Nov.17 (Thurs.) 8:00 pm—"The Sultans of Satire, Middle East Comic Relief" with Maz Jobrani, Aron Kader, Peter the Persian and Vincent Ouchana, with Sultana Iris

When the news out of Iraq, Israel-Palestine, Syria, Lebanon or Iran is gloomy, we can always turn to the Sultans of Satire, with Sultana Iris, to provide comic relief and political insight into some of our worst nightmares. Post-9/11
paranoia? Call the Sultans! Got the Arab Jewish blues? The Sultans will throw you for a loop—of laughter that is.

A group of young comedians and satirists who also work steadily as dramatic actors in film, television and theatre, the Sultans of Satire come to Levantine Cultural Center on Thursday, Nov. 17, where they are certain to lampoon sacred cows, take poetic license and otherwise eliminate common ennui. The line-up includes Iris Bahr, the Israeli-American duchess of delirium; Maz Jobrani, the American prince of Puurssia; Aron Kader, the Palestinian Mormon funny man who thanks his parents for giving him something to laugh about; Vince Ouchana, the Assyrian New Yorker and Iraq war vet who swears his father looks like Mohammed Atta; and Peter the Persian, another Iranian comic who is an attorney by day.

Iris Bahr (Sultana Iris) was born and raised in the Bronx, but relocated to Israel at the age of 12, where she remained until completing her service in the Israeli military. She then traveled solo through Asia and South America for a year. Upon return from India she enrolled at Brown University, where she majored in Neuropsychology and Religious Studies, graduating magna cum laude. During her time at Brown, she conducted both cancer and brain research (functional MRI) and had a paper published in the process. She also became involved in the Brown theatre scene, performing and directing (including MacBeth, The Bacchae, Woyzeck, Much Ado about Nothing, King Lear ). She has had numerous appearances on the comedy circuit including at L.A.'s Improv and N.Y.'s Gotham Comedy Club. She recently starred in the indie film, "Health Inspector", while her own short film "The Unchosen Ones" had its European premiere at Cannes in May. Wrote the Daily News, "The remarkable Iris Bahr demonstrates that smarts, talent and dramatic focus are a potent combination...The lady has more identities and accents than a cloned Meryl Streep...Wickedly funny...The performer is unquestionably one to keep an eye on. " Wrote the LA Weekly , "Bahr balances pungent humor, bittersweet pathos and a sublime charm," while NPR noted, "Ms. Bahr is a deft writer and a clever monologist." Visit irisbahr.com.

"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 Jobrani has done standup comedy on Comedy Central's "Premium Blend", CBS's "The Late Late Show", and in London on "The World Stands Up" for the Paramount 2 Channel. He also performs standup regularly at the Comedy Store and the Laugh Factory on Sunset in Hollywood. He also headlines at colleges and clubs all over the country including the Improvs and many of the top clubs in New York. 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 short lived Fox sitcom "Life on a Stick". He has guest starred as a"The Sikh" on the third season finale of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" along with several other guest starts on "Law & Order", "The West Wing", "NYPD Blue", "24", "Without a Trace", "Malcolm in the Middle", 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 Syndey Pollack's "The Interpreter." Visit mazjobrani.com.

"The problem in the Middle East," says Aron Kader, "is that the Jews and the Arabs both think they're God's chosen people. They're in the desert! Maybe the people in Hawaii or Samoa are the chosen people—ever think of that?" Aron Kader would like to thank his Palestinian father and Mormon mother for giving him so many reasons to be a comedian. Raised in the Washington D.C. area Aron (or Haroun) moved away to Hollywood at nineteen years old to pursue comedy and acting. Aron spent a year in the legendary sketch theatre "The Groundlings" Sunday company, and now performs regularly in Hollywood at his home club, The Comedy Store. He has been featured in the The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek magazine, and many other national publications. He was a stand out at the HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, and received stellar reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last year. Lately he has been on the "Axis of Evil" comedy tour, with Ahmed Ahmed and Maz Jobrani. Visit aronkader.com.

"I'm Middle Eastern and I am scared of terrorists," says Vincent Ouchana. "My father looked like Mohammed Atta. Imagine living with him." Born in Yonkers, NY, of Assyrian heritage, Vincent Ouchana was already making people laugh by the age of three. The once scrawny and hyperactive kid found himself being the center of attention at all family functions. In school he was always the class comedian and eventually won several high school talent contests with stand-up comedy routines and appeared in numerous plays. At the age of 19, he felt the call of duty and joined the United States Air Force. While in the Air Force, Vincent received numerous medals for meritorious service and became one of the top 10 marksmen on the USAF Shooting Team. While deployed in Iraq, Vincent found a way to get on stage and entertain his fellow troops during USO tours. After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Vincent moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of being a stand-up comedian. Vincent has entertained audiences in New York, Connecticut, South Carolina, Montana and California. Currently, he is living in Burbank, CA and attending the world famous Groundlings School of Improv.

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 may be one of the few stand-up comedians who is also a practicing attorney by day.

Sultans of Satire, with Sultana Iris: Middle East Comic Relief, Thurs., Nov. 17, 8:00 pm. Tix $15 general, $10 members. RSVP as seating is limited and this event will sell out. Best bet is to get your tix in advance or get them online below. Levantine Cultural Center, 5920 Blackwelder Street, Culver City CA 90232. Info 310.559.5544.

The Levantine Social Club is open each Wednesday evening, from 6 pm-midnight.

Come on out and relax, play some
chess, backgammon, Scrabble or cards, have some Moroccan tea or Turkish coffee...Open mic from 9 to 11 pm will feature comedy, poets, spoken word and a range of musical performances—invite your talented friends, and get your own material ready!

Each week we give away free movie posters, complementary tickets and other surprises. You'll find fresh talent, and great conversation across the cultural spectrum at the Levantine Social Club.

5920 Blackwelder Street, Culver City 90232. Info 310.559.5544.

Read a review of the film by May Alhassen.

To subscribe to our listserve and receive our special updates (which include free ticket giveaways, articles and more), either visit our Sign-up page or send a message to: info@levantinecenter.org and include Subscribe Me in the subject box. Be sure to give us your first and last name and how you heard about us!

To join/support Levantine Cultural Center, simply go to our membership page and fill in the blanks, use your credit card, or print and mail in your check for $60 or $120 or $250 annual membership dues to: Levantine Center, 5920 Blackwelder Street, Culver City CA 90232.

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