Comedian Maysoon Zayid Performs on Two Nights in Abu Dhabi at The Arts Center's Red Theater
In the lead up to her two-night comedy show performance (in English on January 15 and in Arabic on January 17) of Bint Balad at the NYUAD Arts Center, Maysoon Zayid joins us on The Arts Center's podcast to chat about performing in Abu Dhabi, working with NYUAD, and the importance of creating an accessible future for individuals with disabilities. She provides insight from her multifaceted career as a comedian, writer, and university professor, and talks about her teaching philosophy, the unique dynamics of teaching a condensed J-Term, the global diversity of her students, her innovative course "Message in a Bottle," and her passion for performing live. Maysoon emphasizes the power and responsibility of storytelling, recounts her personal experiences with disability, and highlights the critical need for designing accessible environments in general. This episode is packed with humor, wisdom, and a powerful call to action for inclusivity and understanding.
Maysoon Zayid is a comedian, actress, writer, and disability advocate. She is a graduate of Arizona State University and a Princeton Fellow, and is the co-founder/co-executive producer of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival and the Muslim Funny Fest. She was a full-time On Air Contributor to Countdown with Keith Olbermann and a columnist for The Daily Beast. She has appeared on 60 Minutes, CNN, ABC News, and the Oprah Winfrey Networks, had the most viewed TED Talk of 2014, and was thrilled to collaborate with Huda Beauty. As a professional comedian, she has sold out top New York clubs and has toured extensively at home and abroad. She was a headliner on the Arabs Gone Wild Comedy Tour and the Together Live Tour. She appeared in the critically acclaimed The Ride Along and has written for Glamour magazine. She limped in New York Fashion Week and is a recurring character on General Hospital. She is the author of the best-selling memoir Find Another Dream and Scholastic’s graphic novel Shiny Misfits. She is also the voice of the central character Bay Ann on the Audible version.
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The Arts Center Podcast at NYUAD
afikra and The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi join forces to bring you captivating interviews with an array of talented performers and artists. From the mesmerizing melodies of Meklit Hadero to the electrifying movements of Herve Koubi, this podcast series showcases the rich tapestry of music, theater, drama and poetry, inviting you to step into the minds of these visionary creators.