She’s female, South Asian, and a mom of three. Zarna Garg is an award-winning screenwriter and stand-up comedian and is going against the odds as she challenges stereotypes as a fresh new face and voice on the comedy circuit. Her new monthly show at Caroline’s on Broadway called “My American Dream” debuted on February 19, 2020. The next show date is April 8, 2020.
Zarna’s debut show was sold out, with over 300 attendees. Zarna transformed Caroline’s into a festive Indian space with candles, garlands, and idols reminiscent of a wedding in Jaipur. Regina Decicco hosted, with guest spots by Mark Normand, Gibran Saleem, Alex Carabano, and Brian Scott McFadden. Zarna headlined. The audience responses were ecstatic. “She’s just hilarious,” raved one spectator. “I’ve never seen anything like this show.”
“Getting to perform at Caroline’s absolutely meant everything to me,” shares Zarna. “The team at Caroline’s understood my vision immediately and saw value in it. They understood that this modern immigrant perspective and this aspect of storytelling has not yet been explored in comedy, even though it affects a big demographic, especially in New York City. A club with the stature of Caroline’s has the potential to get my voice out onto the world stage and at the same time, they could reach another community through me.”
“My show highlights a true journey of how a person becomes American, and their hilarious attempts at integrating within the social structure,” adds Zarna.“I take everyday experiences that are relatable to millions of people and make light of them, from a perspective that is familiar to some and fresh to others.”
Zarna has produced and performed in multiple sold-out comedy shows in top comedy clubs across NYC including the groundbreaking HinJews shows. She has been hailed by CNBC as “the zany, outspoken voice of the Indian American woman.” Her comedy uniquely combines the immigrant and American experience. She is one of a handful of female Indian comedians, and possibly the only one who publicly takes on her mother-in-law. Zarna has received numerous community accolades for pioneering one-of-a-kind works as an Indian mom of three and former lawyer turned comedian.
Zarna’s comedy screenplay REARRANGED won the Best Comedy Screenplay Award (placing #1 out of 11,000 scripts) at the Austin Film Festival. It was also a 2019 Academy Nicholl Fellowships Semi-Finalist. REARRANGED was recently optioned by Marginal Mediaworks under the aegis of CEO and founder Sanjay Sharma.
The next installment of “My American Dream” will be April 8, 2020 at Caroline’s on Broadway (1626 Broadway, New York, NY 10019.) For more information and tickets, click here.