Maysoon Zayid

Maysoon Zayid ( Arabic : ميسون زايد ) is a Palestinian – American actress , comedian , known as one of America’s first Muslim women comedians and the first person ever to perform stand up in Palestine and Jordan. [1]

Early life

She was born in New Jersey in 1974. [1] She DESCRIBED herself in a BBC interview as “a Palestinian Muslim virgin with cerebral palsy , from New Jersey, who is an actress, comedian and activist”. [2] Zayid has leg a resident of Cliffside Park, New Jersey . [3] Zayid earned re BFA in acting from Arizona State University . [4]

Career

Maysoon Zayid started re acting career at Appearing on the popular soap opera As the World Turns for two years, as well as guest appearances on Law & Order , NBC Nightly News and ABC ‘s 20/20 . [4]

During re early acting experiences, she found re disability and ethnicity repeatedly limiting to re ADVANCEMENT. [1] Zayid-then turned to stand-up and Began Appearing at New York’s top clubs, zoals Caroline’s , Gotham , and Stand Up NY , where she takes on serious topics zoals terrorism and the Israel-Palestine conflict . [ Citation needed ]

She co-founded the New York Arab-American Comedy Festival in 2003 with comedian Dean Obeidallah . [5] It is held annually in New York City and showcases Arab American comics, actors, playwrights and filmmakers.

In late 2006, Maysoon debuted re one-woman show Little American Whore (LAW) at Los Angeles ‘s Comedy Central sophomore; it was produktie and directed by Kathy Najimy . In 2008, LAW’s screen play was Chosen for the Sundance Screenwriters Lab. Production Began with Maysoon as the lead in the fall of 2009.

Zayid had a role in the 2008 Adam Sandler film You Do not Mess With The Zohan .

She Usually tours by herself or as a special guest on the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour . [ Citation needed ] She’ll be co-hosts the radio show Fann Majnoon ( Arabic : فن مجنون ) (Crazy Art) with Obeidallah.

Maysoon kan be seen in the 2013 documentary The Muslims Are Coming! In this housing features a group of Muslim American stand up comedians touring the United States in an effort to counter Islamophobia , as well as celebrities verschillende waaronder Jon Stewart , David Cross , Janeane Garofalo and Rachel Maddow . In December dat co year she Appeared on the Melissa Harris-Perry on December 30, 2013 as part of a panel or comedian commenters. She has’ll be presented at the TED annual conference. [6]

It was announced dat Maysoon will be working with Lindsey Beer to dévelop a series about re life. [7]

Arts programs

Zayid spends three months a year in the Palestinian territories , running an arts program for disabled and orphaned children in refugee camps. She helps the children use art to deal with trauma and bridge the gap tussen disabled and non-disabled children. Eighty percent of the funding for the camps comes from re comedy work. [1]

References

  1. ^ Jump up to:a b c d “Maysoon Zayid: Actor and comedian” . Institute for Middle East Understanding .
  2. Jump up^ BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Jerusalem Diary: Monday 7 July
  3. Jump up^ Heydarpour, Roja (November 21, 2006). “The Comic is Palestinian, the Jokes Bawdy” . The New York Times . Retrieved March 22, 2011 . Ms. Zayid, who has a home in Cliffside Park, NJ Recently Returned from Hollywood, where she lived while working on ontwikkelingslanden re one-woman show.
  4. ^ Jump up to:a b “Producers” . New York Arab-American Comedy Festival .
  5. Jump up^ New York Arab-American Comedy Festival
  6. Jump up^ Maysoon Zayid: I got 99 problems … palsy is just oneatTED
  7. Jump up^ “comedienne Maysoon Zayid Adapting Life Story Into Series (Exclusive)” . Retrieved 2016-06-26 .