SALAM SHALOM
Enemies...Another Love Story

Written by Saleem

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS CONTACT: Sarah Holswade or Tara Marie Good, 310.657.5511
Or David Elzer 818.508.1754

SALAM SHALOM
Enemies...Another Love Story
Written by Saleem
Directed by Ty Donaldson

Limited Engagement will open on Saturday, March 6
at the Greenway Court Theatre in West Hollywood!

"Salam Shalom pleads sympathetically for universal respect and understanding..."
  — The San Francisco Bay Guardian, San Francisco

Passage to Dawn concertThe Society of Cinema and Arts presents "Passage to Dawn" at the Zipper in a night of live Persian and Azari music with master musicians Hamid Motebassem on setar, Pejman Hadadi on percussion and Imamyar Hasanov on kamancheh.

This is haunting, spirited music suitable for those with the soul of a Sufi wanderer.

Sample some Hamid Motebassem music now.

A portion of the ticket sales benefits Child International (C.H.I.L.D.), a major charitable organization that helps children in Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East with educational and development needs—so you can feel good while feeling good.

Buy tickets online here (be sure to scroll down).

Maz Jobrani, "Brown and Friendly"The very funny physical and political comedian Maz Jobrani headlines on his latest comedy tour "Brown and Friendly" after wrapping up the "Axil of Evil" experience, coming back to Los Angeles, his home town for the past decade. Born in Iran, raised in San Francisco, Maz is one of the top stand-up comedians to emerge since 2001. He cut his teeth during the Bush era, making fun of many things Iranian, Middle Eastern and American, while starring in countless comedy shows around the country, and indeed, around the world.

On January 23rd, he brings "Brown and Friendly" to the Wiltern Theater. Opening for him will be Iranian-Scottish American hybrid K-von, with the Armenian-Sicilian comedian Sam Tripoli, plus Ian Edwards, and Quinn Dahle. Maz Jobrani is a cultural ambassador with Levantine Cultural Center.

Read an article about the show.

Omid ArabianReviewed By Omid Arabian

Awards season is in full swing, and the most lauded film of 2009 appears to be Kathryn Bigelow's actioner The Hurt Locker. It has appeared on almost everyone's best-of-the-year list, and even made it to some best-of-the-decades (Roger Ebert, Time Magazine, etc.) The film follows a trio of U.S. Army officers assigned to bomb-diffusion duty (official euphemism: Explosive Ordnance Disposal) in the heyday of the Iraqi resistance, and there is no denying that it's a top-notch piece of craftsmanship. Eschewing the usual big battle scenes, cartoonish CGI, and deafening sound design, and shooting mostly hand-held, Bigelow and cinematographer Barry Ackroyd take us in with the soldiers as they perform their hair-trigger job in perilously unfamiliar and often hostile surroundings, always an inch away from being blown to bits. The tension level starts already cranked up to 11, and rarely relents.

 Ara Basil's "Ballistic" Comedy Show: click image to purchase tickets

Ara Basil's "Ballistic" debuts starring Jonny Loquasta of CBS' Mobile "LOL", Noel Elgrably of "Sultans of Satire", "Axis of Evil Comedy Show", "New York Arab Comedy Festival" and the LA Comedy Festival." Also starring the very funny Iranian comedian Nadine Rajabi, of Showtime's "Hot Tamales" as well as a regular commentator on E!, XM Radio, VH1, "The Skinny" (Fox TV) and the Style Network. Also starring the superb Armenian Sicilian comic SamTripoli, who has appeared on Spike TV, Showtime's "Comics Without Borders," Comedy Central and Live Nude.

The headliner for this show is the great Greek comedian from Canada, Angelo Tsarouchas, who has his own Showtime special, regular stars in Canada's "Just for Laughts" and has been in "Mad Men", "Fred and Vinnie" and even the "Sultans of Satire."

Yuval Ron Ensemble: with guests Najwa Gibran, Norik Manoukian, Miriam Peretz, Maya Karasso

The Yuval Ron Ensemble will perform mystical music and dance of the Middle East. Celebrating the ancient cultures of the three Abrahamic faiths, this concert features musical director Yuval Ron on oud and Norik Manoukian on duduk and woodwinds, with Palestinian vocalist Najwa Gibran, and folkloric dancers Maya Karasso and Miriam Peretz.

Tickets available at the Middle East Ministry Table on Sundays or call 626.583.2734 and speak to Norma Sigmund.

Listen to music sample.

Contact: Sarah Holswade For Immediate Release
Tel: 310.657.5511
Email: sarah@levantinecenter.org

ARTISTS FOR IRAN
A Celebration of the Arts and Human Rights

Who: Visual artists, poets, writers, comedians, actors and more.

What: A night devoted to literary, visual and performing arts highlighting the issues of human rights in Iran and around the world.

Where: Levantine Cultural Center,
5998 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90035

When: Dec. 12, 2009 from 7:30pm to 12am

Details: Free to the public, donations requested, open bar.

 

Photo by Jessica Shokrian: © Jessica Shokrian All Rights ReservedPhoto by Shelley Gazin: © Shelley Gazin All Rights ReservedLevantine Cultural Center presents an extensive roster of artists and performers in "Artists for Iran," a celebration of the arts and human rights in conjunction with United4Iran.org, which is coordinating related programs in 27 cities worldwide. Combining cultural diplomacy and human rights, "Artists for Iran" comes on the heels of International Human Rights Day. Artists from Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East along with Americans of diverse backgrounds will merge in a space devoted to art, photography, poetry, live performance, comedy and more.  Works in the show "Artists for Iran" will remain on display at the Inside/Outside Gallery through December 31, 2009.