meant late night rehearsals with a group of new actor/dancer types–great fun and a nice way to meet people.
I’ve been kicking around the idea of writing another one woman show. What would people like to see a solo show about? This is acknowledging that solo shows are typically pretty egomaniacal, but if done well, can be a valuable part of the theaterscape. I had success almost ten years ago and I’m curious to see how I would do now, as an older, wiser, writer and actor. I feel like I have a tons of stories, monologues, dialogs, etc. in my head just waiting to jump out. Since I’m a total whore for the audience, I only want to produce work that’ll sell. Let’s shove aside the notion that all solo shows are therapy for the artist: I’m in it for you, Joe Schmo Audience Member.
So, my dear readers, what sounds interesting? What would you want to go see as an audience member? Please place your vote in the comments section:
1) All the BS I did with my BA: a rehashing of the dozen jobs I’ve had in the past eight years of post college life. From office jockey to waitress, having my life threatened as a barista, entertaining patrons waiting in line at the space needle as a stood up bride, to importing cars for Hyundai (and meeting my future husband), the list is really endless.
2) A heavier show concept: Women as icons, women as victims, women as examples. This show idea stems from a single solitary moment I had three years ago while teaching. I had just seen a show on sexual abuse and children, and there was a shocking statistic: one in two women will be a victim of sexual abuse in their lifetime. After seeing this show I realized I was teaching eight little girls in my dance class and that, if the statistics proved correct, half of them would be victims.
3) Huge exaggerated characters: i.e. Bad Poet Girl, a character I created years ago who passionately read terribly written poetry (”smooth as glass” was used in every example); Ballet Dancer Girl, vain and weight obsessed, this character would dive into all the body issues I seem to have inherited as a dancer; Obsessed Mother, a character based on the years and years of parents I’ve encountered. There would be an interlying phrase, word, and/or theme running through all of these monologues–so it wouldn’t be entirely random.
4) Marriage Snuck Up And Kicked Me In the Ass: based on a zine I’ve written “So, You’re Getting Married.” This outlines all the research I did before getting married (books on marriage, divorce stats, interviews with married women), the search for The Ring, and the brief struggle I had after the wedding with a flirtatious Murderer in a production of Macbeth I was doing. (The incredulous line, “You’re married?!” would be said repeatedly since I can not seem to convince people I meet that the ring I’m wearing is not costume jewelry).
5) A musical expose of songs that have impacted me at different stages of my life. Starting with my early electronica years of Silk Road (and a disastrous contemporary dance piece for the 8th grade talent show), working through my punk rock years (”Dirty Magic” by The Offspring mixed in with my all time favorite band, Jawbreaker), and moving back to my roots as an avid opera/classical music fan. Each song would have an accompanying monologue and sure, a dance bit here or there, (c’mon, you know you want to see me rehash my spring recital performance of “Electric Youth” by Debbie Gibson).

To quote The Goat: “What do you think, sirs?”