"'Arabesque' was out of this world amazing. We enjoyed it very much and can't wait for the encore." —Laila El-Hajoui 

"Great event at the Levantine Cultural Center Saturday night...the music took my soul on a beautiful journey." —Nancy Tedder 

The Levantine Cultural Center presents an encore performance of "Arabesque" with Al-Fareed of Radio Al-Fareed, AKA Alfred Madain and a group of musicians, the band calling itself Bedouin X. The band members are David Markowitz, Timothy Maloof and David Martinielli. Special guest artist visiting from Tunisia, Jamel Eddine Boukraa.

On Friday, May 17, progressive comedienne/actor and activist Roseanne Barr presents LevantineMint's pairing "Mideast Masters of Jazz" starring sax maniacs Gilad Atzmon and Zane Musa, performing together LIVE for the first time. It's all happening right here in Los Angeles, backed by some of the best be-bop musicians ever. The bonus is that both Gilad Atzmon and Zane Musa are dyed-in-the-wool originals, so if you love jazz and are curious about how an Israeli and Palestinian get along on stage and off, reserve your tickets for "Mideast Masters of Jazz" at 323.413.2001. Tickets are only $25 general admission, $30 cash at the door. Seating is limited, this show will sell out, don't delay. The performance is one in a new series, "The Middle East Rocks," organized by the Levantine Cultural Center and hosted by venerable L.A. club, The Mint. 

Rock, metal, heavy metal, hip hop, jazz and blues are all-American music originals, but they are genres that are constantly being challenged and reinvented by swingers in the Middle East—by composers, singer-songwriters and musicians who are both natively Middle Eastern but strongly western in their tastes and travels.

Showtime's Omar Elba hosts L.A's hottest comedy group, the Sultans of Satire, in a special performance featuring Middle Eastern and Indian comics. The Sultans of Satire are seriously funny—if you love to laugh, if you need to laugh, you'll appreciate this show with its satirical insights and fresh perspectives on American and Middle Eastern life. The humor is universal; the comedans hail from the Middle East, North Africa and India! This show's cast features Mike Batayeh, Omar Elba, Maria Shehata and our headliner from the San Francisco Bay Area, Samson Koletkar, with specal guests Zara Mizrahi and Raj Sharma. The Sultans of Satire is the longest-running Middle Eastern stand-up comedy show in the U.S. Features some of the best young stand-up comedians today from diverse faiths. This show cosponsored by Freedom Theatre West. Tickets/info 323.413.2001. Watch video clips at sultansofsatire.com.

Freedom Theatre West, the Middle Eastern theatre company, presents Cynthia Sophiea's one-woman show, Everyone Has Tears (running time 70 minutes, no intermission) for two nights only at the Imagined Life Theater, March 29 and 30, 2013, at 8 pm. With a long career spanning the Broadway stage as well as screen and television, Cynthia Sophiea shines in this very personal performance, fresh from her dazzling success in a preview version in the 2013 Los Angeles Women's Theater Festival. Accompanied by Arabic music, this piece tells the story of a woman—American, Lebanese, Palestinian—afraid to be Arab in America. But she is silent no more, claiming her own voice and giving voice to others rarely heard.. Seating is limited, tickets are $30 for Preferred Seating, $20 General Admission, and there a limited number of member/student priced seats at just $15. Hurry, these shows will sell out quickly. Call 323.413.2001 to reserve by phone, or click above to reserve online.

This special edition features headliner Aron Kader in his first Sultans appearance after touring with the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour. If you love to laugh, you'll dig this show with its satirical insights on the Middle East and fresh perspectives on American and Middle Eastern life. The revolving cast features Aron Kader, Fahim Anwar, Maria Shehata, Nasry Malak, Ara Basil and Mike Batayeh. The Sultans of Satire is the longest-running Middle Eastern stand-up comedy show in the U.S. Features some of the best young stand-up comedians today who just happen to be of Arab, Lebanese, Palestinian, Egyptian, Iranian and Afghan heritage from diverse faiths. Tickets/info 323.413.2001. Watch video clips at sultansofsatire.com.

The Levantine Cultural Center's Inside/Outside Gallery is pleased to present Adnan Hussain's one-person show, "The Art of Music," with deejayed music featuring Central Asian music on Feb. 2 (Kyrgyzstan, Uyghurs), live music on Feb. 8 (Uzbekistan and Mongolia) and a film/deejay/tables on Feb. 22 (Pakistan). Inspired by travels through Central and South Asia, "The Art of Music" features watercolor, gouache and ink pieces of music from Kyrgyzstan, Uyghurs from China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia. Enjoy art, live performances, screenings and connect to cultures across language and borders through the beauty of music. 

On Saturday, February 2, the Levantine Cultural Center's Inside/Outside Gallery is pleased to offer an Artist's Reception for Adnan Hussain's one-person show, "The Art of Music," with deejayed music featuring Kyrgyzstan and the Uyghurs of China. There is no cover and the event is free to the public. Inspired by travels through Central and South Asia, "The Art of Music" features watercolor, gouache and ink pieces of music from Kyrgyzstan, Uyghurs from China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia. Enjoy art, live performances, screenings and connect to cultures across language and borders through the beauty of music. There will be additional evenings of live music on Feb. 8 (Uzbekistan and Mongolia) and Feb. 22 (Pakistan).

On Saturday, December 15th, 2012, the Levantine Cultural Center will hold its annual East-West Awards Gala at the Beverly Hill's Women's Club. The East-West Awards recognize the sustained efforts of outstanding individuals working in the United States to bridge political and religious divides that may exist between Americans and the Middle East/North Africa, whether through media, peace activism or interfaith unity.

The full program includes a red-carpet reception and silent auction, live music, comedy with Aron Kader, dinner and the awards ceremony. Distinguished honorees are Ms. Zainab Al-Suwaij, Dr. Reza Aslan, Rabbi Leonard Beerman, and mayoral candidate and Councilman Eric Garcetti, who are being honored for significant contributions in cultural diplomacy, relationship-buidling, interfaith alliances, and peace activism.

New comedians added: Omid Singh and Amir K. Hilarious! Outrageous! Do you want satirical insights on the Middle East? Ready for a fresh and funny perspective on American and Middle Eastern life? Need to laugh about it all? The Sultans of Satire show features some of the best stand-up comedians today who just happen to be of Arab, Iranian, Pakistani and Middle Eastern Jewish heritage. This edition of Middle East Comic Relief features (Egyptian American) Omar Elba who hosts, along with (Pakistani American) Mona Shaikh, (Jordanian American) Mike Batayeh, (Sephardic American) Noël Elgrably and special guests Omid Singh (Iranian-Indian) and Amir K. (Iranian), with a special appearance by (Indian Jewish) Samson Koletkar from the Bay Area. 

Vijay Mahajan, Ph.D., visited 18 Arab nations for his book that reveals a vibrant, bustling place full of commerce and consumers hungry for goods of almost every kind.