Top Ten One-Woman Shows of All Time

It takes a tremendous amount of talent, preparation and confidence to put together a successful one-person show. Here is my list of the Top Ten women who have done it over the years, and done it well.

#10 - Carrie Fisher
Instead of trying to escape her "Princess Leia" persona from "Star Wars", Carrie Fisher embraced it along with the many other tragedies in her life. Fisher has turned her life's crazy ride of divorce, mental illness, drinking and drug addiction within the Hollywood scene into several best selling books and her one-woman show, "Wishful Drinking". Fisher realized she could never eclipse "Princess Leia" and got more satisfaction from her free-wheeling comedic verbal rants. So she turned her razor sharp wit to writing and presents her one-woman show on Broadway (since 2008), spinning awful circumstances into hysteical stories. Fisher was nominated for the 2010 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Solo Performance.

#9 - Lilly Tomlin
In 1986 Tomlin won the Tony Award for Best Actress for her performance in "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe". Tomlin embodied twelve distinctly different characters in the show clearly presenting her comic genius and timing. Her performance was especially sharp as Trudy, the old but wise middle-aged bag lady. The show was written by Tomlin's collaborator, Jane Wagner, who also directed Tomlin through the interwoven story of the characters to create a complete play, not just stand-up viginettes. Tomlin presented "normal" people just trying to make sense of modern life and showcased her talent as well.

#8 - Tracey Ullman
Tracey Ullman, an English transplant to America relishes playing a diverse set of characters which range widely in age and gender. Ullman has many creative abilities and she eventually became a successful stage and screen actress, a singer with several titles in the Top 100 in England, a dancer, screenwriter and author, and always a comedienne. "The Simpsons" were spun off in 1989 from her television series "The Tracey Ullman Show". Her one-woman Broadway show, "Tracey Ullman: Live and Exposed" premiered in 2005. This stage show documented Ullman's life, with reenactments of her childhood, her early days as a dancer, her time on the stage, her music stint, and her television career. During the show Ullman also brought to life several of her characters, revealing who they were actually were based on in her real life.

#7 - Elaine Stritch
The indomitable Stritch has been performing on Broadway since 1946. Stritch has performed memorable roles in theater, television, film, drama, comedy and musical comedy. Now in her 80's, Stritch continues to perform. In fact, to prove that "the old broad still has it", after the death of her husband, she put together her one-woman show. It ran on Broadway in 2002 and continues to tour. Titled, "Elaine Stritch at Liberty", her show is a summation of her life and career with plenty of singing and dancing. Newsweek said of Stritch: "... In case you didn't notice, Stritch is not the kind of woman who goes in for the sappy self-indulgence... In fact, At Liberty is in a class by itself, a biting, hilarious and even touching tour-de-force tour of Stritch's career and life. Turns out she dated Marlon Brando, Gig Young and Ben Gazzara."

#6 - Whoopi Goldberg
Goldberg has had a long career and now commands a great deal of respect and admiration. But she had to start somewhere, and like many comediennes, she started with standup. In the 1980's it was tough for female comics and even tougher for black female comics, but Goldberg was determined. Producers knew they were taking a chance, but Mike Nichols could see the talent Goldberg had back in 1984 and helped her bring her one-woman show "Whoopi Goldberg" , previously known as "Spook Show", to Broadway. Her brilliant performance, which tackled issues of race and urban life through moving portrayals of five different characters - young children, genius junkies, and other eccentrics earned Goldberg almost universal acclaim for the versatility of her acting and writing.

#5 - Liza Minnelli
When your mother is Judy Garland, a world renowned singer, it's extremely hard to get out from her shadow. However, Liza Minnelli found her own niche by focusing on her other creative talents that added to her singing - dance and comedic timing. Minnelli had already gained fame and awards by the time she took her one-woman special "Liza with a 'Z'" to Broadway in 1972. That show further established her status as the entertainer of the era. "Liza with a 'Z'" was a stunning production filled with song, all-out dance numbers and plenty of comedic one-liners delivered with Liza's brash personality. It was directed by the legendary Bob Fosse. An accompanying album was released. Its sales even eclipsed those of the soundtrack to "Cabaret" - considered by many to be Minnelli's best work.

#4 - Lynn Redgrave
Unfortunately Lynn Redgrave's solo show, "Nightingale", had just opened on Broadway the fall of 2009 when she passed away in the spring of 2010. Although Redgrave had to make the debut with script in hand due to her treatment of recurring breast cancer, the show did go on. "Nightingale" is based on the life of Redgrave's maternal grandmother - a woman of Victorian times. The piece is not meant to be inspirational or uplifting and it is not. It's more about the unfortunate plight of women in the past and even now. It is likely that recent family losses suffered by Redgrave strongly colored her interpretation of the memories she brings to light. Redgrave's marriage was over, her niece, Natasha Richardson died in an odd skiing accident and her own cancer seemed to return to haunt her as an additional shadow late in her life.

#3 - Anna Deavere Smith
Anna Deavere Smith is best known previously in the theater world for her amazing piece "Twilight" - researched, written and staged by Smith based on interviews with neighborhood people after the Rodney King LA riots. Lately she's been known as a TV and film actress (Rachel Getting Married, Nurse Jackie, The West Wing), but returns to theater for another one of her amazing and unique shows. She spent 8 years researching health care and just as the debate reached its fever pitch she brought her show, "Let Me Down Easy" to NYC in the fall of 2009. Again Smith weaves her research and heart-wrenching personal testimonials into a tapestry of concerns and questions about health care that are universal. Smith imbues each of her characters with rich detail and emotion. Smith gives voice to the questions others are afraid to ask.

#2 - Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand said she considers herself "the actress who sings". Streisand's career proves she is so much more than a singer. In her first Broadway appearance in "I Can Get It For You Wholesale," she won the New York Drama Critics Award and received a Tony nomination. Her first record album won two Grammys. Her movie debut in "Funny Girl" earned her an Academy Award. While she performed many times on Broadway, her solo shows were always public concerts or shows prepared for television. Streisand's solo shows are so powerfull I felt compelled to include her in this list. She was honored with an Emmy Award and the distinguished Peabody Award for her first television special, "My Name Is Barbra," in 1965, which was her television solo debut. Her fans continue to worship her for her charisma, courage, perserverence and unmatched vocal talent.

#1 - Camryn Manheim
Perhaps best known for her roles in two long running television series: The Ghostwhisperer and The Practice; Camryn Manheim did get her start on the stage in New York City. Yes, her one-woman show, "Wake Up, I'm Fat" (based on her mother's refusal to recognize the issue), played Off-Broadway in 1993, but it was close enough to gain her acclaim, recognition and a flurry of other performance offers. She did enjoy some good luck before that when Stephen Sondheim helped her find an agent. Manheim received an OBIE Award for her performance in a 1994 production of Craig Lucas' "Missing Persons".