Qurrat Kadwani's New Sci-Fi Solo Play About Rape INTRUSION Comes St. Luke's Theatre

INTRUSION, a new sci-fi solo play written by Award-Winning actress and activist Qurrat Ann Kadwani and directed by Constance Hester, will be making its Off-Broadway Premiere August 9th through September 27th at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46thStreet). www.intrusionshow.com

INTRUSION is set 20 years into the future, where sexual violence has been eradicated. That is, until one woman comes forward about her rape. The production examines how we all perpetuate rape culture by exposing different sectors of society. Over the span of one hour and through her portrayal of a college student who is moved to action for justice (the Narrator), a journalist, prosecutor, day trader, politician psychologist, school kid, and professor, Ms. Kadwani evaluates the flaws in a society where rape is supposedly eradicated, helping to raise awareness about sexual violence and combat systemic oppression.

Power dynamics, sexual violence statistics, Title IX history, self-defense moves, the complexity of sexual violence against women along with politics, media, the legal system, psychology, education, male and female sexual assault, LGBTQ inclusivity come together to unravel the intricacy of rape culture.

"In 2012, I became obsessed with the fatal gang rape of Jyoti Singh in New Delhi. I started researching why rape happens and realized that this is a global problem steeped in gender inequality and misogyny, perpetuated by the justice system, politics, media, education and virtually every aspect of societal constructs," Ms. Kadwani says. "I set out to create a show that addresses the systemic problem of rape culture from an intellectual standpoint - to illuminate that we are all the victims and the perpetuators. I set out to answer the question - could we eradicate rape?"

Qurrat Ann Kadwani won the Best Performer Award at Maui Fringe Festival 2018 and is the winner of the 2018 Kansas City Fringe Scholarship for strong voices. She is the first South Asian female to have a solo play, They Call Me Q www.theycallmeqshow.com, which was produced Off Broadway in 2014 at St. Luke's Theatre for which she has won awards including Best Actress, Best Play, NYS Assemblyman, Bronx Borough President Award, Trailblazer from SAIPAF, Cultural from AAPICC, Dream from SAPNA. Her college tour spans to 200 shows in 35 states. She is the founding Artistic Director of eyeBLINK (www.eyeblink.org) and the head of the Theatre department. She is a graduate of The Bronx High School of Science and a theater graduate of SUNY Geneseo with a double scholarship for her directing and acting contributions. Ms. Kadwani teaches private classes in Solo Play Creation, Monologue Writing and Performance, Monologue Prep, Audition Prep and Acting Business Plan.TV appearances include Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Sinner, Madam Secretary, Luke Cage, The Blacklist, Falling Water, What Would You Do, Brown Nation. She has hosted Desi Jams and 100% Desi on Namaste America. Stage work extends to Love Alone (Shaker Bridge Theatre), Proof (eyeBLINK), Blind Angels (Theatre for the New City), Baby Taj (TheaterWorks Palo Alto), Perfect Fit (eyeBLINK), The Women of the Mahabharata (eyeBLINK), The Greeks (Imua Theatre Company), Beneath the Banyan Tree (eyeBLINK). Film credits include Purge 4, Marisol, Works and Nights, Antigone 5000, The Tailor, Last Saturday with Morli, Jabeen.

CONSTANCE HESTER is a director originally from Fort Oglethorpe, GA. Her portfolio encompasses a multitude of theatrical facets such as: fringe festivals, educational theatre, large-scale plays/musicals and children's theatre. Coming up on her first year in NYC, some of her favorite credits include Girls and Boys, The Path to Pride, Jagged Little Pill, and Natural Shocks. Regional work credits: Death: Discovering Your Role (Madlab Theatre), Beauty and the Beast (Hilliard-Bradley Theatre), Heathers: The Musical (Ohio State Department of Theatre),The Seussification of Romeo & Juliet (Hilliard-Bradley Theatre), YOLO Shakespeare: Macbeth (OSU Lab Series), Love Letters (OSU Lab Series), The Art of You, The Last Five Years (Hester-Harper Productions), Book of Merman (Evolution Theatre Inc), Snoopy!!! (Columbus Children's Theatre), Good Kids (Ohio State Department of Theatre), and The Individuality of Streetlamps (OSU Lab Series).

INTRUSION's deisgn team includes lighting design by Caroline M Trewet and Multimedia by Taylor Edelle Stuart. The production's stage manager is Ryan Barto.

Performances of INTRUSION are on Aug 8 at 8pm; Aug 9 at 7pm; Aug 12 at 2pm; Aug 29 at 8pm; Aug 30 at 7pm; Sep 8 at 8pm; Sept 12 at 8pm; Sept 13 at 7pm; Sept 23 at 2pm; Sept 26 at 8pm; Sept 27 at 7pm and every Friday at 8pm in October.

Tickets are available at Telecharge for $59.50.
https://mtc.telecharge.com/mobile/eventoverview.aspx?productId=12634&CityId=20&CityName=NY%2520City%2520Area&BID=0

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