100 SHOWS RED CARPET PARTY FOR
THE FIRST, FEMALE, SOUTH-ASIAN OFF-BROADWAY SOLO PLAY
THEY CALL ME Q
When: FRIDAY, NOV 14
9:30 PM
Where: INC LOUNGE (in the Time Hotel)
224 West 49th St, bet 8th Ave and Broadway
Who: Author/Star Qurrat Ann Kadwani (shes the one they call Q) and Producer/Director/Actor/TV Host Obaid Kadwani
What: 100 Show Party for Off-Broadway show THEY CALL ME Q
A red carpet party in celebration of 100 shows of the Off-Broadway hit THEY CALL ME Q is set for Friday, November 14th at INC Lounge, 224 West 49th St, bet 8th Ave and Broadway. The shows Author/Star, Qurrat Ann Kadwani, will appear at the event along with Producer and TV personality, Obaid Kadwani.
The award-winning play THEY CALL ME Q began performances May 19th at St. Lukes Theatre in the heart of the Theatre District and Kadwani has traveled with the show all over the country at festivals and colleges since 2012
A winning tale!
The Village Voice
Qurrat Ann Kadwani is a theatrical force of nature!
Orlando Weekly
Witty and inspiring!
Montreal Gazette
A theatrical experience to remember!”
Broadway World
“A jazzy gem, in the ranks of John Leguizamo,
Spalding Gray & Camryn Manheim!
BeyondCriticism.com
THEY CALL ME Q is the story of a girl from Bombay growing up in the Boogie Down Bronx who gracefully seeks balance between the cultural pressures brought forth by her
traditional parents and wanting acceptance into her new culture. Along the journey, Qurrat Ann Kadwani transforms into 13 characters that have shaped her life including her parents, Caucasian teachers, Puerto Rican classmates, and African-American friends. Laden with heart and abundant humor, THEY CALL ME Q speaks to the universal search for identity experienced by immigrants of all nationalities.
Under the direction of Obaid Kadwani and Claudia Gaspar, and developed with Ellery Schaar, THEY CALL ME Q scored the Best Actress Award for Ms. Kadwani in the productions debut at Variations Theatre Groups 2012 Harvest Theatre Festival. The emotionally charged comedy subsequently opened to rave reviews in cities all around the country and Canada including Chicago, Montreal, Washington D.C., Nashville, Orlando, and even Hawaii where THEY CALL ME Q was awarded Best Play at the 2013 Maui Fringe Festival.
Qurrat Ann Kadwani is an actress, producer, television host, and philanthropist. She has hosted Desi Jams and 100% Desi on Namaste America, and her other TV appearances include ABC News What Would You Do? Ms. Kadwanis recent stage credit includes Blind Angels (Theatre for the New City). Ms. Kadwani was raised in the Bronx, attended The Bronx High School of Science and received a B.A. in Theater from SUNY Geneseo. Ms. Kadwanis one woman show They Call Me Q opened Off Broadway on May 19 and is currently running at St. Luke’s Theatre in the theatre district. Playing 13 ethnically diverse characters in one hour, THEY CALL ME Q questions how to develop identity within the context of a traditional culture in an urban environment. To date, she has performed her solo play 100 times. She has received the Best Actress Award at the Variations Theatre Group: Harvest Festival 2012 in NYC and Best Play Award at the Maui Fringe Festival 2013. Non-profit charity organizations have presented her solo play as benefit fundraisers. Colleges and universities all over the US have invited Ms. Kadwani to perform her solo play as part of their multicultural programming, alongside discussions and workshops on diversity. She has received an award from the United Nations World Women Global Council, an award from the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center in San Francisco, an award from SAPNA NYC for inspiring South Asian women to dream and make their dreams a reality and was the Guest Speaker for CAMP Philly. Ms. Kadwani also helps coordinate A Slice of Hope, spreading hope and joy with pizza parties and musicians at homeless shelters all over the county. www.qkadwani.com
Obaid Kadwani, co-producer and co-director of THEY CALL ME Q, is an entrepreneur who wears many hats including producer, director, author, actor, and charity activist. He is the head of It’s OK Films and the author of the upcoming book A Slice of Hope. Obaid is the co-founder of Working Actor Studio, an acting school in NYC, and he founded the charity project A Slice of Hope, which raises joy and optimism in homeless shelters. He has acted in Bollywood films including New York and Badmaash Company as well as American TV shows including The Blacklist. He also hosts TV shows and anchors the weekly news desk for Namaste America. www.obaidkadwani.com
THEY CALL ME Q will be performed in November on Sundays at 2pm with the 100th Show on November 16th at St. Lukes Theatre, 308 West 46th Street (just west of Eighth Ave.) Tickets are available through www.Telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200.