While Broadway is known for grandiose shows with elaborate numbers and larger-than-life sets and characters, not every show is an extravagant production with a large cast. Solo shows, whether a monologue or performance in which one actor plays multiple characters, have been part of the New York City theater scene for decades, although typically held in Off-Off and Off-Broadway venues.
With that said, there were several successful solo shows on Broadway in the 20th century, and they’ve become more common in recent years for a variety of factors, including lower production costs and ease of conversion to other mediums, i.e. podcasts and audiobooks. Audible, for example, produces solo and ensemble shows at Off Broadway’s Minetta Lane Theatre and later releases audio recordings of the shows for download. Solo shows are also more intimate and often offer audiences a more immediate and emotional experience than multi-person plays and musicals.
Below are five of the most successful and unique solo shows in Broadway history.
Prima Facie
One of the most recent examples of a successful solo show on Broadway, Prima Facie ran for a limited engagement at the Golden Theatre from April 23 to July 2, 2023. Written by Australian-British playwright Suzie Miller, the one-woman play stars Jodie Comer, known for the TV series Killing Eve, as criminal defense attorney Tessa. Comer’s character defends men who have been accused of sexual assault. However, her view of her work and the legal system is shaken after she is sexually assaulted. The Daily Beast called Prima Facie “one of the most electrifying pieces of theatre on Broadway.”
Prima Facie was nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Sound Design and Best Scenic Design. Comer, in her Broadway debut, won Best Leading Actress in a Play for her captivating performance. She also won Outstanding Solo Performance at the Drama Desk Awards and Outer Critics Circle Awards, as well as Best Actress at the Olivier Awards for her performance in the West End production.
Miller is expanding the script to be adapted as a film starring British actress Cynthia Erivo, who won the Best Actress in a Musical Tony for The Color Purple in 2016 and also earned a Best Actress Oscar nod for playing Harriet Tubman in the film Harriet.
Every Brilliant Thing
Every Brilliant Thing is a unique and immersive one-man play written by Duncan MacMillan and originally performed by stand-up comedian Jonny Donahoe. It premiered at the Barrow Street Theatre in December 2014. Donahoe played a young boy who, after his mother’s suicide attempt, creates a list of things that make life worthwhile, including ice cream, water fights, things with stripes, and rollercoasters.
House lights were up for the show, allowing Donahoe to see and interact with audience members, who were given prompts while voicing characters such as “dad,” “lecturer,” “vet,” and “Mrs. Patterson.” The solo show was a heartwarming reflection of dealing with grief and guilt while also highlighting the joys of life in a nuanced, honest, and humorous manner.
I Am My Own Wife
One of the most successful solo shows of all time based on awards, I Am My Own Wife, written by Doug Wright and first performed by Jefferson Mays, tells the real-life story of Charlotte Von Mahlsdorf, a transgender woman who lived in Nazi Germany and later owned a museum that served as a meeting place for East Berlin’s gay community. Workshopped at the La Jolla Playhouse in California, the play debuted on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre in 2003 and has since been shown in Sweden, Greece, Australia, and Mexico, among other countries.
Mays, who played Von Mahlsdorf and dozens of other characters in the Broadway production, won the Tony Award for Best Lead Actor in a Play. I Am My Own Wife also won the Tony Award for Best Play and Best Direction of a Play as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Drama Desk Award for Best New Play.
The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe
Already an established solo actress with her memorable comedic performance in Appearing Nitely at the Biltmore Theatre in 1977, Lily Tomlin showcased her versatility in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe. Tomlin, dressed in a white blouse and black pants, portrayed several characters and won the Tony Award for Best Actress in 1986. Tomlin also starred in John Bailey’s 1991 film adaptation and reprised the role for the stage in a 2000 revival at the Booth Theatre.
Former Saturday Night Live cast member Cecily Strong performed each of the roles in Tony nominee Leigh Silverman’s 2022 revival of the play at The Shed in Manhattan.
The Vagina Monologues
Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues is among the most notable one-woman shows of all time and a critical feminist text that has been translated into several languages. Ensler wrote the monologues based on interviews with 200 women covering topics such as sex, relationships, and violence against women. The show debuted Off-Off Broadway, but it was eventually filmed and shown on HBO and performed at Madison Square Garden. V-Day, a nonprofit founded by Ensler, still organizes performances every year on college campuses in the U.S. to raise awareness about violence against women.