Tour uses humor to fight racism
Friday, October 12, 2007
By EVELYN SHIH
STAFF WRITER
When comedian Dean Obeidallah was in grade school, he brought something very special in for show and tell.
It was his father.
Friday, October 12, 2007
By EVELYN SHIH
STAFF WRITER
When comedian Dean Obeidallah was in grade school, he brought something very special in for show and tell.It was his father.
[Dean Obeidallah, courtesy of iconconcerts.]
"My teacher had me bring in my dad to show the kids an Arab man," he said.
Half Italian and half Palestinian, Obeidallah had an interesting childhood in Lodi and Paramus. It's now the focus of his act as one of the comedians in the Axis of Evil Tour, coming to the Nokia Theatre in Manhattan on Saturday.
His upbringing brought together seemingly clashing elements that bred natural comedy. Obeidallah grew up going to Catholic school on a strict no-pork diet -- in keeping with Muslim traditions. When his father went to Mass with him and his mother one Sunday, he had this to say about the Communion wafer: "It needs salt."
But his Arab background wasn't always the meat of his routine, said Obeidallah.
"After 9/11, I actually got more in touch with my heritage from defending it to people all the time," he said. "The only way I could comment at the time was through comedy.
IF YOU GO
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT: Axis of Evil Comedy Tour.
WHERE: Nokia Theatre, 1515
Broadway, Manhattan; 212-930-1959 or nokiatheatrenyc.com.
WHEN: 7 and 11
p.m. Saturday.
HOW MUCH: $36.50, $46.50 and $51.50.
"If Italians needed help, I would be doing more of that," he added.
In a way, he was back to doing show and tell -- this time telling the ethnically non-Arab world about what it was really like to be Arab-American -- and this time, he was a man with a mission.
Obeidallah co-founded the New York Arab American Comedy Festival in 2003 with Cliffside Park comedian Maysoon Zayid to "do something for the community." In part, it was to encourage Arab-Americans in the entertainment industry. But it was also something of a public relations effort, educating mainstream America about the Middle Easterners who weren't, contrary to conventional wisdom, evil.
"We did nothing," said Obeidallah. "But our world has changed so much."
The name "Axis of Evil" was coined about three years ago when he began touring with Iranian Maz Jobrani, Palestinian-Mormon Aron Kader and Egyptian Ahmed Ahmed. "The use of the name was really to mock the idea," explained Obeidallah. "We're not inherently evil people. And now we're using comedy, truly an American medium, to make our point."
After getting picked up for a special by Comedy Central earlier this year, the Axis of Evil comedians had a higher profile than ever. "The Watch List," a Web-only series of bits by Middle Eastern-American comedians, also helped bring attention to the tour.
It's the right time for Middle Eastern comedy, said Obeidallah, who has been told by friends and industry experts not to focus on his heritage. "I think that enough time has passed since 9/11," he said. "People are still flooded with negative portrayals of Middle Eastern people. But there came a point when people began to be intrigued about real Middle Easterners."
When the tour began three to four years ago, 95 percent of the audience was Middle Eastern-American, he added. Now, the ratio is more like 60-to-40 or even 50-50 for Middle Easterners versus other Americans.
"This is the first time ever that a major New York theater will be headlined by Middle Eastern comedians," said Obeidallah. Zayid, who is of Palestinian ancestry, will be a special guest.
"It's not a seminar or Arab 101," he added. "But if you're listening, you may learn new things."
E-mail: shih@northjersey.com
Copyright © 2007 North Jersey Media Group Inc.
In a way, he was back to doing show and tell -- this time telling the ethnically non-Arab world about what it was really like to be Arab-American -- and this time, he was a man with a mission.
Obeidallah co-founded the New York Arab American Comedy Festival in 2003 with Cliffside Park comedian Maysoon Zayid to "do something for the community." In part, it was to encourage Arab-Americans in the entertainment industry. But it was also something of a public relations effort, educating mainstream America about the Middle Easterners who weren't, contrary to conventional wisdom, evil.
"We did nothing," said Obeidallah. "But our world has changed so much."
The name "Axis of Evil" was coined about three years ago when he began touring with Iranian Maz Jobrani, Palestinian-Mormon Aron Kader and Egyptian Ahmed Ahmed. "The use of the name was really to mock the idea," explained Obeidallah. "We're not inherently evil people. And now we're using comedy, truly an American medium, to make our point."
After getting picked up for a special by Comedy Central earlier this year, the Axis of Evil comedians had a higher profile than ever. "The Watch List," a Web-only series of bits by Middle Eastern-American comedians, also helped bring attention to the tour.
It's the right time for Middle Eastern comedy, said Obeidallah, who has been told by friends and industry experts not to focus on his heritage. "I think that enough time has passed since 9/11," he said. "People are still flooded with negative portrayals of Middle Eastern people. But there came a point when people began to be intrigued about real Middle Easterners."
When the tour began three to four years ago, 95 percent of the audience was Middle Eastern-American, he added. Now, the ratio is more like 60-to-40 or even 50-50 for Middle Easterners versus other Americans.
"This is the first time ever that a major New York theater will be headlined by Middle Eastern comedians," said Obeidallah. Zayid, who is of Palestinian ancestry, will be a special guest.
"It's not a seminar or Arab 101," he added. "But if you're listening, you may learn new things."
E-mail: shih@northjersey.com
Copyright © 2007 North Jersey Media Group Inc.
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