FULL SCHEDULE: Dubomedy International Performing Arts Festival

DUBOMEDY INTERNATIONAL PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL SCHEDULE - November 10-13, 2010

DAY 1:

Wed, Nov 10- Dubomedy Arts School Night
7:30pm Show at Dubai Community Theater- Free

Dubomedy Arts School always ends each session with a bang! “Mixed Tape- Comedy and Tap Dance Special” is a unique blend of Comedic monologues, Improv Games with audience suggestions, ensemble Tap Dance and Body Percussion Acts mixed with very special guest performances by Professional Salsa Dancers and Siohban’s Irish Dancers!

DAY 2:

Thurs, Nov 11- “From the Page to the Stage” Writing & Poetry Reading
7:00pm Show at Dubai Community Theater- Free

Student writers will present a series of works generated during the “From the Page to the Stage” Workshop.
Followed by our special Closing Act: Renowned American poet and published writer Nicholas Karavatos will present Inter-Media Spoken Word!

Thurs, Nov 11- LOCAL THEATER NIGHT!
9pm Show at Dubai Community Theater- Free

This show is a celebration of Local Theater in Dubai! Featuring an original short play by Dubai Drama Group, the dramatic chops of teens and young adults in the Youth Theatre Works and the surreal wit of British character actor Hartley Poole. Local theatre actor and director Jamal Iqbal will be presenting his ensemble piece ‘Musecal Chairs’ and writer/director Rajendra Aneja will be presenting a one-act play about migrant workers entitled ‘My Little Bit Life’.

DAY 3:

Friday, Nov 12- COMEDY DAY!
Please Note: All workshops are FREE
Location: SAE Institute

12:00-1:30pm- Experimental Theater Workshop hosted by Star Too Director Sol Abiad

1:30-2:30pm- Comedy in Arabia Panel- with Mina Liccione, Ali Al Sayed and Nitin Mirani

2:30-3:30pm – Arabic Comedy Workshop with Ali Al Sayed

3:30-4:30pm- Comedy Workshop with Saad Haroon

Friday, Nov 12- The BIG Comedy Show!
Show times: 7:30 and 10:00pm
Location: REEL Cinema in Dubai Mall
Tickets: 050 44 00 99 4 or LOL@vivadubai.com

Hosted by: Rohit Jayakaran - City 1016 FM

Opening Act: Salman Zahid Qureshi- Dubomedy Arts

Headliners: Ali Al Sayed- UAE Local Comedian Extraordinaire and Mina Liccione- Stomp, MTV, Funny Girls.
With our very special international guest….SAAD HAROON- Pakistan's Top English speaking Comic!!!!

DAY 4:

Sat, Nov 13- MUSIC DAY!
Please note: All Panel Discussions are Free
Location: SAE Institute

2:00-3:00pm- “Hip Hop in Arabia” Panel Discussion with Sal, DK and Kuwait’s Ya’koob Al Refaie

3:30-4:30pm- “ A Conversation with Abri and Rebecca Brianceau” – Local Soul Super Stars talk about the biz!

Sat, Nov 13- LOCAL MUSIC NIGHT!
Dubai Festival City- Floating Stage
Free Concert: 7:00-10:00pm

Featuring: Pull Box, Sach Holden, Ray Beat Boxer, Still Waters, Universal Rogue and our special guest from Kuwait- Ya’koob Al Refaie.
Headlining Musical Act: Behold the Locus

We'll see you there!!

FREE Comedy Show: Monday, Oct 25 at Long's Bar in Rotana Towers Hotel! One Night Only!

WHEN: Monday, October 25 · 8:30pm - 11:30pm

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WHERE: Longs Bar, Towers Rotana Hotel - Shaikh Zayed Road

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WHAT:

More Info Hello Dubomedians!!!

Dubomedy is back with a ONE NIGHT ONLY Exclusive Show that you DO NOT want to miss! Oh, and admission is FREE! Yes, FREE LOL!

Hosted by:
Jamil Abu-Wardeh - Producer of the Axis of Evil Tour Middle East

Opening Acts:
Lamya Tawfik - Funny Girls
Rohit Jayakaran - City 1016 FM

Headliners:
Ali Al Sayed- UAE Local Comedian Extraordinaire
Mina Liccione- Stomp, MTV, Funny Girls
With our very special international guest….
DAN NAINAN FROM THE RUSSEL PETERS TOUR!!!


Call us on 050 44 00 99 4 or LOL@vivadubai.com for more information!

IMPROV LANDED ME THE JOB by Xulf Ali

-IMPROV LANDED ME THE JOB- by Xulfiqar Ali

As I waited in the big corporate IT office, waiting impatiently, having gone to the Men’s room twice already, nervous wreck, knowing that this is the time to make it or break it. Anxiety got the best of me.

Having moved to Canada from Dubai, since May this year, I had done all sorts of odd jobs from Debt collections to Insurance sales. I knew this was my big break and for whatsoever reason I had to sell myself to the person interviewing me, this was the moment of truth. The night before, I had told myself looking in the mirror again and again “I SEE PRIDE, I SEE POWER, I SEE A BAD ASS MUTHA, WHO WON’T TAKE NOTHIN’ FROM NOBODY!!” till I realize it’s a movie scene from “Cool Runnings”. Funny how some stuff sticks with you forever.

Sitting in this big room in the reception area, waiting, the clock ticking goes louder and louder, I was shaking my right leg so fast I bet BEN JOHNSON would have been proud of me. Than my name is called. I walk in to a small conference room that looks like it was going under major renovation.

The interviewer was a nice person, he got me as comfortable as possible, great people management skills, than the IT related questions start. I have no idea about IT? I mean, I get super-super excited when I transfer pictures off my camera to my laptop! I knew the interview is going all downhill. Several questions were thrown at me, I felt like one of those circus shows where I was spinning on a board and the interviewer was throwing Knives at me, but the only difference was he was hitting me with the questions every time. Then I was asked, could you ROLE PLAY and try to sell me a Pen. At this point, I was so stressed and sweaty; I actually believe I felt some sweat from under my man boobs slide. I accepted.

I told myself, “Xulf it’s now or never if you are not going to get the job! At least walk out with a presence.” The Xulf then switched ON and it was time to go LOCOO BABYEEE!! I gave my pitch, he’d throw questions at me, I felt like a cricketer, every question was a six shot. When we finished, he was kind enough to walk me out to the reception area and while we walked he asked, “Do you do a lot of improv?” I hesitated and answered “Yes, as a matter a fact I did, use to go every Wednesday in Dubai. We had a fun group, we all knew what the other one would say and it was a lot of fun!” he looked up, smiled and said, “Yes, I could make that out, because you were thinking outside the box, I tried throwing some twisted questions and you pleasantly surprised me with your answers, I liked that you have the capabilities as such and it truly builds a person’s character.” I smiled and walked to my car thinking hell, if I did not get the job I sure kicked butt at the Role play.

After a long drive back filled with contemplation I arrived home to find an offer letter in my inbox from the big corporate IT Company! And the rest they say is history….