BREAKING BARRIERS THROUGH LAUGHTER
Rabbi Bob Alper and Nazareth, a Christian Arab-American, join forces for a night of stand-up in “Comedy for Peace!” The performance is preceded by a 30-minute auction benefiting Seeds of Peace, a nonprofit, nonpolitical organization that brings together young Israelis and Arabs in a summer camp in the hopes of fostering peace in the Middle East. While this is the first time that the two comedians are working together, Alper has frequently performed with Ahmed Ahmed, with whom Alper says he has an “open marriage” comedically.
Ahmed “auditions for sitcoms; I perform with other comics. But we still love each other best,” Alper told the Forward in an e-mail. Adam Christing — president of Clean Comedians, an entertainment company committed to making audiences laugh without embarrassing them —organized “Comedy for Peace” because he wanted to “do something” about the situation in the Middle East, he told the Forward. Having noticed that “laughter breaks down barriers,” Christing ran the idea by the two comedians; after finding out about Seeds of Peace, the project came together. Audience members receive a free T-shirt, dessert and other giveaways.
JT Schmid’s, 2610 E. Katella Blvd., Anaheim; Aug. 2, 7 p.m.; $69; The Doubletree Hotel in Santa Monica, 1707 4th St.; Aug. 3, 7 p.m.; $69. (310-205-3995 or www.cleancomedians.com)
