Ali Declares "Aywa, and..." For Arab(ish) Improv Show

New York City's comedy scene got a vibrant new flavor this Memorial Day Weekend as the Arab(ish) Improv Show took the stage at the Balance Arts Center in Herald Square on May 24th. The evening of spontaneous comedy and cultural celebration marked the group's third successful show, and notably, it was Ali's debut with their talented roster of Arabic-speaking performers.

From left to right: Moud Sabra, Maria Bechara, Assef Badr, Anissa Naji, Meshal Alsunaid, Tarik Kdiry, Liana Afuni, Joseph Murad, Islam Balbaa, Ali Nasser.

The Arab(ish) Improv Show is the brainchild of fellow Egyptian actor Islam Balbaa, who heads the Arabic Theater Company in New York. The shows, featuring a talented ensemble of New York-based Arabic-speaking actors, offered audiences a fresh and hilarious take on improv comedy. Their dynamic chemistry and quick wit shone through in every scene, proving that laughter truly is a universal language. The comedy troupe captivated the full-house audiences with scenes involving vampires navigating garlic shawarma, TSA agents harassing Arab speakers at the airport, and an impromptu wedding at Wall Street, leaving them in stitches and clamoring for more.

For Ali, joining this team represented both a homecoming and a creative revival. The opportunity to perform in his native tongue allowed him to reconnect with his cultural roots while simultaneously reviving his passion for improv comedy after years of training at the Upright Citizens Brigade in New York. What made the evening particularly special was how it transcended language barriers—while the troupe's Arabic fluency added authenticity and cultural depth, the universal nature of physical comedy, timing, and human situations ensured that even non-Arabic speaking audience members were fully engaged throughout the show. The evening proved that exceptional comedic talent can entertain and create connections that go beyond linguistic boundaries. Credit goes to the extremely talented troupe members for making the show a success: Maria Bechara, Meshal Alsunaid, Liana Afuni, Moud Sabra, Anissa Naji, Assef Badr, Joseph Mourad, and Tarik Kdiry.

Stay tuned for the next show announcement, cause it certainly won’t be the last.