Loading ...Pathbreakers of Arab America—Najee Mondalek
By: John Mason / Arab America Contributing Writer
This is the fifty-seventh of Arab America’s series on American pathbreakers of Arab descent. The series includes personalities from entertainment, business, sports, science, academia, journalism, and politics, among other areas. Our fifty-seventh pathbreaker is Najee Mondalek, a Lebanese American actor who founded AJYAL Theatrical group. Mondalek has been named the Jerry Seinfeld of Arab-American culture for such roles as Im Hussein and such plays as “Arab and Broud.” The everyday lives of Arab Americans are the focus of AJYAL, including their mistakes and mishaps. Najee fell into the role of Im Hussein by accident, as we’ll see.
Lebanese American Najee Mondalek—a genius who turned an older Arab American lady into a comedic cultural hero
Najee Mondalek was born in the village of Jdeidet Marjeyoun during the fractious Lebanese civil war no parent would want their child to grow up in. In Jdeidet Marjeyoun, Najee began to appreciate the role of irony, which played itself out through joking and laughter amid a nasty civil war. He became the village imitator who could mock himself and others.
At age 19, in 1985, Mondalek immigrated to the United States, where he attended Macomb Community College. According to Wikipedia’s series on Arab Americans, “he swapped humorous stories about Arab culture with other Lebanese Students at the school’s student center.”
Mondalek received an associate degree from Macomb Community College in 1988 and later enrolled in Wayne State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in mass communications in 1992. In 1997, he earned his master’s degree in Virtual Reality, 3D Animation, and Visualization from the Academy of Art College in San Francisco, and he returned to Michigan to work for General Motors as a virtual-reality engineer.
Najee wanted to become a successful writer, producer, actor, and director. As he once noted regarding his passion as a playwright, the “roar of the crowd” keeps him going. His passion led to his founding of the AJYAL Theatrical Group in 1988. AJYAL is the first Arab American theatrical group to take its show on the road across the U.S. and Canada. The role of an older Arab American woman, Im Hussein, has become his Dame Edna, the centerpiece of his creative life, starring in six hit comedic plays since “Smile You Are in America,” a comedy about immigrants trying to adjust to their new country.
The main character of the comedy is an older woman named Im Hussein. According to Wikipedia, “Three days before the first performance, the father of the actress playing Im Hussein died. Mondalek couldn’t find anyone to replace her. Thinking about Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire and Dustin Hoffman as Tootsie, Mondalek took the part himself.” The AJYAL Theatrical Group has successfully toured New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Detroit, Portland, Houston, Chicago, Toledo, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Windsor, Sydney & Beirut.
An Arab America report describes how the Group’s shows “poke fun at the everyday lives of Arab Americans, who have recently become citizens and who are desperately trying to blend into the mainstream of American culture. The plays serve as a forum to help people laugh at their mistakes and mishaps and come to terms with social issues facing Arab Americans, such as their difficulties adjusting to a new culture and lifestyle. These performances, like music, art, and other entertainment media, are an important piece of the fabric of Arab-American culture.”
Some samples of AJYAL’s shows—all aimed at tickling the funny bone
(The following summaries are derived from Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias.)
“What a Shame”–Arabic قصّتنا قصّة حكايتنا جرصة”
This is the first show performed by Ajyal Theatrical Group on May 12, 1989. Around that time, Lebanon had a big problem: civil war. But people who might have been at each other’s throats in Lebanon were getting along just fine in America, and the first play Mondalek wrote was about why people in Lebanon seemed unable to get together.
“We Became American, Finally”–Arabic تأمركنا يا سندي”
Performed during the 1996-1997 season, the play depicts Im Hussein and Bou Hussein, her husband of 40 years, when they finally become American citizens. Bou Hussein updated his wardrobe and decided to buy a jazzy American car to make himself attractive to the opposite sex. Yes, Bou Hussein goes looking for a girlfriend! Meanwhile, Im Hussein is too busy to immediately notice what is happening under her nose because she insists on blending into mainstream America. Along the way, the paths of this popular husband and wife duo are littered with complications, language mix-ups, and hilarious adjustments to American customs. The show is the most hilarious and successful one AJYAL Theatrical Group has ever performed.
“Habby Bairday”–“Arabic هبّي باردي”
The show dazzled the audience with colorful stage sets, creatively choreographed dances, a cast of more than 38, and a reprise of familiar skits from previous shows. It was designed to celebrate the 10th birthday of AJYAL’s first theatrical production in the United States. Im Hussein, the central character, reigned supremely funny, playing off her familiar cast mates. In a broader sweep, Najee punctuates the production with poignant, thought-provoking moments.
“Arabic and Broud”–Arabic عربي و راسي مرفوع” For the beloved Im Hussein, who seems to court trouble innocently, the road to rehabilitation is paved with good intentions. Having been arrested and jailed for ten months in “Me No Terrorist,” she arrives home determined to contribute to society positively. She and her good friend, Im Elias, decided to start an organization for young Arab Americans with the goals of projecting a positive image of Arabs and educating Americans about Arab culture and people. As usual, Im Hussein has good intentions, but in typical fashion, her knowledge of English proves to be her downfall.
When writing the Articles of Incorporation for her new organization, she and Im Elias encounter difficulties beyond their imagination. Somehow, when naming the organization in Arabic and translating it word for word into English, they arrive at the name “Kill Organization.” The objectives -again confused in translation- are to recruit Arab Americans to sacrifice their lives for their country and teach the world a lesson about Arabs. Errors abound, making a situation that is alternately humorous and sobering. When they forward their application to the state and city offices, the offices notify the authorities, including none other than the FBI. Just what Im Hussein needs!
“My One and Only”—’Ma Eli Ghayro’
One of Mondalek’s most recent plays, “My One and Only,” an Arab American play that explores divorce and family among Arab Americans. Exploring the ups and downs of divorce, it took place on Saturday, January 27 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Im Hussein is, of course, the lead role, and she and her husband Hussein are going through a messy divorce, which causes her to ponder the adage, “When it rains, it pours.” Many problems came her way all at once. Divorce was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Life has not been the same for her ever since. She struggles to resume her everyday life but comes up short, a synopsis for the play reads. This play is not all funny but explores all the angles of divorce in the Arab American context.
Najee Mondalek is a genius of comedy who crisscrosses two cultures and shows both the joy and pain as Arabs navigate the often-strange landscape of their new American culture and society. He and his troupe deserve kudos for transiting the sometimes-precipitous crisscrossing of the Arab-American chasm.
Im Hussein is currently on an international tour; for tour dates in a city near you, go to www.imhussein.com.
Najee Mondalek (Im Hussein) will perform at the Connect Arab America: Empowerment Summit, which will be held October 25-26 in Dearborn, Michigan. For more information, CLICK HERE.
Sources:
–“Najee Mondalek,” Wikipedia Series on Arab Americans, 2024
–“AJYAL Theatrical Group,” Arab America (no date)
–“Biography, Najee Mondalek,” Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias, (no date)
–“‘My One and Only’: Arab-American play explores divorce and family at Zoellner,” Lehigh Valley News, 1/24/2024
John Mason, Ph.D, focuses on Arab culture, society, and history, is the author of LEFT-HANDED IN AN ISLAMIC WORLD: An Anthropologist’s Journey into the Middle East, New Academia Publishing, 2017. He has taught at the University of Libya, Benghazi, Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, and the American University in Cairo; John served with the United Nations in Tripoli, Libya, and consulted extensively on socioeconomic and political development for USAID and the World Bank in 65 countries.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Arab America.
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