Tiger Daughter: Or, How I Brought My Immigrant Mother Ultimate Shame

Directed by Jennifer Monaco

ABOUT THE SHOW

Get ready for laughter, tears, and a whole lot of rock and roll as rising star Charlene Kaye brings her hit one-woman show, TIGER DAUGHTER: OR, HOW I BROUGHT MY IMMIGRANT MOTHER ULTIMATE SHAME, to a city near you.

A Story of Mother-Daughter Relationships and Shredding Expectations

Get ready for laughter, tears, and a whole lot of rock and roll as rising star Charlene Kaye brings her hit one-woman show, TIGER DAUGHTER: OR, HOW I BROUGHT MY IMMIGRANT MOTHER ULTIMATE SHAME, to a city near you.

Following a sold-out US tour and Edinburgh Fringe run, Tiger Daughter was recently selected by Margaret Cho to open her Vanguard Artist-in-Residence Series at Joe's Pub in New York this October. Both shows sold out instantly, with Margaret herself posting a video saying “Charlene is hilarious and she shreds [guitar!]” 

Tiger Daughter is an emotional rollercoaster detailing Kaye’s tumultuous relationship with Lily, her immigrant Chinese mother. Kaye defies her mother’s dreams that she play Carnegie Hall by age 12 and, instead, applies her classical piano knowledge to shred guitar as slutty Slash in an all-girl Guns N’ Roses cover band called “Guns N’ Hoses” (with the slogan “Welcome to the Vajungle!”). This is just one of many mishaps in the show as we watch Kaye try, and epically fail, to win Lily’s respect. As Lily watches the nightmare version of the American Dream play out before her eyes, Kaye grapples with inherited baggage, cultural clashes, and the fight to be herself.

"For the past 20 years, I’ve shared this very public-facing story of being a rock musician. With Tiger Daughter, I finally get to share the private-facing story of my relationship with my mother that’s been running parallel to it this entire time,” says Kaye.

And what if you don’t have a Tiger Mom? “I don’t think you need to be Asian to understand the show,” Kaye says. “You just need to have a parent you’ve disappointed at some point.”

About the artist

Charlene Kaye, who releases music under the moniker KAYE, is a force to be reckoned with. An accomplished singer, multi-instrumentalist, actor, and stand-up comic, Kaye has carved out a unique path in the entertainment industry, beginning with her time performing with TEAM STARKID, the viral internet sensation founded by her University of Michigan classmate, Emmy award-winning actor Darren Criss. Since then, she has released multiple albums and opened for Arctic Monkeys, alt-J, St. Vincent, and Metallica. Rolling Stone Magazine gave Kaye’s 2019 single “Closer Than This” 5/5 stars and hailed her as “a fully realized pop goddess.” Her mother, meanwhile, thought the video had “no real good message other than selling sex” and rated the video 0/5 stars.

Kaye’s short-form comedy on Instagram Reels and TikTok is a phenomenon in and of itself. This spring, she skyrocketed to viral fame with “Every Taylor Swift Song,” a genius musical breakdown with 16 million views on Instagram, which incited BBC 1 to interview her on UK national radio. She has since followed it up with “Every Dua Lipa Song,” “Every Charli XCX song,” and “Every Chappell Roan Song,” which Chappell herself commented, “EXACTLYYYY YOU GET IT” with copious heart emojis.

Kaye’s recent expansion into acting and comedy has only attracted a larger following. She made a cameo as herself at Kendall Roy’s birthday party on HBO's hit series "Succession" and played synthesizers for Coldplay on Saturday Night Live while dressed as an alien. Her upcoming role as punk rocker Jade Power in the movie RON opposite comedy legend Margaret Cho further solidifies her ascent in the acting world.

IG: @charlenekaye

PRESS

“Margaret Cho’s residency launches Oct. 25 with Charlene Kaye’s solo show, Tiger Daughter — or How I Brought My Immigrant Mother Ultimate Shame.”
The Hollywood Reporter

“High energy and confident…the way Kaye spins her story on a dime is a thing of beauty.”
★★★★
The Scotsman

“A Rock Star Breaking Intergenerational Moulds”
Migrant Women Press

“Immaculate…witty and rock and roll.”
★★★★
The List

According to the Chinese zodiac, it’s the year of the dragon; but by judging musician, comedian, and actor Charlene Kaye’s blisteringly hot 2024 so far, she could easily declare it the year of the tiger (daughter). 
Paste Magazine

“A relatable, raw portrayal of mother-daughter relationships”
The Michigan Daily

Charlene Kaye to Bring TIGER DAUGHTER to 2024 Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Broadway World

”Comedy gold.”
Ann Arbor Observer

“Charlene Kaye's career instead as a rock star makes her every Tiger Mom's worst nightmare. Fortunately for audiences, her fraught familial relationships make funny fodder for this autobiographical stand-up set.”
Orlando Weekly