If you’ve seen “La La Land” you’ll remember that, despairing at the lack of casting opportunities, Mia (Emma Stone) creates a solo theatre show about her childhood and escape from dreary old Boulder City. It’s a story that a lot of actors can relate to. Unemployment is, and has always been, the reality and shared experience of acting as a profession.
Wanting to make a solo show is an understandable response to being out of work or frustrated with the work you’re getting. Actors writing and performing their own shows and buddying up to make work together is a common sight in small theatres across L.A., New York and London. And, just like Mia, actors fed up of getting nowhere telling other people’s stories often decide to tell their own. We all have our own Boulder City, our own escape story.
But how do you begin making a solo show? What do you practically need to do? How do you make it a success? What outcomes do you want? What outcomes can you realistically expect? Should you make one at all? This is a guide for anyone thinking of doing a “La La Land” of their own.
Check yourself.Are you making a show for the wrong reasons? You need to want to make it and make it great.
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