How to write a Solo Show #8
Solo Shows Directing with Patrick Lillis
Are you interested in becoming a solo show artist or director? This episode is for you.
In this episode, I will be interviewing Padric Lillis. He has directed over 200 shows., worked on Off-Broadway, been nominated for and won the New York Innovative Theater award for the outstanding director, the fringe award in New York for the festival award of excellence for directing, a member of the Labyrinth Theatre and founder of the Farm Theater.
More importantly, he is someone I love talking baseball with, and he's the director of my solo show,
The American soldier.
Padric will be sharing with us how he got into directing solo shows, some of the challenging moments of being a solo show director, among other things that pertain solo shows. But most importantly, a question that all solo show artists need to ask.
Key Talking Points of the Episode:
How Patrick got into directing solo shows.
Advantages of doing a solo show.
How does Patrick grab a style?
What compels Patrick to say yes?
Patrick's most satisfying moment when directing a show.
How have solo shows evolved?
The biggest problem Patrick faces when creating a show with an actor
Nuggets of wisdom for an actor starting a solo show.
The biggest mistake actors make when doing a solo show.
Advice to a director who is starting to work on a solo show.
Which solo artist or director has inspired Patrick the most?
The book that every actor should read.
Patrick's favorite documentary film.
Patrick's advice to 10 years ago and ten years from now.
What message would Patrick put on a billboard for all the actors and directors?
How does an actor find a director like Patrick?
Key Milestones of the Episode:
[00:01] Introducing the episode's guest
[00:42] How Patrick got into directing solo shows
[03:29] Advantages of doing a solo show
[13:14] How does Patrick grab a style?
[15:21] What compels Patrick to say yes? Is the actor or the story?
[20:30] Patrick's most satisfying moment when directing a show
[26:09] How have solo shows evolved?
[29:00] One of the biggest problems Patrick faces when creating a show with an actor
[36:50] Nuggets of wisdom for an actor starting a solo show
[38:05] The biggest mistake actors make when doing a solo show
[42:23] advice to a director who is starting to work on a solo show
[46:25] Which solo artist or director has inspired Patrick the most?
[47:16] According to Patrick, which book is a must-read for all the actors?
[47:18] Patrick's favorite documentary film
[48:46] Patrick's advice to 10 years ago and ten years from now.
[51:07] What message would Patrick put on a billboard for all the actors and directors?
[52.54] How does an actor find a director like Patrick?
Magical Quotes from the Episode:
"When you hear the person talk, you start to see their personality and their energy."
"When you do a solo show, the only way you can be successful is if it is in your DNA."
"The hardest thing for a solo person to learn is that they all suddenly have a new scene partner. The audience is their scene partner."
"You're the mirror that is reflecting back."
"If you're not kind, you're not encouraging people to take risks and do something surprising or beautiful.”
"I don't know. Isn't the end. That's the beginning of the work, and it's exciting."
Resources Mentioned:
www.TheAmericanSoldierSoloShow.com