- By Mabel Pais
Turkish Comedian CEM YILMAZ will enthrall audiences at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on February 16, 2025 at 8:30 pm.
Get ready to laugh! After a long wait, famous comedian Cem Yılmaz is back on stage with his brand new show CMXXIV. Following his European tour, Yılmaz is bringing his hilarious comedy to North America. The North American leg of his tour will kick off in Toronto, Canada on February 12, followed by shows across Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C. and Miami. Fans can look forward to experiencing fresh material on this original tour.
Cem Yılmaz (Turkish pronunciation: [ˈdʒem jɯɫˈmaz] is a Turkish actor, stand-up comedian, musician, filmmaker, screenwriter, and cartoonist. He has four franchise film series G.O.R.A., Karakomik Fimler, Organize İşler, Vizontele.
AWARDS
Along his professional career, he has won numerous awards and appeared in more than 4000 stand-up comedy shows, took part in 10 movies and contributed as a dubbing performer in 4 movies.
TURKEY’S CELEBRITY
Cem Yilmaz is a household name in Turkey. He is widely regarded as the face of Turkey’s stand-up comedy scene and is arguably Turkey’s most in-demand celebrity. His anecdotal humor and observational comedic style won him critical acclaim in his stand-up comedy act ‘Fundamentals.’ Since then, his career has blossomed into one of the most successful in entertainment. He is also widely respected as a filmmaker and actor.
Cem Yilmaz’ target audience runs the gamut from university students to taxi drivers – an achievement that cannot be overstated in a country all too often known for its deep cultural divide. This unique reach has undoubtedly been pivotal to his success. As a result, the Turkish box offices have been very kind to him; the vast majority of his films are instant blockbusters.
While Cem Yilmaz’ stand-up material is often Turkey-centric, his films have a considerable following abroad. Cem Yilmaz’ films are also popular in Germany, where a large Turkish-German expatriate community flock to his newest releases.
COMEDY
While studying at the Department of Tourism and Hotel Management of Bogazici University, he started drawing comics for the Turkish humor magazine ‘Leman.’ In August 1995 he did his first stand-up comedy show in Leman Culture Center in Istanbul, Turkey performing with no serious career intentions as a comedian. However, after the positive response of the audience, he continued his show to attract larger crowds in Besiktas Cultural Center, Istanbul where he has appeared in over a thousand stand-up comedy shows since, becoming so popular that tickets have sold for the equivalent of US$140.
FILM
His movie career started in 1998 with a co-starring role in the comedy ‘Everything’s Gonna Be Great’ (1998), directed by Ömer Vargi, and continued with a role in ‘Vizontele’ (2001), directed by Yilmaz Erdogan and Ömer Faruk Sorak. He achieved his greatest success by starring in and writing big-budget science-fiction parody G.O.R.A. (2004), also directed by Ömer Faruk Sorak, which became a box-office hit and described by Rekin Teksoy as a strong sign that showed that popular cinema was successful in appealing to wide audiences. He maintained this success with a starring role in the comedy feature movie ‘Magic Carpet Ride’ (2005) AKA ‘Magic Carpet Ride’, also directed by Yilmaz Erdogan, for which he won Best Supporting Actor at the 11th Sadri Alisik Awards, and his directorial debut with ‘The Magician’ (2006), co-directed by Ali Taner Baltaci, for which he won Best Actor at the 34th Brussels International Independent Film Festival and 12th Sadri Alisik Awards.
He has since repeated his box office success with a sequel to ‘G.O.R.A.’ (2004) called ‘A.R.O.G’ (2008), also co-directed by Ali Taner Baltaci, and comedy Western parody called ‘Yahsi Bati – The Ottoman Cowboys’ (2009), directed by Ömer Faruk Sorak. That same year, he co-starred, alongside veteran actor Sener Sen, in the police drama ‘Hunting Season’ (2010), written and directed by Yavuz Turgul, and made a special appearance in drama ‘Zefir’ (2010), written and directed by Belma Bas. After two years he also acted in Ferzan Özpetek’s ‘A Magnificent Haunting’ (2012). After he filmed his last stand-up comedy show ‘CM101MMXI Fundamentals’ (2013) directed by Murat Dündar, he took a break from stand-up comedy.
TICKETS
For tickets to witness Cem Yilmaz, visit NJPAC.org or the box office, or call 888.GO.NJPAC.
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
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NJYS HOSTS OPEN MUSIC REHEARSALS
- By Mabel Pais
The New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS), a program of Wharton Arts, will host a week of free open rehearsals, February 23-27, at 570 Central Avenue in New Providence. Registration and more information can be found online at NJYS.org.
Young musicians in grades 2-11 from around the state are welcome to join this behind-the-scenes look at any of the 15 ensembles of NJYS. Participants can expect to experience the joy of making music in an ensemble setting, meet the passionate NJYS conductors, and immerse themselves in a live rehearsal.
2025 Open Rehearsals Week Schedule
February 23
Jazz Orchestra 1:00-3:30 PM
Jazz Workshop 3:00-4:00 PM
Big Band 3:00-4:00 PM
Faculty Concert 3:00 PM Parents Welcome!
February 24*
Flute Choir 5:00-5:40 PM
Flute Forum 6:30-7:10 PM
Fortissimo Flutes 8:00-8:40 PM
*Location: Wharton Performing Arts School 60 Locust Avenue, Berkeley Heights
February 25
Percussion Ensemble III 4:00-4:45 PM
Sinfonia 5:00-6:00 PM
Youth Symphony 6:30-8:00 PM
February 26
Philharmonia 6:15-7:15 PM
Clarinet Ensemble 6:30-7:00 pm
February 27
Primo Strings 4:30-5:15 PM
Percussion Ensemble II 4:30-5:15 PM
Percussion Ensemble I 6:30-7:15 PM
Concertino Strings 6:15-7:00 PM
Youth Orchestra 6:15-7:45 PM
Wharton Arts
Learn more at whartonarts.org
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Spirituality, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, Business, and Education)