Arab comedians bring Arab Comedy to Caroline's on Broadway and New York Comedy Club 2002 --
The Original and Firstever Arab Comedy Festival

CNN Segment 7 with Aaron Brown on the First Ever New York Comedy festival
Broadcast on Jan. 2, 2003

On Tuesday, March 21, 1961, four young men with floppy hair and guitars and a set of drums stood on the stage of the Cavern Club at Number 10 Matthew Street in Liverpool, England. From that modest beginning, the Beatles went on to launch a new direction in the Mersey beat music, and forever changed the face of rock and roll music.

On Sunday, Nov. 3, 2002, six Arab American comedians went on stage at the New York Comedy Club at 241 E. 24th Street (3rd Ave) in New York. The New York Comedy Club is a character-filled cabaret where some of the best in American comedians have performed to sell-out crowds. And like the Beatles 41 years earlier, these Arab American comedians launched a new venue in comedy based on their unique experiences as Arab Americans.

Ray Hanania joined many other Arab American comedians -- Sherif Hedayat, Jim Asher, Omar Koury, Nasry Malak and Dean Obedeillah (pictured below are the comics and one of the organizers front and center) -- and performed at a first-ever all Arab revue. The first show was organized by the Arab American Professionals of New York and it sold out immediately. The 135-seat club crammed more than 165 into its cabaret. A second show was hastily organized to satisfy the overflow crowd of more than 170 people who waited outside the club to see this historic event.

"In many ways, this event was very similar to what the Beatles did in 1960 when they were performing in a cramped, off the path club in Liverpool, hammering out a new phenomena in music that went on to launch a rock-and-roll revolution. On Sunday, November 3, 2002, Hedayat, Asher, Koury, Obeidallah, Malak and myself, all Arab American comedians, launched a revolution in standup comedy," said Hanania who headlined the show.

"These comics are tops and we were able to come together for a show that was powerful. I learned so much from them and we all will learn from each other as we push ahead and pave new paths in American comedy."

The audience was mostly Arab American and was very receptive to the comedy shows by all of the comedians. The show demonstrated that Arab American comedians have what it takes to entertain professionally. The evening guarantees that these comedians will organize new shows in other cities together to bring their message that Arab Americans ARE Americans and they are PROUD Americans, too.

The Baba Ghanoush Belt is here ... the show was organized in part because Hanania was invited to headline at Caroline's on Broadway with several of New York's top comedians the next night. Hanania agreed to support the First Ever Arab Comedy Festival in 2002 and performed for free, as did most of the other comedians.

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2002, Hanania headlined an election night show at Caroline's on Broadway joined by Obeidallah. Carolines, located at 50th Street and Broadway is one of the most famous clubs in the country. The show was organized by WABC Radio and producer Eric Hastings, who also performed, and morning talk show hosts Curtis Sliwa and Ron Kuby. The predominantly Jewish American audience was exceedingly receptive proving that Arabs and Jews together want to seek a peaceful way to come together. Comedy may just be one of those important venues.

The Caroline's Show featured seven comedians including Hastings and several comedians of Jewish heritage. There were more than 150 people in the audience witnessing this historic Broadway performance.

This is the beginning of a new phenomena. We hope this starts a new trend that brings Arabs and Jews together, maybe, just maybe, to help heal the wounds of decades of war and show our two peoples that we can come together in a positive way.

Ray Hanania
A conspiracy of comedy ...
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