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Broadway Baby Bobby Award goes to Quaz Degraft for powerful solo show In the Black

22 Aug 2025

Writer and performer Quaz Degraft is the proud recipient of the third Broadway Baby Bobby Award at the Edinburgh Fringe for In the Black from Baffin Productions, produced by Leslie Sanchez in a debut Fringe appearance at theSpace at Surgeons Hall.

A fine piece of solo theatre and Degraft is marked as a star of the future

Quaz, a first-generation Ghanaian American, was inspired by his background in finance to explore the tension between ambition and morality in that environment. Kofi, the story’s protagonist, introduces a cast of characters including his childhood best friend, his co-workers, those involved in a secret office romance, and his ever-present father, whose approval he is constantly chasing.

Quoting reviewer Roger Kay, Editor-in-Chief Richard Beck praised Quaz’s powerful performance, the gripping storyline and the adept and sharp writing that introduces layers of conflict and turmoil. He went on to observe that Degraft is an extremely talented and charismatic performer whose consummate storytelling holds sway. “He embodies myriad emotions: dignity, ambition, shame, guilt. It’s all very impressive. He sings beautifully and turns his hand to guitar for good measure, but it is his understated yet powerful performance that is truly gripping. It is a fine piece of solo theatre and Degraft is marked as a star of the future.”

Quaz Degraft is a recent MFA acting graduate from the University of Southern California, following a sharp career pivot from finance to the arts. He previously had a sold-out two-show run at the Hollywood Fringe festival with this production. “I’m so pleased to receive this award,” he said. “It means so much to me and the company to have our work recognised and it will really help us to take this work forward.”

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