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Arts & Entertainment

Arabic and Broud: Theatre Group Celebrates 25 Years with Series of Shows in Dearborn

AJYAL Theatrical Group will perform its first show, "Me No Terrorist," on Oct. 20 at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center.

Nearly 25 years ago, a group of Arab American college students in southeast Michigan wanted to do something out of the ordinary: theater.

“The Arab American and Lebanese communities were getting bigger, but theater didn’t exist at all,” recalled Najee Mondalek of that time in 1988. “I wanted to try it.”

He created the AJYAL Theatrical Group, and they put on their first play, titled What A Shame.

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“We did the first show in Detroit,” he shared. “Only four people were watching us, but we did the show as if the theater were full.”

Fast forward to 2012, and Mondalek is preparing for the 25th anniversary of his theatrical group, as well as 11 shows they’ve put on over the years. They’re celebrating with a series of revival shows at Dearborn’s Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, starting Oct. 20, after which they'll go on tour with a new show.

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Since that four-person audience in 1988, the show grew steadily. But it wasn’t until an almost disaster in 1994 that the group really hit the big time, right before the start of the show Smile, UR in America.

“It was chaos,” Mondalek recalled. “The lead actress’ dad died and she couldn’t go on.”

The stage director suggested that the only other person who knew the part—Mondalek himself—should play it. The only problem was, the part was that of a woman from the old country named Im Hussein.

Still, Mondalek said, “I walked onto the stage in September 1994. Since that time, I wasn’t able to leave this character.”

Im Hussein provided the anchor the shows needed to keep growing, leading AJYAL across the U.S. and into other countries, performing the shows based on Arab American issues and stereotypes.

Hilarious in nature, director Aziz Charabaty—who has worked with AJYAL since 2000—explained that the plays also carry a serious message.

“Popular culture and media in the U.S. have generated stereotypes,” he explained. “We’re trying to denounce them, and at the same time, unleash this comic element.

“This is what I love about Najee’s plays,” he added. “There’s comedy, but there’s always a message.”

Sometimes, that message is for society at large—about what it is to be an immigrant in a new country. But mostly, Im Hussein and her family have something to say to the Arab American community she emulates, and pokes fun at.

“Most subjects we talk about are problems we face as Arab Americans,” Mondalek said. “You have to learn the language, the customs.”

Never was this more true than in We is American, which focuses on Im Hussein and her husband’s attempts to fit in to American culture after becoming citizens.

“The message was to the community,” Charabaty said. “If you don’t like (America), leave.”

Mondalek said you’ll never see a play from him on political or religious issues, nor will he try to tackle current events like the Terry Jones saga. After all, Im Hussein isn’t here to solve problems—just to make people think.

“When I see a problem, I put it on stage and under the microscope and let them think about it,” Mondalek added. “I always like to let the audience leave with a question.”

Here’s a look at the Dearborn schedule for AJYAL’s plays at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center. Performances are done entirely in Arabic (and comically misguided English), but Mondalek assures that even audiences who don’t speak the language will enjoy the show.

Pick up tickets at the Dearborn Theater website.

  • Me No Terrorist, Oct. 20 at 8 p.m.
  • Arabic & Broud, Jan. 19, 2013 at 8 p.m.
  • We Is American, March 23, 2013 at 8 p.m.
  • Smile, UR in America, May 25, 2013 at 8 p.m.
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