Najee Mondalek

Najee Mondalek is an Lebanese-American actor who "has been called the Jerry Seinfeld of Arab-American culture."

Biography

Born in Lebanon, Najee Mondalek grew up in a dreadful and unsecured environment where he spent much of his early childhood witnessing Lebanon's civil war. It was not until 1985, as a teenager of 19 years old, that he immigrated to the United States where he attended Macomb Community College, Wayne State University, and the Academy of Art College. Thereafter, he returned to Michigan to work for GM (General Motors) as a virtual-reality engineer.

Career

In 1988 he founded the AJYAL Theatrical Group— the first Arab-American theatrical group to "take the show on the road" and perform for Arab-American audiences in The United States, Canada, Australia and the Middle East. The everyday lives of Arab-American, their mistakes and mishaps constitute the subject of Ajyal Theatrical Group' shows.

Ajyal has been the one constant for Mondalek. He writes a new show nearly every year. In September 1994, his theatrical life underwent a transformation. The centerpiece of his creative life, Im Hussein has become his Dame Edna, starring in six hit comedic plays since "Smile You Are in America," a comedy about immigrants trying to adjust to their new country. The main character was an older woman named Im Hussein. Three days before the first performance the father of the actress playing Im Hussein died. Mondalek couldn't find anyone to replace her. Thinking about Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire and Dustin Hoffman as Tootsie, Mondalek took the part himself.

Works

What a Shame

"Arabic قصّتنا قصّة حكايتنا جرصة" "translit: 8ossotna 8osa, 7kayetna Jorsa" was the first show performed by Ajyal Theatrical Group on May 12, 1989. Around that time in Lebanon there was a big problem: civil war. The first play Mondalek wrote was about that subject: Why people in Lebanon seemed unable to get together. The play was written in Arabic; its title in English was "What a Shame."

Students Nowadays

"Arabic تلاميذ آخر زمن" "translit: Talameez Akher Zaman" was scheduled to be performed in August 1990, but it coincided with the invasion of Kuwait and was postponed February 1991, but again was postponed due to the war in the Middle East. So many attempts were made to reschedule this show, but something always worked against it. In the end, the group decided to wrap up this play, and the show was never performed. Five years later, on April 19, 1995 the group was scheduled to meet in the evening to discuss the possibility of performing this show again. That day, the federal building in Oklahoma city was bombed! The meeting was canceled, and no one in the group ever talked about this show again.

Honest Thieves

"Arabic حاميها حراميها" "translit: 7ameeha 7arameeha" was performed in the fall of 1991. The show was a musical drama and was a collaboration project between AJYAL Theatrical Group and Alanwar Dance Group. It was written and directed by Najee Mondalek.

Smile You'Re in Dearborn

"Arabic إبتسم أنت في ديربورن" "translit: Ibtasim Anta fee Dearborn" premiered on June 1993 in Dearborn, Michigan. It was the first play that AJYAL Theatrical Group presents that deal with social and cultural issues facing the Arab-American citizens in the United States. The show was videotaped but never been released. It was written and directed by Najee Mondalek.

Smile You're in America

"Arabic إبتسم أنت في أميركا" "translit: Ibtasim Anta fee America" premiered Saturday September 10, 1994 in Dearborn (Michigan) and was performed in 1994-1995 season. Written and directed by Najee Mondalek, It was the first show that AJYAL Theatrical Group released on videotape in June 1995 and on DVD in March 2005.

We Became American, Finally

"Arabic تأمركنا يا سندي" "translit: T2amrakna ya Sanadee" was performed in 1996-1997 season. The show was written and directed by Najee Mondalek and it was released on videotape in June 1998 and on DVD in March 2005.

Come See ... Come Saw

"Arabic تعا تفرّج تعا شوف" "translit: Ta3a Tfarraj Ta3a Chouf" was written and directed by Najee Mondalek, but has not been released on DVD yet. It's a very simple comedy portraying hundreds of newcomers who have faced some kind of problem with learning a new language and culture. Their mannerisms and slips-of-the-tongue carry humorous overtones. "Break a leg" is a term used in show business to wish a good luck to an actor or theatrical group. The "AJYAL Theatrical Group" don't like to use this term anymore. Two nights before the premier of "Come See.. Come Saw" in Detroit- Michigan, "Im Elias" (played by Michael Mondalek), had a car accident and broke her leg! She ended up performing her part on crutches. The show was a mix of skits and stand-up performances by Im Hussein, Im Elias and Abou Hussein.

Habby Bairday

"Arabic هبّي باردي" "translit: Habby Bairday" premiered Saturday 19, 2000. All designed to celebrate the 10th birthday of AJYAL's first theatrical production in the United States. The show was written and directed by Najee Mondalek, and was released on videotape in December 2001, and on DVD in March 2005.

Me No Terrorist

"Arabic أنا مش إرهابية" "translit: Ana Mich Irhabeeya" is a "Comedy that teaches that not all Arabs are bad guys" The play was written by Najee Mondalek and directed by Ray Alcodray. It was released on DVD on March 2005.

Arabic and Broud

" Arabic عربي و راسي مرفوع" "translit: 3arabee w Rasee Marfou3" was written by Najee Mondalek and directed by Ray Alcodray. "Arabic and Broud" was released on DVD in 2007.

Shoufou Alwawa Wayn

"Arabic شوفو الواوا وين" (Where Does It Hurt) is the latest comedy by AJYAL Theatrical Group. The show premiered October 29, 2010 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn (Michigan). “Shoufou Alwawa Wayn" was written by Najee Mondalek, and directed by Aziz Charabaty. The show will be released on DVD in December 2012.

External links

• http://www.ajyal.us
• http://www.imhussein.com
• http://www.npr.org/news/specials/091102reflections/arabart/index.html
• http://wdiv.cityvoter.com/ajyal-theatrical-group/biz/14937
• http://www.arabdetroit.com/organizations.php?id=206

References

Hagedorn, Emily. "Drama Takes Terror Out of Terrorism," The Detroit News, May 24, 2004: (1E and 5E).

Elder, Robert K. "Humor Conveys 'Me No Terrorist's' Serious Message," Chicago Tribune, April 21, 2004: (1 and 6).

Kohn, Martin F. "Found in Translation," Detroit Free Press, October 10, 2002.

"'Me No Terrorist' on Stage in Dearborn," The Arab American News, Vol. 19, No. 869, October 5–11, 2002.

Mondalek, Najee. "Judging a Book By Its Cover," American Theatre, published by Theatre Communications Group, Vol. 19, No. 7, September 2002.

Jacobs, Darren. "Comedic Play Headed to Civic Center Stage," Community Bridges, May 2002.

Bakri, Lama. "Play Takes Jab at Newcomers," The Detroit News, June 26, 1998.

جان قسّيس، "المسرحية القادمة من بلاد العم سام." النهار. الدليل/العدد ٥٥٩/ الجمعة ١٧ تشرين الأول ٢٠٠٣

اسكندر داغر، "الأخوان مندلق ثنائي كوميدي وصلا من ميشيغان وأصبحا نجمين." الأسبوع العربي، ١ كانون الأول ٢٠٠٣

هلا بطرس، "مسرحية أنا مش إرهابية من أميركا إلى لبنان." الشبكة، ٢٧ تشرين الأول - ٣ تشرين الثاني ٢٠٠٣

محمد حسن حجازي، "أنا مش إرهابية ... تفاعل غريب بين الصالة والخشبة." الرأي العام / العدد ١٣٢٩٢ / الثلاثاء ١١ نوفمبر ٢٠٠٣

محمد حجازي، "أنا مش إرهابية سافرت إلينا من ميتشيغان." اللواء / العدد ١٠٩٣٦ / السبت ٨ تشرين الثاني ٢٠٠٣

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جوسلين الحاج، "حلم إم حسين." الأخبار، الأربعاء ٢٦ أيار ٢٠٠٤

أسمهان ملاك، "نقد المهجر .. في مسرحيات ناجحة: إبتسم أنت في أمريكا." أخبار العرب / العدد ٣٢١-٣٢٢ / ٢٣ نوفمبر ١٩٩٦

محمد العزيز، "فرقة مسرح أجيال من ديترويت إلى كاليفورنيا ... مساحة الإبداع مساحة الإحتراف ..." العربي الأميركي، ٥ تشرين الثاني ١٩٩٧

قاسم ماضي، "قراءة جديدة لصورة الفرد العربي في المهجر: مسرحية أنا مش إرهابية." الحدث / العدد ٢٨ / ١٥ نوفمبر ٢٠٠٢