Evil Doers Ltd. A Comedy Standup in Portland

American Iranian Friendship Council & Andisheh Center present:
Evil Doers Ltd. _ A laughter roundup from the Middle East.

From recent posts to the Portland's Willamette Week's web site (wweek.com):

"Muslims are harassed? ...PLEASE....if you don't like it here, go back to your Muslim country, you don't want to assimilate anything American, you don't feel welcome, you don't respect our country...why are you here? Oh yes, freedom, money, food, electricity, water, toilets, sewer systems, jobs...."

"These a..holes need to learn what it means to assimilate into America. I can't wait to encounter one of their freakin footbaths so I can spit in it."

These comments represent a system of attitudes and believes held by many even in the liberal island of Portland, Oregon. Educational campaigns, letters in response and sometimes protest may all be legitimate attempts to address what for the most part is simply ignorance, but it is not enough. That is why on November 7 we will present a program that intends to address the stereotyping through humor.

We will present five top comedians at Portland's Center for Performing Arts in a program entitled "Evil Doers Ltd."

Ahmed Ahmed - Born in Helwan, Egypt June 27th, 1970. Parents immigrated to the US when he was one month old and grew up in Riverside, CA. Moved to Hollywood when he was 19 years old to pursue a career as an actor and stand up comedian. Attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts for one year and studied with various acting coaches such as Cliff Osmond, Ivana Chubbuck and Sandy Marshall.
Arab comedian Ahmed Ahmed joined Rabbi Bob Alper as part of their ongoing tour, "One Arab, One Jew, One Stage." Ahmed says that the duo was not political. They performed together because it packs some serious "entertainment value" into their sets.

A regular performer at The World Famous Comedy Store in Hollywood Ahmed tours all across America, Europe and Middle East. He is one of the original performers of the "Axis of Evil Comedy Tour", produced by Comedy Central, which has gone on stage in many cities across the USA.  Mr. Ahmed has won the first annual Richard Pryor Award for ethnic comedy at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival in Scotland, 2004.  In addition Ahmed has written an original screenplay titled "The Pilgrimage" based on his Hajj (Pilgrimage to Mecca).

Tissa Hami is one of the world's few female Muslim stand-up comics. She grew up in a traditional Iranian family in a predominantly white suburb of Boston. She holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in international affairs. Tissa hopes her comedy will help break down stereotypes about Muslim women and foster understanding between Iranians and Americans. She has a frequent media presence and was featured in the documentary "Stand Up: Muslim American Comics Come of Age."
.

Dan Ahdoot went to college at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University and graduated with honors as a premed student. But he chose comedy over medicine and has been celebrated ever since. Dan's stand-up act is based on his hilarious observations about everyday life as a young Jewish Iranian living in New York City.
Negin Farsad grew up in Southern California. She first obtained a Bachelors Degree in Theater Arts and Government from Cornell University. Since moving to New York she writes and performs comedy at night while completing a Masters Degree in Race Relations and a second in Urban Management at Columbia University by day. She also produced a film.

Jimmy Dore, aka Citizen Jimmy, was born into a Catholic family of twelve in a very blue-collar neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. He is part of Comedy Central and other comedy shows around the county. LA Weekly called his show “Completely Offensive and Very Funny!”

7 pm - Nov. 7th 2008

***

- Newmark Theatre -

1111 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205

Tickets are available at PCPA Box Office and at Ticketmaster