one-man show

one-man show

1. A company or organization where most or all of the work is handled by one man. (Alternatively, "one-woman show.") My business started out as a one-man show. I did pretty much everything myself until I could afford to hire some help.
2. A theater performance that is written, directed, and performed by one man. (Alternatively, "one-woman show.") I heard Pete is doing his one-man show during the Fringe Festival next month!
See also: show
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

one-man show

 
1. Lit. a performance put on by one person. It was a one-man show, but it was very entertaining. For a one-man show, it was very long.
2. Fig. an exhibition of the artistic works of one person. She is having a one-man show at the Northside Gallery. I'm having a one-man show next weekend. Come and see what I have done.
See also: show
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

one-man show

Also, one-man band. A person who does or manages just about everything, as in This department is a one-man show-the chairman runs it all, or John conducts the interviews, writes the articles, solicits ads, deals with the printer-he's a one-man band . This idiom alludes to the actor or artist responsible for the entire performance or exhibit, or the musician who plays every instrument in the group. [First half of 1900s]
See also: show
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

one-man show

1. n. a performance put on by one person. It was a one-man show, but it was very entertaining.
2. n. an exhibition of the artistic works of one person. She is having a one-man show at the Northside Gallery.
See also: show
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • as one man
  • company
  • candy man
  • kept man
  • man on the make
  • man after my own heart
  • a man after (one's) own heart
  • a man, woman, etc. after your own heart
  • caveman
  • man of few words, a
References in classic literature
This is my very own private one-man show. But I'll be back in an hour--there!"
Raffles Further Adventures Of The Amateur Cracksman
This isn't a blatant plug for my one-man show at Grangemouth Town Hall, however, as I already told you about my one-man show at Grangemouth Town Hall when I mentioned my one-man show at Grangemouth Town Hall in last week's column.
pounds 700 pint is cold comfort
The Opera, is to star in his own one-man show at the Unity Theatre in June.
Stand up for a laugh; LOVE THE ECHO City set for sixth comedy festival
As he recalls growing up gay in Nassau County, N.Y.--an experience that forms the basis of his one-man show, Rhapsody in Seth, currently playing off-Broadway at the Actors' Playhouse in New York City--the playwright-performer breezily admits, "I knew I was gay when I was 4!
Seth speaks: comic, writer, and accompanist to Broadway divas, Seth Rudetsky talks about his journey from high school "fag boy" to star of his own one-man show. (theater)
Booker prizewinner Ian McEwan's short story is brought to life in a one-man show performed by Craig Rogan and directed by Peter Doran.
Cupboard Man
Best known as drugged-up raver Tyres in C4's Spaced, Smiley brings his one-man show The Parting Glass to London for two weeks from Monday.
Music: MICHAEL SMILEY - THE PARTING GLASS: A touch of Glass
The festival begins on Monday, September 17, and highlights include new one-man play King Of A Rainy Country created by Midlands writer Richard Edmonds for RSC actor Anthony Flanagan, one-man show Playing Burton by Mark Jenkins and a rehearsed reading of Conor Moloney and Fintan Ryan's Bad Crowd.
Fringe fun at the RSC; SHAKESPEARE MUST WAIT IN THE WINGS
2 David Johansen and the Harry Smiths (Chesky Records) It's been a big year for Johansen: a one-man show of his wry little paintings at Fletcher Gallery, a guest shot on the HBO series Oz, a nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the New York Dolls.
Glenn O'Brien
Wiseguys - a one-man show by Touche - can really get a crowd going and Ireland is one of his favourite places.
THE BITZ: Touche of class from Wiseguys
BRADFORD defender David Wetherall last night insisted Bradford are not a one-man show starring Benito Carbone.
Football: Beni's brilliant but we're no one-man show
Events include a one-man show playing to a one-person audience in a two-seater car.
Fringe fun kicks off
His one-man show can be seen tonight and tomorrow at The Other Place, Stratford.
One-man show is a labour of love
All but two of the twelve works shown here date from 1945, a year before Sommer's first one-man show of photographs, and as such they provide a sort of snapshot of his aesthetic investigations across media at a particular time.
FREDERICK SOMMER
Following his recent success as winner of the Top Comedy Actor at the British Comedy Awards as Father Ted, Dermot Morgan returns to his roots on a nationwide tour with a new one-man show.
Heavens! Win tickets to see Dermot Morgan
CHARLIE Chuck's one-man show can be described only as confused madness.
CHARLIE CHUCK Baby Blue