40 shows & counting!

Here I am, with a classic gesture of celebrating a win! Beginning solo Playback performance online and in person had truly been a win-win: a clear win for me because I love it, and a win for participants who overwhelming give my shows a 5/5 satisfaction rating.
In what ways do you celebrate your achievements?

The end of the year is a natural time to reflect and look back on the year that is ending. This year, I am looking back at the growth of my one-woman performance endeavor called Solar Playback.

After learning the art and craft of Playback by performing with a troupe beginning in 2008, I decided to expand my performing opportunities in late 2023 by going rogue ;) and adding nimble, solo playback to my repertoire.

My dear friend, author and accomplished coach, Susanna Liller, received this idea with enthusiasm and was the first to invite me to perform in Bath, Maine, in early November 2023.

That was the beginning of my saying “Yes, I really can do this!” and I launched my monthly online performances shortly thereafter.

Being a solo performer means I am flexible with my availability and affordable to individuals and groups for whom hiring an entire troupe to perform would be cost prohibitive. I’ve come to appreciate the differences between in person and online Playback over these last two years of regular performances in both formats.

The in-person shows offer the benefit of felt energy and the immediate feedback in real-time of our human responses: applause, sighs, laughter, gasps, subtle body language shifts… all the ways in which we communicate our emotions without words from the audience as spectators! In person there’s also more opportunities for audience members to interact with one another, both before, during and after the show.

The online shows have the benefit of being accessible to people all over the country and world! Over the last two years I’ve welcomed online participants at Solar Playback performances from all over the United States, including:

Massachusetts, Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Washington D.C., Illinois, Washington State, California, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New York, Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Missouri, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico

And even participants zooming in from different countries:

Canada, France, Mexico, the Dutch Caribbean, India, Latvia, Spain, and the U.K…

Once we had a participant tell her story in Korean that was simultaneously translated into English by her friend!

Online I get to use the camera for close-ups and play with filtering the lens with objects I have. I’ve taken to playing back stories using my hands only, and enjoy the creative constraints of the camera.

As I look ahead to 2026, I have big plans to continue growing, including:

partnering with more organizations and institutions in Maine and beyond
bringing Playback to different communities, including immigrants and non-native English speakers
furthering my own Playback education through the New York School of Playback
offering more personalized Playback experiences for private groups and meet-ups
…and the list goes on!

Are you interested in partnering with Solar Playback in 2026? Let’s talk! I’d love to learn more about the needs and desires of your group and how Playback with me can help you meet those. Contact me here, or book a time over Zoom to discuss using this calendar link. I look forward to seeing where our collaborations will take us in 2026…