The cast members of the five skits that comprise the 3rd Arab American Comedy Show, scheduled to take place August 14 and 15 at the Ford Performing Arts Center (Civic Center), are working hard rehearsing their roles at the Fairlane Club.

Director Mike Mosallam rehearses a skit with cast member Amir Makled in preparation for the 3rd annual Arab American Comedy Show.

The genius of director Mike Mosallam is showing as he helps the cast tweak their characters by making them play tag before rehearsing and then getting back to performing their acts. The roles have been so side-splitting that cast members had have a hard time concentrating at times.
My involvement began when I received an e-mail from Angeline Hazime about the Mizna Entertainment Group holding auditions for the comedy show. I thought it would make a good story so I attended on June 16. I filled out their questionnaire and was taken to a meeting room with five people and a video camera. I was given two sheets of script and asked to role play with cast member Natalie June. As I read the assigned roles, the judges started laughing. I realized I must be funny.

A few days later I received a text message that I had made the cast. The first few meetings we were just sitting and reading the lines, and it was boring, which prompted me to give the director my opinion that the skit I was part of, Love Match, was not funny at all. As the rehearsals progressed and the characters began emerging and the slap stick comedy developed under the guidance of Mosallam, I began to appreciate the role of the director in creating the chemistry between the characters and bringing out their acting genius.

For those who attended the first and second annual comedy shows from which local comedians like Ali “Bulldog” Abdallah emerged, (and the Arab Cribs posted on YouTube boasts over five hundred thousand views) you’re in for a treat. The 3rd Annual Arab American Comedy Show is guaranteed to have the audience gasping for breath. Two of the comedians who appeared at Joey’s Comedy Club at “1001 Laughs,” Amer Zahr and Sarah Bazzy, are among the cast. This is truly hilarious stuff. Get your tickets before they run out.