Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 11-07-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Comedy
On November 5th 2011, PlanetPix Media & Entertainment Group produced an interfaith, intercultural comedy show at the American Islamic College in the “Windy City”. ‘FUNATICAL: Taking Comedy to the Extreme’s We Come in Peace Tour” in Chicago included performances by Tehran SoParvaz, MoNa, Samson Koletkar, Ray Hanania, and Mike Batayeh. Audiences were surprised to see comedians with Middle Eastern & South Asian backgrounds who also happen to be Jewish, Christian and Muslim. The show was followed by a panel discussion on interfaith comedy led by co-producer Miranda Hovemeyer.
PlanetPix’s media outreach resulted in coverage by NPR, Rise Up and India in Chicago. Sponsors of the show include American Islamic Congress, Project Nur, Urban Strategies Group, Mike Anderson Chevrolet of Chicago, Beauty and the East TV, and a contribution by Eric Hovemeyer & Christine Bieri. Contributing sponsors include Abrahamic Alliance, United Religions Initiative (URI), Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council, and the Peace Garden Project.
With increased religious and cultural tension growing in America and around the world, ‘FUNATICAL’ breaks stereotypes and bridges gaps between people of diverse backgrounds and religions by promoting unity through laughter. Comedians poke fun of culture, race, politics, religion and current events, which they lampoon with clean humor and satire. The shows are produced by an interfaith team who uses comedy as an equalizer to counter prejudices in a humorous way.
http://www.funaticalcomedy.com
TO VIEW ALL PICS FROM SHOW: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Funatical-Taking-Comedy-to-the-Extreme/127774330627187
Tags: abrahamic alliance,american islamic college, Beauty and the East TV, funatical comedy,interfaith comedy, interfaith event, middle eastern comedy, mike batayeh, miranda hovemeyer,mona,multicultural comedy,peace garden project,planetpix media entertainment group, Project Nur,ray hanania,samson koletkar, Tehran SoParvaz
Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 11-02-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Comedy
Mo Na is an Arab-American Muslim comedian from Chicago who has performed throughout the U.S. and Canada. Mo Na studied improv and comedy writing at Chicago’s Second City and has performed on many stages through the Chicagoland area, including: the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, Comedy Under the Tap, Chord on Blues, Jokes & Notes, the Lincoln Lodge, Loco Locas at Watra, 1001Laughs Tour and FUNATICAL: Taking Comedy to the Extreme.
She was a guest on Chicago’s popular radio show RISE UP which airs on NPR and dished about her upcoming performance in the FUNATICAL comedy show on 11/5/2011 at 8 pm at the American Islamic College. Pretty funny interview. Visit the following website and choose show from 10/30/11 in the little red box. Interview starts at 30:00. Enjoy! http://riseupshow.com/riseup_index.php
Tags: mona, funatical comedy, rise up, chicago
Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 10-18-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Comedy
PlanetPix Media & Entertainment Group, a multicultural media and entertainment production company, recently announced that ‘FUNATICAL: Taking Comedy to the Extreme’s “We Come in Peace” Tour’ will make its way to the “Windy City” on Saturday, November 5th, 2011.
FUNATICAL’s Chicago line-up includes Samson Koletkar (world’s only Jewish Indian comedian), Mike Batayeh (Arab Christian), Tehran SoParvaz (African-American-Iranian) as well as Chicago’s own Ray Hanania (Arab Christian) and MoNa (Arab Muslim).
Samson Koletkar was born and raised in Mumbai. Samson brings a refreshingly new approach to cerebral, witty, thought-provoking humor with a global perspective. Being a Jewish Indian in America has only added to the anomaly that is Samson. His comedy is socially aware and is driven by his personal trials and tribulations. He highlights religious, political, social and traditional hypocrisies and issues, and shares his views on day to day absurdities of the human nature. With his clean approach to comedy he is able to perform just as easily at clubs and theaters as he is at corporations, colleges, fundraisers and speaking engagements.
Mike Batayeh has guest starred and recurred on several hit television shows and has co-starred alongside A-list actors in several films. He recently filmed his first co-lead roles in the short film, “Fly While Arab” and the feature film, “Detroit Unleaded” (release date 2012). Mike is based in Los Angeles but has toured all over the United States as a comic. Mike is one of the ambassadors of western comedy to audiences in the Middle East, as he was part of the first wave of comics to perform live in Dubai, Lebanon, Nazareth, Jordan and Egypt. His mix of biting social commentary, physical comedy and ability to entertain leaves audiences eagerly anticipating his return.
According to Editor and Publisher magazine, Ray Hanania is “...a Palestinian-American writer married to a Jewish woman. He writes about Mideast issues in an evenhanded way.” Ray is a stand-up comedian, media analyst and political consultant specializing in Middle East issues and events, and mainstream American politics. He is president of Urban Strategies Group and writes several columns. Hanania co-hosts the American Arab radio show “Radio Baladi” which is simulcast in Michigan, Ohio and Northern Illinois. He hosted the live Chicago morning show “The Ray Hanania Show” for three years on WJJG AM 1530 Radio.
MoNa is an Arab-American comedian from Chicago who has performed throughout the U.S. and Canada. She studied improv and comedy writing at Chicago’s Second City and has performed on many stages through the Chicagoland area, including: the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, Comedy Under the Tap, Chord on Blues, Jokes & Notes, the Lincoln
Lodge, Loco Locas at Watra, 1001Laughs Tour and now FUNATICAL: Taking Comedy to the Extreme.
Tehran SoParvaz is a half Iranian and half African American stand-up comedian and performer who lives in the Washington D.C. metro area. He is a dynamic and high-energy comedian and entertainer who is the host of a popular satellite TV and radio show that airs around the world. He has been using his witty and unique perspective of life and sense of humor in comedy shows along Maz Jobrani, Max Amini and FUNATICAL: Taking Comedy to the Extreme.
With increased religious and cultural tension growing in America and around the world, ‘FUNATICAL’ breaks stereotypes and bridges gaps between people of diverse backgrounds and religions by promoting unity through laughter. Comedians poke fun of culture, race, politics, religion and current events, which they lampoon with clean humor and satire. The shows are produced by an interfaith team who uses comedy as an equalizer to counter prejudices in a humorous way.
‘FUNATICAL officially launched in Hollywood, CA at the World Famous Comedy Store with a red carpet premiere, followed by three shows throughout Southern CA that brought together a diverse interfaith audience who were united by laughter. The tour continued with sold out shows in the Washington D.C. metro area, and special appearances at the National Press Club and Georgetown University. Media coverage includes Huffington Post, Voice of America, Al Hurra TV, Middle East Broadcasting, Belief Net and more. FUNATICAL has also performed in Toronto, Canada and is receiving requests to take the show internationally.
FUNATICAL: Taking Comedy to the Extreme’s Chicago show will take place Saturday, Nov. 5th, 2011 (8pm) at American Islamic College’s auditorium on 640 West Irving Park Road in Chicago, IL. Sponsors of the show include American Islamic Congress, Project Nur, Urban Strategies Group, Mike Anderson Chevrolet of Chicago, Beauty and the East TV, and a contribution by Eric Hovemeyer & Christine Bieri. Contributing sponsors include Abrahamic Alliance, United Religions Initiative (URI), Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council, and the Peace Garden Project.
FUNATICAL: Chicago
Saturday, November 5th, 2011 at 8 pm:
American Islamic College
640 West Irving Park Road
Chicago, IL 60613-3106
Clean comedy that will leave you in stitches!
Brought to you by PlanetPix Media & Entertainment Group
BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE: http://www.funaticalcomedy.com
Tags: funatical comedy, chicago
Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 09-12-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Comedy
Comedian Maz Jobrani creates a hilarious skit about racism in America, co-starring Ahmed Ahmed:
Tags: maz jobrani, ahmed ahmed, my two worlds, arabs go home
Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 09-10-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Music, Comedy, Film/TV, Leaders/Stories
The 9/11 attacks have inspired a number of artists and musicians, who used the events as a basis for works of commemoration, satire, anger and inspiration. Al Jazeer’s first installment of 9/11 anniversary coverage produced by Mariam Ahmadi Simpson and hosted by Rob Reynolds:
Tags: 9/11 anniversary, popular culture, entertainment, films
Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 09-08-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Comedy, Episodes
http://www.planetpixmedia.com World famous Arab-American Muslim comedian & actor Ahmed Ahmed performs at the FUNATICAL:Taking Comedy to the Extreme! tour. To book Ahmed for live performances or appearances, e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). To book Ahmed with the FUNATICAL Comedy Tour, e-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tags: Ahmed Ahmed, stand up comedy, humor, funny, Muslim American comedy, Muslim American comedian, muslim comedy, muslim comedian, arab American comedy, arab comedian, middle eastern comedian, middle eastern comedy, arab comedian, Egyptian comedian, Egyptian American comedian
Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 09-08-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Comedy, Episodes
http://www.planetpixmedia.com African-American Muslim comedian & actor Omar Regan performs at the FUNATICAL:Taking Comedy to the Extreme! tour. To book Omar for live performances or appearances, e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). To book Mike with the FUNATICAL Comedy Tour, e-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tags: Omar regan, stand up comedy, humor, funny, Muslim American comedy, Muslim American comedian, muslim comedy, muslim comedian
Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 09-08-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Comedy, Episodes
http://www.planetpixmedia.com World’s only Indian-Jewish comedian Samson Koletkar performs at the FUNATICAL:Taking Comedy to the Extreme! tour. To book Samson for live performances or appearances, e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). To book Samson with the FUNATICAL Comedy Tour, e-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tags: Samson koletkar, stand up comedy, humor, funny, Indian American comedy, jewish comedy, jewish comedian, Indian comedian, middle eastern comedian, middle eastern comedy, south asian comedian, south asian comedy, desi comedian, desi comedy
Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 09-08-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Comedy, Episodes
http://www.planetpixmedia.com Arab-American comedian & actor Mike Batayeh performs at the FUNATICAL:Taking Comedy to the Extreme! tour. To book Mike for live performances or appearances, e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). To book Mike with the FUNATICAL Comedy Tour, e-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tags: mike batayeh, stand up comedy, humor, funny, arab american comedy, arab comedian, middle eastern comedian, middle eastern comedy, arab comedy
Posted by BeautyandtheEast on 09-06-2011 | Comments | Share | Filed under: Entertainment, Comedy
Tags: middle eastern muslim parents
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