From YourSITE.com
ARAB-AMERICAN COMEDY FESTIVAL BOWS IN L.A.
By Lauren Horwitch, Backstage Magazine
Jan 25, 2006
The New York Arab-American Comedy Festival premiered in Los Angeles Tues., Jan. 24 at Hudson Mainstage Theater in Hollywood. The sold-out showcase of six original one-act plays written and directed by Arab-Americans and featuring an all Arab-American cast will play the Hudson again on Wed., Jan. 25. The festival will culminate with a showcase of Arab-American comedians at The Laugh Factory on Thurs., Jan. 26.
Angelenos appeared eager to catch their first glimpse of the Festival, which recently held its third annual event in New York. The plays take a humorous slant on political topics such as terrorism and Western stereotypes of Arabs. Others serve as primers of Arabian culture as seen by Generation X Arab-Americans, including issues with demanding, out-of-touch parents; Arabian music; and gaudy Arab fashion.
In the standout piece And now a word from our sponsors, a trio of Arab "experts" tout their video series entitled "How to Be an Arab in Five Easy Lessons," and give tutorials on how to dress, speak, and attract an Arab doctor-or lawyer-husband.
In Browntown, two Arab-American and one Indian-American actors compete at an audition for yet another terrorist role. "Why can't I be the brown John Cusack?," asks one actor, who later opines, "I prefer not to play those [stereotypical] roles, unless they're really high paying."
The Festival's co-founders Dean Obeidallah and Maysoon Zayid were thrilled with their West Coast reception. "We were completely shocked by the number of people that are coming out here. It's so encouraging because it means they really are interested," said Zayid, who appeared as a controlling mother in the play "A" Date.
Obeidallah said they chose to debut the festival in L.A. during pilot season in hopes of getting their actors seen by casting directors. Almost all of the 21 actors and five comedians featured in the fest traveled from New York at their own expense.
"If they're looking for diversity, we're like one-stop shopping. We've got actors, comics, writers, directors, all whom are Arab-American and talented," said Obeidallah, who wrote And now a word from our sponsors and will appear at the stand-up comedy night. "We really showcase a high level of talented people. It's not 'Arabian Idol'," he joked.
Zayid said that the festival will hopefully help to diversify how Arabs and Arab-Americans are typically portrayed in TV and on film. "Not only can Arabs play a terrorist role on 24. They can also be romantic leads; they can be generic white people. We hope that with the pieces we've chosen, we show the range of what an Arab-American actor can play."
Hudson Mainstage Theater is located at 6539 Santa Monica Blvd.; the Laugh Factory is located at 8001 Sunset Blvd. For tickets and more information, visit the festival's website:
http://arabcomedy.org/
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