By Mabel Pais

Pioneering Egyptian comedian Bassem Youssef, is set to perform his English-language solo show, ‘The Middle Beast,’ at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Friday, February 16th, at 7:00 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.

You’re guaranteed to laugh all night long!

Dubbed the Jon Stewart of the Arab World, cardiac surgeon Bassem Youssef hosted the popular TV show Al Bernameg – the first political satire show in the Middle East. Originally a 5-minute presentation on YouTube, Al Bernameg became the first online-to-TV conversion in the Middle East and the most-watched performance across the region, with 30 million viewers every week and over a million subscribers to its YouTube channel.

In recognition of his success, Youssef was named among Time Magazine’s most influential list for 2013 – under the “Pioneers” category, was awarded the International Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and was chosen by Foreign Policy magazine as one of the global thinkers during the same year.

Youssef currently performs his one-person show, THE MIDDLE BEAST, around the globe. The first title in Bassem’s children’s book series, ‘The Magical Reality of Nadia,’ was published by Scholastic on February 2nd, 2021, and is currently being developed as an animated series. Bassem can be seen in MO (Netflix), RAMY (Hulu), LIONESS (Paramount+) and UPLOAD (Amazon). Learn more at bassemyoussef.xyz.

TICKETS

To see Bassem Youssef perform, visit njpac.org or the NJPAC Box Office or call 888. GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722).

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)

Follow NJPAC Online:

Website:     njpac.org

Twitter:      @NJPAC

Instagram:    @NJPAC

Hashtag:     #NJPAC

Facebook:     facebook.com/NJPAC

YouTube:      NJPACtv

Follow NJPAC’s Standing in Solidarity Series Online:

Website: njpac.org/takeastand

Hashtag: #NJPACTakeAStand

Youtube: Standing in Solidarity playlist

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FAMILIES CELEBRATE LUNAR NEW YEAR MARKING REUNION AND REBIRTH

By Mabel Pais

The Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM) invites families to celebrate the Year of the Dragon on Sunday, February 11. The museum is located at 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visitors will learn about the traditions of Lunar New Year through live music, dance performances, and kung fu workshops with the New York Chinese Cultural Center, storytelling with authors Michele Wong McSween and Yobe Qiu, calligraphy workshops with artist Nelson Leung, and a lion dance parade led by the Chinatown Community Young Lions.

“We look forward to our Lunar New Year celebration every year, as do our visitors,” says BCM President and CEO Atiba T. Edwards. “Lunar New Year is a time of joy and renewal, celebrated by diverse communities across Asia and by millions of Asian Americans here in our city. This year New York declared that Lunar New Year will become an official public school holiday, and we invite families and caregivers to bring their children to the Museum to experience the vibrant traditions of this holiday through incredible live performances and hands-on activities. The Year of the Dragon and the dragon are the embodiment of progress and success, which feels very fitting for the future we all want to create and be part of creating.”

This year’s festival features programs that include: 

Intro to Kung Fu

Get an up-close demonstration of kung fu, presented by martial artists from the New York Chinese Cultural Center. Following the presentation visitors are invited to take part in a hands-on workshop that introduces kung fu and teaches basic stances, strikes, and other techniques.

The Story of Lunar New Year

Join the New York Chinese Cultural Center in BCM’s auditorium to discover the traditions of Lunar New Year. This 30-minute program features a variety of performances including a youth choir, Chinese folk music, and classical dance pieces.

Traditional Lion Dance

Gather in the BCM lobby to participate in a traditional lion dance to bring luck in the new year. Performers from the Chinatown Community Young Lions will lead this parade with full-scale, authentic lion dance costumes!

Storytelling with author Yobe Qiu

Meet author Yobe Qiu and participate in an interactive reading of Yobe’s book, ‘Our Lunar New Year.’ This program includes an introduction to Lunar New Year traditions and customs, followed by a 30-minute fan painting and lantern-making workshop.

Storytelling with author Michele Wong McSween

Hear stories read aloud by children’s book author Michele Wong McSween! This program will include a mini mandarin lesson and an interactive reading of Michele’s book ‘Gordon & Li Li: Celebrate Chinese New Year.’

Calligraphy Workshop

BCM invites visitors to its ColorLab Art Studio to learn about and create your own Chinese calligraphy using brush and ink. Artist Nelson Leung will share his work, guide the project, and explain the significance of Chinese calligraphy.

Scales of a Dragon

What’s your wish for the New Year? Contribute to a community art project by writing your hopes and goals down on a paper ‘scale,’ then adding it to BCM’s Big Dragon along the ColorLab Art Studio wall.

Note: All programs are subject to change.

TICKETS

To purchase tickets, visit brooklynkids.org/programs/lunar-new-year.

Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year is a holiday that celebrates the beginning of the New Year on the traditional Chinese calendar. While based on the Chinese calendar, Lunar New Year is also celebrated in Korea, Singapore, Mongolia, Tibet, Vietnam, and in Asian communities worldwide.

The Chinese calendar is on a 12-year cycle, with each year linked to one of a dozen animals — the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Vietnam is the only country that celebrates the year of the cat. This year, BCM is excited to celebrate the Year of the Dragon.

Lunar New Year is seen as a time of reunion and rebirth, marking the end of winter and the start of spring. Homes are thoroughly cleaned to sweep away old ill fortune to make room for coming good luck, and fireworks are set off to ward off evil monsters and bad luck. Celebrants decorate their homes and wear outfits using the colors red and gold, which symbolize good fortune.

Brooklyn Children’s Museum

For more information, visit brooklynkids.org.

(Mabel Pais writes on Social Issues, Spirituality, The Arts and Entertainment, Education, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, and Business)