FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Missy Maramara, a master of fine arts student in drama and Fulbright Scholar, performed her one-person show to a sold-out house Friday, Oct. 11, as part of the fourth annual United Solo Festival at Theatre Row in New York City. Love, Liz, which was also written and directed by Maramara, was chosen as one of 120 productions featured in the eight-week festival held on 42nd Street in the heart of the city’s theater district.

This semi-autobiographical satire of the pursuit of fame and American glamour asks audience members to “embark on a journey to stardom with Liz, a Filipino FOB (fresh-off-the-boat) in this funny and heartbreaking quest for Hollywood.” Liz is forced to come to terms with herself as the reality of living the American Dream impacts her struggle for celebrity.

"I want to be a big star in Hollywood,” Liz says in the play. “I am now in Arkansas. That means I'm halfway there."

Love, Liz was Maramara’s final project in the One Person Show Class taught by Michael Landman, associate professor of drama in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. Maramara performed the piece in the fall of 2012 in the department’s Studio 404, a black box theatre in Kimpel Hall.

The United Solo Festival will run from Oct. 3 until Nov. 24. The assortment of shows from six continents include drama, comedy, storytelling, magic, stand-up, multimedia and other story categories. An encore category will feature United Solo award-winning shows and 20 productions that were invited back by popular demand.

The shows will compete for awards such as Best Production, Best Acting, Best Direction and the Audience Award. The winners will be announced at the festival’s closing ceremony Sunday, Nov. 24. There will also be a special United Solo Award presented to an artist with outstanding achievements in the field of solo theatre. This year’s nominees are Alan Cumming, Alec Mapa, Bette Midler, Anthony Rapp, William Shatner, Fiona Shaw and Holland Taylor.