Dr. Maya Angelou joins Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour at May 29 Toronto show

Famed poet Dr. Maya Angelou to open for Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Troupe

Chicago -- Poet, playwright, producer, director, conductor, actor, author, and social activist, the remarkable Dr. Maya Angelou will make a special appearance May 29 in Toronto, Canada to launch The Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour in North America.

The show is being booked by Howard Szigeti, producer of the acclaimed Unique Lives & Experiences Women's Lecture Series, and features Daily-Herald Columnist and standup comedian Ray Hanania.

A veteran journalist named "Best Ethnic American Columnist for 2006/2007" by the New America Media in November, Hanania entered standup comedy as an effort to promote peace between Palestinians and Israelis, Arabs and Jews. Hanania has performed around the country including at Carolines on Broadway, the New York Comedy Club, and in the Chicago area at the Schaumburg Comedy Spot and Riddles Comedy Club in Orland Park.

Dr. Angelou recently learned of this new "Peace Through Comedy" initiative called The Israeli Palestinian Comedy Tour and asked to be a part of the landmark event, which premiered before sold-out audiences Jan. 23 to Israeli and Palestinian audiences in Tel Aviv and West Jerusalem in Israel, and in East Jerusalem.

Hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary literature, Dr. Angelou travels the world, spreading her legendary wisdom of peace and love through the sheer beauty of her words and lyrics.

Hanania is joined by Israeli American comedian Charley Warady, former Irish Catholic convertand Israeli citizen Yisrael Campbell and African American convert Aaron Freeman, who is a veteran of Chicago area comedy clubs and the famed Second City. It is the first time Palestinian and Israeli comedians have ever toured together.

Warady and Hanania met on the Internet when Warady was researching his former Chicago neighborhood, Pill Hill, on the city's Southeast Side. As it turned out, Warady and Hanania attended the same school, only a few years apart. When Warady, who is an Israeli citizen and has been living in Israel for th epast 10 years, emailed Hanania to note the ties, Hanania asked Warady if he would perform comedy on the same stage as a Palestinian.

"Warady immediately accepted and together, we were able to enlist several other comedians including Yisrael Campbell, who is very popular in Israeli comedy clubs, and Chicago's very own Aaron Freeman," Hanania said.

"This tour differs from other Middle East comedy groups because most Arabs will not appear with Israelis, although they will appear with 'Jews.' I think that is hypocritical and decided to break the Arab taboo, performing not just with Jewish comedians but also Israeli comedians," Hanania said. "The audiences, Israeli and Palestinian, overwhelming agreed that this is needed."

The group is hoping to plan performances in Chicago. Hanania's first venture into standup comedy in August 2002 exploded in international headlines when Jewish Comedian Jackie Mason refused to allow him to perform on the same stage at Zanies Comedy Club because Hanania is Palestinian.

The group's web site is www.IPComedyTour.com.

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JUST FYI: PRESS RELEASE DETAILS

For Immediate Release: March 20, 2007 • Please include in listings/announcements

Three Jews, an Arab and Dr. Maya Angelou walk into a bar …

MAYA ANGELOU TO MAKE SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AT THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN COMEDY TOUR

Peace Through ComedyLive on Stage at Roy Thomson Hall

One Night Only, May 29, 2007

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

"We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike."
Human Family, Maya Angelou

Poet, playwright, producer, director, conductor, actor, author, and social activist, the remarkable Dr. Maya Angelou will make a special appearance in Toronto to christen THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN COMEDY TOUR in North America.

A long time friend and colleague of presenter Howard Szigeti (producer of the acclaimed Unique Lives & Experiences Women's Lecture Series), Dr. Angelou recently learned of this new Peace Through Comedy initiative, THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN COMEDY TOUR, and wanted to be part of the landmark event.

Hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary literature, Dr. Angelou travels the world, spreading her legendary wisdom of peace and love through the sheer beauty of her words and lyrics.

Israeli American Charley Warady, Palestinian American Ray Hanania, former Irish Catholic convert Yisrael Campbell and African American convert Aaron Freeman will grace the same stage, the first time Palestinian and Israeli comics have ever toured together, for THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN COMEDY TOUR, launching in Toronto at Roy Thomson Hall on May 29, 2007.

I note the obvious differences/in the human family. Some of us are serious,/some thrive on comedy.

… We are more alike, my friends,/than we are unalike. Human Family, Maya Angelou

THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN COMEDY TOUR
With Special Guest Dr. Maya Angelou
Live on Stage at Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe Street
One Night Only, Tuesday, May 29, 2007 @ 8pm
Tickets range from $49 - $69 (incl. taxes) and can be purchased at http://www.roythomson.com or by calling 416.872-4255or in person at Roy Thomson Hall box office
Peace Through Comedy!
www.ipcomedytour.com

Media Contact: Carrie Sager, FLIP Publicity & Promotions Inc., 416.533.7710X224
carrie@flip-publicity.com • www.flip-publicity.com

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