BURQ OFF! to Run 3/27-30 at Walkerspace

Paprika Productions presents BURQ OFF! an autobiographical, comedic solo play on what it means to be a Muslim woman in the West written and performed by Nadia Parvez Manzoor. Tara Elliott directs. Five performances will be staged at Walkerspace, 46 Walker Street, NYC 10013 from March 27-30, 2014.

BURQ OFF! is an autobiographical one woman show, charting the journey of a British Pakistani Muslim's struggle towards self acceptance. As she navigates the conflicting cultural norms of modern London and her conservative Muslim home, she embodies a cast of 21 characters that infuse the story with comedy, religious fundamentalism, cultural critique and spiritual depth. Along the way you will meet Nadia's aggressive twin brother, her controlling Muslim father, and the essence of joy in the family, her mother. In addition, her Islamic teachers, her life-long 'western' best friend, and the first love of her life add a diversity of perspectives to this deeply moving, personal and universal story.

Nadia Parvez Manzoor (performer, playwright) spent her earlier years in North London, in a Pakistani Muslim home, and has since moved from Singapore to Dubai, to Boston, and now has set her base in Brooklyn, NYC. Most recently, she created and acted in the hit web series, "Shugs and Fats," on MTV DESI. In addition, she produced and acted in the web pilot, "House Arrest." Earlier this year, she acted in the Off Broadway Play, PompaPompa (Theatre Row) where she played an old cockney mother. In the past year she has performed regularly in the all female Improv troupe, Thirteen Degrees, at theaters throughout NYC. She teaches Improv, and was trained at Improvolution, a Groundling's based Improv School in NYC. She is also a talented street dancer, and her skills include, Popping, Hip Hop, Bollywood and Bhangra. Nadia P. Manzoor graduated from Boston University with a Masters in Social Work, where her passion was to merge Arts and Social reform. Her one woman show is a manifestation of this intention. Her interests lie in asking provoking questions, and challenging the status quo.

Tara Elliot (director) is a writer, director, producer and performer who grew up in New Hampshire and has arrived in New York by way of Chile and Maine. She makes theater wherever she goes and in myriad forms including, traditional plays, site specific performances, and immersive experiences. Most recently, she translated and directed the English premier of Illiterates, a prize winning Chilean play and now a feature film. In the past year she has been creating, directing, or performing with productions/staged readings in NYC of Rotenburg (Dixon Place), Two Girls, One Corpse (Arts at Renaissance), Casa de Pessoa (IATI Theater), New Men (Barrow Group Theater), Barbecue (Dramatists Guild), You Will Make a Difference (AliveWire Theatrics), and Various Fairytales (Galli Theater/National Comedy Theater). She graduated from Bennington College where she studied dance and theater.

Jack Randall (composer) is a composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Brooklyn, educated at UCLA and in Iceland. First brought into theatre work by dramaturg Tom Bryant (Angels in America, The Kentucky Cycle), he has acted as sound designer, composer, or performer live scores for a variety of plays including works by Tom Stoppard, Neil LaBute, and Edward Albee. He tours and records extensively with Brooklyn-based experimental ensembles.

BURQ OFF! is presented by Paprika Productions. Lighting Designer: Mitch Ost; Composer & Sound Designer: Jack Randall; Set Designer: Mitch Ost & Katja Chan-Me Frederiksen; Press Agent: Paul Siebold / Off Off PR.

Performances are staged on Thursday, Friday & Saturday @ 8pm, and Saturday & Sunday @ 2pm at Walkerspace, 46 Walker Street in NYC from March 27-30, 2014.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the door. Visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/538493 or call 800-838-3006.

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