Bringing a Solo Fringe Show Off-Broadway: What United Solo Offers Artists

S1E24 of What the Fringe?!

A celebration of solo work at United Solo

For fringe artists, producing a solo show Off-Broadway can feel like a big leap, even though much of the work looks familiar. You’re still self-producing. You’re still marketing your own show. You’re still carrying the piece largely on your own. What changes is the context: New York City and the expectations that come with an Off-Broadway venue.

United Solo was created specifically for this kind of work. Now in its seventeenth season, the festival is the largest solo theater festival in the world and has become a landing place for solo fringe artists ready to bring their shows into a professional Off-Broadway environment.

“Solo theater is really necessary right now,” says Wendy Lane Bailey Vice Artistic Director of United Solo. “It’s one of the most powerful ways we hear diverse voices — especially voices that don’t always get space in traditional commercial theater.”

That mission is central to United Solo’s identity. Founded by Omar Sangare, the festival was modeled after European theater festivals where solo performance is treated as a serious art form. United Solo brings that same respect to New York, offering artists a platform that places solo fringe shows at the heart of the theater district rather than on its edges.

What’s Different — and What Isn’t — About Producing Off-Broadway

United Solo operates out of Theater Row, a full-service Off-Broadway complex with a professional box office, house staff, and an intimate 86-seat theater designed for solo work. For fringe artists used to pop-up venues or shared festival spaces, that level of infrastructure can be a significant shift.

At the same time, United Solo is still a producing festival. Artists are responsible for their own marketing, budgets, and planning. Fringe skills translate well here, especially for solo performers who already know how to tour light, promote their own work, and adapt quickly.

The biggest difference is that every decision carries more weight. Producing Off-Broadway amplifies both preparation and missteps.

Why You’re Doing This Matters

Before applying, artists are encouraged to get clear on their motivation. Some artists use United Solo as an industry showcase, inviting presenters or producers who might help extend the life of the show. Others are testing a developing piece or fulfilling a long-held goal of performing Off-Broadway.

There’s no single right reason, but knowing yours matters. That clarity shapes everything from marketing choices to how much money you invest, and how you define success when the run is over.

Without that clarity, it’s easy to feel disappointed even after strong performances.

Beyond the Performance

United Solo also offers visibility that can extend beyond the festival. Performing at Theater Row places solo fringe shows in front of New York audiences and industry professionals, and festival recognition can help build credibility as a show moves forward.

Awards are part of the ecosystem, but they’re not just about what happens onstage. Professionalism, collaboration, and how artists engage with the festival community all factor into how work is supported and remembered. Awards, especially ones from a New York theater, can help set shows apart at fringe festivals.

Is United Solo the Right Next Step for Your Fringe Show?

For fringe artists considering Off-Broadway, United Solo offers a bridge — a way to bring solo fringe shows into a professional Off-Broadway context without losing the independence that defines the work.

With clear goals, thoughtful preparation, and a willingness to collaborate, producing at United Solo can be less about “making it” and more about giving your solo show the space and attention it deserves.

United Solo proudly presents solo theatre festivals every spring and fall. APPLY HERE.

This blog post was inspired by S1 E24 of What the Fringe?! podcast, and was written utilizing AI technology, in conjunction with human oversight and editing.  

Listen to our episode with Wendy Lane Bailey, Vice Artistic Director of United Solo.