[from left to right: Maz Jobrani, Elham Jazab, David Justin, Peter Shahriari, Nasry Malak, Helen Maalik]

Jan. 27 (Fri), 8 pm—Satire & Comedy Return to Levantine Center with "Middle East Comic Relief 2"

When the news out of Iraq, Israel-Palestine, Syria, Lebanon or Iran is gloomy—when isn’t it?—who best to turn to than the satirists and comedians of Middle Eastern heritage to relieve our anxiety? Following the hilarious and SOLD OUT "Sultans of Satire: Middle East Comic Relief" show in Nov., on Fri., Jan. 27, six very funny and very savvy stand-ups will provide more comic relief and political insight into some of our worst nightmares in "Middle East Comic Relief 2". Emceed by Peter "the Persian" Shahriari at Levantine Cultural Center in Culver City, the night features a group of young Americans of Iranian, Egyptian, Syrian and Jewish/Israeli heritage—comics who also work steadily as dramatic actors in film, television and theatre.

Levantine is pleased to announce that stand-up comedian Sanjay Shah will join us Friday evening during Middle East Comic Relief 2. Sanjay Shah is the co-creator of Badmash.org, a comic strip and humor site that was recently featured in Newsweek. He has performed standup with Drew Carey and Russell Peters. Meet Sanjay along with Maz, Elham, Nasry, David, Helen and Peter on Friday! DJ Lauren spins music following the show!

Maz Jobrani, Peter Shahriari, Helen Maalik, David Justin, Nasry Malak and Elham Jazab, along with Sanjay Shah, come to Levantine Cultural Center for another evening of edgy humor, where they are certain to lampoon sacred cows, take poetic license and otherwise eliminate common ennui. Levantine Center is pleased to include two New York stand-ups from the New York Arab American Comedy Festival, Helen Maalik and Nasry Malak, as special featured performers.We suggest you purchase your tix early, as our November show "Sultans of Satire" sold out:

Middle East Comic Relief, Friday., Jan. 27, 8:00 pm. Tickets are $15 general admission/$12 for Levantine members and students. Seating is limited; advance purchase recommended, www.levantinecenter.org or call 310.559.5544 to RSVP.

Levantine Cultural Center, 5920 Blackwelder Street, Culver City, CA 90232, two blocks south of the major intersection of La Cienega Blvd. and Washington Blvd., on the border of Los Angeles (La Cienega South exit from the 10 Fwy). For more information contact Levantine Cultural Center, 310.559.5544. Visit www.levantinecenter.org, write info@levantinecenter.org.

Artist bios:

Helen Maalik was born in Damascus, Syria, and came to the United States at the age of 7. It wasn't easy growing up as an Arab kid in this country. Relentlessly taunted by other kids, she developed a sharp tongue and quick wit. She even had to beat up a couple of boys in the 8th grade. She puts an audience at ease as soon as she steps on stage with her charming and subtle presence, but wait till she starts talking. She throws jabs about her husband, marriage and being from the Middle East. Her observations are keen and humorous and will make you think about the mundane. Her well crafted material and sarcastic wit gives this comedienne an edge and a fresh voice to comedy. She was featured on ABC's 20/20 on a segment about Arab American comedians and had a recurring role on the Oxygen Network's home improvement show "Nice Package."

Nasry Malak, whose family comes from Egypt, has been performing comedy for eight years. He has appeared in such films as "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," and "West Side Waltz" and was featured in Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 (DVD version), and on CNN and ABC's 20/20 in news segments on Middle-Eastern comics. He has performed in the major comedy clubs on the east coast.

Born in Shiraz, Iran, Elham Jazab's family soon moved to Tunisia and later Zaire, Africa. 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." With a degree in theatre and film from Northwestern University, and a Masters from Columbia College, she is well equipped to see the funny side of most any situation. She recently appeared in Cornerstone Theatre's highly acclaimed "A Long Bridge Over Deep Waters," and can be seen in local clubs dispensing her sly blend of cross-cultural humor. Next month, she appears in "Martyr's Song" at UCLA.

"After Sept. 11," says Maz Jobrani, "people started asking me what nationality I am; I look them straight in the eye and say 'Italian.' A lot of Iranians these days call themselves Tony." Maz's standup has been featured in Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, PBS, CNN and the CBS Morning Show. Maz is best known for his role as "Moly" in Ice Cube's "Friday After Next". In 2005, he was also a regular on the Fox sitcom "Life on a Stick". He has guest-starred as "The Sikh" on the third season finale of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" along with several other guest roles on "Law & Order," "The West Wing," "NYPD Blue," "24" and many other shows. Maz played Glenn, Jennifer Garner's colleague, in the movie "13 Going on 30"; recently he starred as Agent Mo alongside Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman in Sydney Pollack's "The Interpreter." Visit mazjobrani.com.

The comic emcee for “Middle East Comic Relief 2,” Peter Shahriari, aka Peter the Persian, is a Los Angeles native. He is moderately ethnic and specializes in voices and character humor. Not afraid of big crowds, he's let it all hang out in front of at least 10,000 people. He is one of the few stand-up comedians who is also a practicing attorney by day.

Comedian David Justin has played clubs in Japan, Israel, and Mexico as well as on the west coast. He grew up in Los Angeles' cultural melting pot, which has allowed him to appeal to a more diverse audience of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. His act is more of a dialogue then a monologue, always engaging the audience, breaking down the fourth wall, approaching comedy in a more "let’s talk about life over coffee" routine. "The humor is found in the joke, not the four-letter words comedians often use to punctuate a joke," he says.

LEVANTINE CULTURAL CENTER
Cultures of the Middle East & Mediterranean
5920 Blackwelder Street, Culver City, CA. 90232
310.559.5544, info@levantinecenter.org

Levantine Center advocates for, educates about, and in general promotes and supports Middle Eastern and Mediterranean contemporary arts and traditional cultures. We present or cosponsor programs of music, literature, art, film/video, publications, new media and more, often from educational and historical perspectives. While acknowledging the value of entertainment, we emphasize scholarship and substance. We are strongly multidisciplinary and non-sectarian, do not embrace any political or religious doctrine, and are committed to the principle of cross-cultural cooperation. We support the strengthening of ties between all cultural, ethnic and religious communities of the Middle East/West Asia/Levant, as well as between all peoples of Middle Eastern descent in diaspora.

Back to Top