Im Hussein to Perform in Washington DC on April 9th
The incomparable Im Hussein has her sights set for Washington DC on Saturday, April 9th at the Lincoln Theater.
BUY TICKETS HERE
Playwright Najee Mondalek sets up Im Hussein for another crisis, dealing with the ignorance of her know-it-all husband Abou Elias. Tucked in between the lines of the main story are other issues that affect the Arab American community: divorce for infertility, drug abuse, conflict between two generations, welfare fraud, and more!
The AJYAL Theatrical Group, under the direction of its founder, Najee Mondalek, was
founded in Michigan and has been in existence since 1988, staging many comedy
productions over the years.
AJYAL Theatrical Group has successfully toured New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Detroit, Portland, Phoenix, Dallas, Cleveland, Washington DC, Houston, Chicago, Toledo, Boston, Jacksonville, Orlando, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Windsor, Edmonton, Halifax, Sydney, Melbourne and Beirut.
It is the first ArabAmerican theatrical group to “take the show on the road” and perform for Arab-American audiences in North America, Australia and Lebanon.
The main mission of the group is to provide quality Arabic theater, arts, and cultural experiences for the Arab immigrants around the world. Most of AJYAL Theatrical Group’ shows poke fun at the everyday lives of Arab-Americans, who have recently become citizens and who are desperately trying to blend into the mainstream of American culture.
The plays serve as a forum to help people laugh at their mistakes and mishaps but also to come to terms with social issues facing Arab-Americans, such as their difficulties adjusting to a new culture, and lifestyle. These performances, like music, art and other entertainment media, are an important piece of the fabric of Arab-American culture.
Najee Mondalek
He may wear all the trappings of a Middle Eastern matriarch when he portrays “Im Hussein” on stage, but when the curtain goes down, Najee Mondalek resumes his rightful place as producer, director, writer, technical advisor and stage sweeper, on occasion.
If few people know Najee, it is because the character he created has eclipsed his own persona. He is, in fact, the brain behind the Arabic plays that have toured the United States and Canada since 1989 to sidesplitting laughter and thunderous applause.
Born in Lebanon, few years before the war erupted that would last more than a generation. Najee grew up in a fearful environment. That he emerged as a brilliant playwright, particularly of comedy, is not surprising. In the bomb shelters of Jdeidet Marjeyoun, Lebanon, he passed the time imitating friends and neighbors from his home village. In the midst of terror, humor still has its place.
Najee came to the United States in 1985. He received an Associate degree from Macomb Community College in 1988 and later that year enrolled in Wayne State University, where he received his Bachelor degree in Mass Communications in 1992. In 1997 he earned his Master’s degree in Virtual Reality, 3D Animation and Visualization from the Academy of Art College in San Francisco.
Throughout hardship and hard work, Najee has remained true to his dream of becoming a successful writer, producer, actor and director. The “roar of the crowd” keeps him going.
For More Information and to Purchase Tickets CLICK HERE!
Past Shows:
قصتنا قصة حكايتنا جرصة 1989 What a Shame
تـلميـذ اخـر زمـان 1990 Students Nowadays
1991 Honest Thieves حرامـيـهـــا حامـيـهـــا
1993 Smile You’re in Dearborn ديــربورن في أنت إبتســم
1994 Smile You’re in America امـيــركا في أنت إبتســم *
1996 We Became American ســـندي يا تأمركـنــا *
1998 Come See, Come Saw شــوف تعــــا تفــرج تـاع
2000 Habby Bairday بــــاردي هـبــــي *
2002 Me No Terrorist إرهـابـيـــة مـــش انا *
* عـربــي وراســـي مرفــوع 2005 Arabic & Broud
2009 Shoufou Alwawa Wayn ويـــن الواوا شــوفو *
2013 The Jubilee Show اليوبيل سهرة
2015 The Dumbass وماشي غ