Introducing Kamil Qahar as "The Associate" in The Christians
Welcome back to our Debuting Artist blog series! OpenStage is home to many incredible artists, some who have worked with the company for years and others who are brand new. This week we introduce Kamil Qahar, playing The Associate in The Christians.
Tell us about yourself! Where you’re from, your hobbies, past work, fun facts, or anything that comes to mind!
What made you decide to audition for The Christians? What was the audition like?
I’ve been wanting to get involved in theatre for a long time now. I had heard about Openstage and wanted to audition for their next shows. The Christians felt like something I could be a good match for and I decided to go for it. The audition process was tough because at no point I felt that I had it in the bag. There was so much talent in the room and I’m still so new to this all I had no idea what to expect. I’d been actively auditioning for roles on screen, but this was my first for theatre in a professional sense. I was lucky enough to be cast and trusted with the character of The Associate by the talented director Jack Krause and was nothing but thankful.
What were your first impressions when you read the script for The Christians?
My first impressions of the script were that this was going to be challenging and raw in the best way possible. There is nothing I love more than thought-provoking material within stories, and the dynamic between The Pastor & his congregation in this story gives you just that. A challenge in thought and ideology. A challenge that I think will have a lot of people thinking deeply and opening up great conversations we should have.
How has your experience with OpenStage been so far?
It has been amazing working with everyone. I absolutely love working with such talented people. I’m still so new to all of this so doing what I can to learn from all of them has been so enjoyable. Taking that time during rehearsals to really flesh out these characters within this story is fun for me, & fitting into that mold as well. It’s been a great experience and one that I hope to continue for a long time.
What is your favorite thing about acting?
I think the understanding part is one of my favorite things about acting. I believe one’s ability or level of understanding is key to bringing a character to life. And there are so many things we can’t bring ourselves to understand, so searching for that silver thread is fun, it feels like a puzzle. And then once you find it within that character, the pieces start to unravel and come together and you can really bring that character off the paper in a beautiful way.
What can audiences look forward to in The Christians?
I think audiences can expect an engaging and thought-provoking story. I think each one of these characters is someone an audience member can resonate with at one point in their lives or another.
Do you have any upcoming projects after The Christians?
I am currently the lead in a short film that has been really fun to work on, along with a country music video I was grateful enough to play a lead in as well. After The Christians, I plan to work on getting better as an actor and get back out there auditioning for roles on screen and on stage. I’ve got hopes for a long journey in this industry.
Come see Kamil and the rest of the cast in The Christians, opening May 20th!
The Christians
Directed by Jack Krause
May 20 – June 11, 2022
Twenty years ago, Pastor Paul’s church was a modest storefront. Now it’s a gleaming megachurch. Paul is about to deliver a sermon that will shake the foundation of his parish to its core. Certainty and doubt come to a head as his stunning revelation just may convert his congregation of thousands into a congregation of one. A compassionate nuanced look at faith in America—and the trouble with changing your mind.
