Sultans of Satire Inauguration Tour

The Sultans of Satire show features some of the best stand-up comedians today who happen to be of Arab, Iranian, Turkish, Greek, Armenian and Middle Eastern Jewish heritage. In “West Meets East: The Inauguration Tour,” Sultans regulars Mike Batayeh, Noel Elgrably and Elham Jazab, plus special surprise guests, will perform live in Philadelphia on January 16, 2009 and in Washington DC on January 18, when they’ll offer their own brand of outrageous comedy, along with satirical insights on the inauguration of Barack Hussein Obama.

Find Philadelphia info and tickets here. Find Washington DC info and tickets here.

Get a fresh satirical perspective on American politics in particular and American life in general when Mike, Noel and Elham bring their Arab, Sephardic and Persian sensibilities to the East Coast for the first time. The popular and long-running Sultans of Satire show has been a monthly feature at the world-famous Laugh Factory and Improv comedy clubs in L.A. Many of the most celebrated Arab and Iranian comedians in the world have been members of the Sultans cast.

These comedians have been called “hilarious” and “politically incorrect,” and have been widely covered in the media—from the Los Angeles Times to Fox News, the Daily Pilot, the L.A. Weekly, Persian Mirror, NPR, BBC and the Press-Enterprise. Read press coverage.

Mike Batayeh is an American of Jordanian heritage who grew up in Detroit—the only boy in a crazy family with six sisters (“I was raised in PMS boot camp”). He is a stand-up comedian and actor who has appeared in such Hollywood films as “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan,” “American Dreamz” and “AmericanEast” with Tony Shalhoub. He’s had numerous featured roles in TV series like “Sleeper Cell” and “CSI: Miami” and “The Shield.” As a comedian Mike has appeared in the Sultans of Satire, the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, the New York Arab American Comedy Festival and the Amman Comedy Festival, with appearances at the world-famous Comedy Store, the Laugh Factory and the Improv. Visit Mike Batayeh's myspace page.

Elham Jazab is a comedian and theatre actress who was born in Shiraz, Iran and raised in Tunisia and the United States. Her comedy explores issues that are current and controversial, including the unusual nature of transplanted Persian culture (Los Angeles is home to the largest Iranian community outside of Tehran). With rave reviews on the street, Elham has been called "outrageous," "hilarious" and "the world's funniest female Persian comic." She has a degree in theatre and film from Northwestern University, and a Masters from Columbia College, and has appeared in dozens of plays in the U.S. and Europe in both English and Farsi. She appears regularly at many of L.A.’s hottest comedy clubs, dispensing her sly blend of cross-cultural humor. Read more about her.

Noel Elgrably is the son of a French-Moroccan father and Moroccan-Israeli mother. He calls himself Sephardic—“a concoction of an Arab, a Jew and a Hispanic all rolled into one—a cultural train wreck.” Noel grew up in the nation’s capital, where he studied criminology and dreamt of being an FBI agent. He later left his day-job selling insurance to pursue his calling as a stand-up comedian in Los Angeles. As an Arab Jew he offers an original comedic perspective on growing up as a child of immigrants below the Mason-Dixon line. He can be seen performing regularly at Los Angeles-area comedy clubs such as The World Famous Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory, The Improv, and The Icehouse. He has opened for the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, is a regular cast member of the Sultans of Satire: and has appeared on Fox TV. Visit his myspace page.


The Sultans pose in front of the Laugh Factory, Hollywood The Sultans of Satire have performed together since November 2005 in shows throughout Southern California. These performances help break barriers and decrease the persistent post-9/11 Arabo- and Islamophobia. Cast members represent the four Abrahamic faiths of Islam, Judaism, Christianity and Bahai.

Levantine Cultural Center, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization representing the Middle East/North Africa through the literary, visual and performing arts, is pleased to present the Sultans of Satire in partnership with Kodoom.com, the site that features Persian and other Middle Eastern events from around the world.

These days America is home to millions of people of Middle Eastern heritage, including doctors, lawyers, engineers, writers, painters, musicians, bakers, car mechanics and—increasingly—stand-up comedians. Find out what an Arab, a Jew and a Persian have to say on January 16 and 18, 2009 when “West Meets East.”

January 16, 2009 - 7pm
Philadelphia
Lawrence Hall, Rosement College
1400 Montgomery Ave.
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010-1631
Tickets: Kodoom.com - $15 (students), $25 (general), $35 (VIP front rows)

January 18, 2009 - 7pm
Washington DC
George Washington University
Marvin Center, Betts Theatre
800 21st NW, Washington, DC 20006
Tickets: Kodoom.com or (202) 397-7328 - $12 (GWU students), $16 (other students), $25 (general). All tickets also available at Marvin Center's ticket office.

More Information: kodoom.com, sultansofsatire.com, levantinecenter.org.
Tel: 310.657.5511

Email: sultans@levantinecenter.org

Elham Jazab: landing big laughs in the Sultans show at the Laugh Factory Facts About the Sultans of Satire

Maz JobraniIn addition to Elham Jazab, the other prominent Iranian-American comics who have been regulars in the Sultans show are Peter the Persian aka Peter Shahriari and Maz Jobrani from the "Axis of Evil Comedy Tour," along with Max Amini and K-Von. Comedians Eslam Shams and Shahram Tahmahsebi have also graced the Sultans' stage, as has actor, writer, producer, director, and TV host Fariborz Davoodian (from the films 'The Ten', 'America So Beautiful,'and the critically acclaimed '99 Cent Family' touring show) who has served as the host.

Prominent Arab comedians in the show besides Mike Batayeh have been Ahmed Ahmed and Aron Kader from "Axis of Evil" and Joey Nibras the Wacky Iraqi. Prominent comedians from the New York Arab American Comedy Festival who have been featured in Sultans shows are Maysoon Zayid, Helen Maalik and Nasry Malak.

Russell Peters World-famous Indian comedian Russell Peters, who does a lot of Middle Eastern material and tours in places like Dubai, Australia and Europe has been a special Sultans guest!

Arrmenians in the Sultans show are Ara Basil and special guest comedian Sam Tripoli.

And television regular Marc Maron (Bill Maher's "Real Time," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien"), who calls himself "an honorary Palestinian," is the most high-profile Jewish comedian who has been a Sultans guest.

The Sultans of Satire: Middle East Comic Relief was created by Jordan Elgrably for Levantine Cultural Center in Los Angeles and launched November 2005. The Sultans have performed dozens of shows at such prominent comedy clubs as the Laugh Factory and the Hollywood Improv, and have filled theatres at major universities like USC and UCI. The show has been profiled by Fox News, NPR and the BBC.