Mike Folie chatted with All About Solo at the Closing Gala for the 9th Annual United Solo Theatre Festival. He talked about the success of his show, “My Dead Wife,” which won Best Script in the festival. Folie commented that, “[solo performance] is a form of theatre that you have to be completely honest in. You can’t hide in a solo play. You just have to be you.” All About Solo interviewed Folie about his work in July and reviewed his show, “My Dead Wife,” which was nominated for the All About Solo Critics’ Choice. Mike Folie is an actor, playwright and monologist. As an actor he has worked Off-and Off-Off-Broadway and regionally at such theaters as American Jewish Theatre, Theatre Row, Boomerang Theatre Company, The Kennedy Center, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, among others. As a playwright, Mike’s plays have been produced Off-Broadway, regionally around the U.S. and internationally, winning several awards. Dramatists Guild Magazine named him one of “Fifty Playwrights to Watch,” and The Los Angeles Times called his play, “THE ADJUSTMENT,” “The kind of play the American Theatre desperately needs.” As both writer and actor, Mike has performed his solo play, “3 MEN,” at Hudson Theatre Works, Stage Left Studio, Penguin Rep, and at both the 2015 and 2016 United Solo Theatre Festivals, where it won the Festival Award for Best Non‑Fiction Show (2015) and Best Encore Presentation (2016). His current solo play, “My Dead Wife,” sold out two performances at the 2018 United Solo Theatre Festival, and will perform one more time at the Festival on November 4. Mike has studied acting with Frank Licato, Carol Rosenfeld, and Mercedes Ruehl. Video and Editing: Carmen Emmi
Pat McAndrew is a NYC-based actor, writer, and consultant. As an actor, he has performed Off-Broadway, Off-Off Broadway, and in various locations throughout New York City, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. His one-man show, REEL, was performed in the 2017 United Solo Theatre Festival and featured in the new documentary, Electronic Crack. Using his background as an actor as his foundation, Pat consults with individuals and organizations on how to communicate effectively and build deep, meaningful relationships in the digital age. He is the Founder of The Low Tech Trek, an organization devoted to discovering a better balance between human interaction and how we use technology. He is a member of Village Playback Theatre, Endless River Arts, and Svaha Theatre Collective. Pat holds an MA in Theatre from Villanova University. Check out patmcandrew.com for more information.