The event was a great cultural initiative by Palestinian-American comedians and co-founders, Dean Obeidallah and Maysoon Zayid. “I’m very happy to say that this was our best attended festival in our seven year history,” stated Obeidallah.
The festival has definitely come a long way since its humble beginning in 2003. “Now, this is a professional level festival,” said Zayid. In addition, the two new stand up shows — the all ‘Arabic Stand Up Show’ and ‘The Haram Show’ — were the highlights of the festival which attracted packed audiences, explained Obeidallah.
“We are really proud that we were able to present for the first time in US history comedians from the Middle East,” stated Zayid.
“The comedians were able to show the non-Arabs who attended — plus the US media — that Arabs can be funny, which frankly is never seen in the US media,” added Obeidallah.
But there were some obstacles the organizers had to face such as Saudi comedian, Ibraheem Alkhairallah, being unable to get a visa on time. “Next year, we would love to have him, and hopefully even more comedians from the region, to show people here just how funny we can be,” says Zayid.
Fahad Albutairi was the only Saudi performer at the festival. “It’s a great cultural exchange where Arab-born talents and American-born talents share the stage,” he says. “It’s a cultural dialogue that grows more and more important by the day in light of current events.”
Albutairi believes it is crucial to reflect on one’s own identity in terms of a global citizen. Together, with the other comedians of the NYAACF, Albutairi breaks down stereotypes and proves that humanity is the passport we all have in common.
However, this wasn’t Albutairi’s first time telling jokes in front of an American audience. While earning his degree from the University of Texas in Austin in 2004 and 2006, he performed at a local comedy club during campus events to smaller crowds of 30 people.
Albutairi’s content is inspired by personal experience that especially deals with family, he elaborates. “I have written numerous jokes that are inspired by the generation gap between Saudi parents and youth, mostly due to the advent of globalization through the media and the Internet,” he says.
Albutairi admires the comedic delivery of legends: Richard Pryor, Jerry Seinfeld and George Carlin as well as current talents: Brian Regan, Jon Stewart and Steve Byrne. “It’s all about finding yourself in others and building a unique style and identity,” he explains.
The regional comedy scene, as Albutairi states, is alive and “very, very vibrant.” Furthermore, many of the shows in Saudi showcase local talent either as opening acts for international comedians or as solo acts. He also says that although the majority of the crowds tend to be young — between the ages of 16 and 30 — he has witnessed a steadiliy growing presence of an older audience. “Comedy has been helping to bridge the gap between generations,” he says.
The advice Albutairi has for funny men practicing to be professional comedians is: perform at every opportunity! “In the past two years, there have been more locally-sponsored stand-up comedy events in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain collectively than anywhere else in the Middle East!” So, whether you’re in the West or East coast, there’s sure to be a venue where you can laugh with people over your grandfather’s over-zealous collection of stuffed hunted heads. And, if you’re brave enough, take the mic yourself!
He adds that Saudi Arabia has a “no heckling” audience. “People are so grateful for the entertainment you’re providing them that they do not boo you off stage if you slip up,” says Albutairi.
Albutairi was among three comedians from the Middle East who were flown in for the event. The other two were: Nemr Abou Nassar from Lebanon and Mohamed Salem from Egypt.
“They all did great!” revealed Obeidallah. “In fact, Albutairi and Nassar did so well that they were selected to perform in our closing night ‘Best of the Festival’ show. Unfortunately, the only reason Egyptian comedian Mohamed Salem was not able to perform in that show was because it was in English and he can only perform in Arabic.”
The organizers plan to create a show featuring only comedians from the Middle East in order to promote and provide them with more exposure to the media in the US. “People from the US entertainment field are usually present at our festivals so it would be invaluable exposure,” explains Obeidallah.
