Christchurch Performer Takes Top Award in New York
Monday 19 November 2018, 6:54PM
By RedPR
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Ali Harper has picked up the Best One-Woman Show at the United Solo Festival Awards Gala tonight in New York.
Speaking from a cold and snowy Big Apple, Harper said she is humbled by the win which saw her performance of “Songs for Nobodies” chosen from the other 81 shows performed by women at this year’s festival which is in its 9th year and is the largest solo festival in the world.
“The talent here is phenomenal,” she said. “Just look at *Renee Taylor who won the Special Award tonight, up against incredible actor John Lithgow and rock legend Bruce Springsteen. I don’t think having won this has quite hit me yet.”
NOTE: Ali Harper was able to go to return to New York to appear in tonight’s Gala, (after her performance at the festival last month), thanks to the generosity of a donor. Read about it here
Additional:
Established as the world’s largest solo theatre festival in 2010, United Solo presented nearly 1,000 productions from six continents, during its festival at Theatre Row on 42nd Street in New York, where it is a resident company; as well as at United Solo Europe, an overseas showcase created in 2013.
As a prime platform for one-person theatre, it presents, promotes, and recognizes solo performances of all kinds. The festival honours luminaries in the field by presenting the United Solo Special Award, whose recipients include Billy Crystal, John Leguizamo, Patti LuPone, Michael Moore, and Anna Deavere Smith, among others.
Since 2017, United Solo offers a series of Master Classes, giving solo performers a new tool to develop their talents. This educational program has included classes led by Allan Corduner, Pau Aran Gimeno, James Lecesne, Fiona Shaw, and Austin Pendleton. More about the festival and United Solo’s offerings can be found at www.unitedsolo.org.
The Festival features award-winning, internationally renowned performers, as well as emerging talents, and presents shows in a wide variety of categories, including drama, comedy, storytelling, musical, dance, multimedia, stand-up, magic, and performance art. There are original shows, as well as adaptations of classic theatre and literature. Many will be world premieres. A full schedule of shows is available online at www.unitedsolo.org/us/ufest.
*Renée Taylor is an American actress and writer. She is known for playing Fran Drescher's title character's outspoken mother, Sylvia Fine, on the TV series The Nanny, and is also a highly respected stage performer.