Talkback: Creating Solo Performance

Talkback discussing the creation of solo performances with Carolyn Ratteray, Kacie Rogers, Kirsten Vangsness, and Kristina Wong. Moderated by Jessica Hanna. Filmed after a presentation of I Sell Windows at Outside In Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on May 28th 2024. --- Carolyn Ratteray is an emmy-nominated actor, director and writer based in the Los Angeles area. She has appeared in off-broadway and regional theaters as well as in TV/Film and voice over. Credits include appearances at The Mark Taper Forum, The Geffen Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, Boston Court Theatre, A Noise Within, Antaeus Theatre, Echo Theatre Company, The Garry Marshall Theatre. Regional theatres include The Old Globe, The Pearl Theatre Company and the Classical Theatre of Harlem. In addition to performing, Carolyn has directed By The Way Meet Vera Stark by Lynn Nottage, In Love and Warcraft by Madhuri Shekar andMidsummer Night’s Dream as well as staged readings throughout the Los Angeles area. She has studied theatrical clown with Philip Gaulier, Chris Bayes, David Bridel, and Angela De Castro. Some film/tv credits include Snowfall, Lincoln Lawyer, Grey's Anatomy, Riley Parra, Seasons of Love, Castle, NCIS, All My Children, Chemistry, The Young and the Restless, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Education/Training: M.F.A., The Old Globe/University of San Diego; B.F.A., New York University. She is a Resident Artist at A Noise Within Theatre, a member of Antaeus Theatre and Ammo Theatre Company and she is a professor at Pomona College. Kacie Rogers is a two time NAACP Award winning actor/writer, Kacie Rogers, received her classical training at AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts. You can find Kacie on screen as the face of the new board game Disparity Trap as well as on episodes of several TV shows including Curb Your Enthusiasm and Grace & Frankie. Kacie has also had the opportunity of working with several prestigious theatre companies in the Los Angeles area including The Robey Theatre Co., The Road Theatre Co., Circle X, Theatre40, Theatricum Botanicum, Greenway Court, The Getty Villa, Sacred Fools Theatre Co., The Skylight Theatre, IAMA, Inkwell Theatre and The Fountain Theatre. She is a proud member of the Center Theater Group Community Storytellers and you can find her self written & performed short, Ol' Auntie Jemmie, streaming on their website. In 2021, Kacie was a recipient of the Shay Fellowship; a program aimed at cultivating the next generation of theater professionals by providing the highest standard of training through immersion in the art. Through the fellowship, Kacie wrote her one woman show, I Sell Windows. Kacie's full length play, Oladele or The Forgotten Song, was selected for the IAMA New works Festival in 2022 and received its first public reading during the festival. Kacie co-produced, wrote, and starred in her first short film, SHOUT, in 2022 which enjoyed a successful run on the film festival circuit. Kacie is more than grateful to God, her friends, family, and agent/manager dream team for all of their support on this journey. To keep a closer eye on what Kacie is working on next, sign up for Kacie's Guest List at kacierogers.com. Kirsten Vangsness’ solo work MESS premiered at Theatre of NOTE in 2016 and writer Neil Gaiman is quoted as calling it his “favorite one person show”. In 2019 Kirsten brought MESS and “Cleo, Theo and Wu” a 7 person feminist space romp musical to the Edinburgh Fringe where they enjoyed packed houses and rave reviews. Kirsten has co-written 5 episodes on Criminal Minds, including the CBS series finale (it was pick up by paramount plus and will be airing a new season in June. “Curtains” her solo animated short that Kirsten wrote, stars and directed (and can be seen for free on Vimeo) was an official selection at over 12 film festivals in 2019 including Tall Grass, NFMLA and Americana Barcelona. This year she was one of 4 women invited by Roxane Gay and Amber Tamblyn to read a solo work at Vulture Fest Feminist as Fuck. Kirsten hosts and performs at a month salon “Bits” at Theatrte of NOTE and is currently finishing her newest play. You can find her whereabouts at instagram @kirstenvangsness Kristina Wong's solo works include "Wong Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "The Wong Street Journal," and "Kristina Wong for Public Office." “Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord” premiered at New York Theater Workshop and won the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Solo Performance and is a Pulitzer Prize Finalist in Drama. She's a Doris Duke Award Award Winner and Guggenheim Fellow who has been supported by among others, Creative Capital, The MAP Fund, ASU Gammage Artist Residency, Joan D. Firestone Commissioning Fund from En Garde Arts and the Kennedy Center Social Practice Residency. www.kristinawong.com