Bassem Youssef

The Town Hall Presents Gods & Savages: A Literary Series

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THE TOWN HALL PRESENTS | SPRING 2017

Gods & Savages: A Literary Series

PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STRAND BOOKS STORE

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The Town Hall Presents Gods & Savages: A Literary Series

Tuesday March 21 2017, 8pm

BASSEM YOUSSEF “Revolution for Dummies: Laughing through the arab Spring” published by harper collins

THE TOWN HALL 123 W 43rD sT nyc

LARRY ZUCKER, Executive Director M.A. PAPPER, Artistic Director CINDY BYRAM, Publicity BILL DEHLING, Technical Director Booking Representation: PomeGRaNate aRtS Linda Brumbach Alisa E. Regas Adam Thorburn Rachel Katwan Jeremy Lydic Jadd Tank Willa Folmar

Founder and Director Managing Director, Creative Business Manager Associate General Manager Production Manager Office Manager Production Assistant

BASSEM YOUSSEF

Bassem Youssef, dubbed the Jon Stewart of the Arab World, was the host of popular TV show AlBernameg - which was the first of its kind political satire show in the Middle East. Originally a 5-minute show on YouTube, AlBernameg became the first online to TV conversion in the Middle East and the most watched show across the region with 30 million viewers every week.

AlBernameg received wide acclaim around the world with coverage in some of the biggest media outlets, topping it off with Youssef’s appearance on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart twice in June 2012 and April 2013. In June 2013, Youssef hosted Jon Stewart on AlBernameg in Cairo marking the second season’s peak.

Throughout its three seasons AlBernameg remained controversial through its humorous yet bold criticism of the ruling powers, which led to tens of lawsuits being filed against the show and its host. Youssef was even issued an arrest warrant in March 2013 and turned himself in the next day where he was questioned for five hours and released on bail. In recognition of his success, Youssef was named among the Time Magazine most influential list for 2013 under the “Pioneers” category, was awarded the International Press Freedom Award by the CPJ, and was chosen by Foreign Policy magazine as one of the global thinkers during the same year.

During its third season, the show achieved unprecedented weekly viewership ratings for 11 consecutive weeks. In June 2014, and after a six-week break, AlBernameg team held a press conference where Youssef announced the termination of the show due to overwhelming pressures on both the show and the airing channel.

In the spring of 2015 Youssef served as a resident fellow at the Institute of Politics at the John F Kennedy School of Government for one semester. During his stay in the US he appeared twice as a Senior Middle East Correspondent on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, commenting on the recent political situation in the region. He has recently hosted the International Emmy Awards gala of 2015, as well as the 49th Carthage Film Festival in Tunis.

Youssef’s most recent projects include Democracy Handbook, a ten-part series exploring topics of democracy on fusion.net, and the launch of a new book, Revolution for Dummies: Laughing Through the Arab Spring in the spring of 2017.

Youssef majored in cardiothoracic surgery, passed the United States Medical License Exam (USMLE) and is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS).

Cover Photo by Yehia Elzeiny Facing Photo by Coucla Refaat

“Revolution for Dummies: Laughing through the Arab Spring” - Published by Harper Collins

MAJOR GIFTS, CORPORATE, FOUNDATION & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT This program is supported, in part, by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with The City Council. We would like to thank the following foundations, corporations, and government institutions for their support: Achelis and Bodman Foundation

The Hearst Foundations, Inc.

The Actors Fund

Hurst Foundation

Affiliated Advisors

Hyde and Watson Foundation

Bank of America

Israel Consulate

Bruce Weber and Nan Bush Foundation

Jewish Communal Fund

Charina Endowment Fund Cohn Foundation Consolidated Edison Company of New York Jean and Louis Dreyfus Foundation Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation

JP Morgan Chase Jujamcyn Theaters Edythe Kenner Foundation Lewis QVC Trust Local One S&P Global Mex-Am Cultural Foundation

Ernst & Young

Morgan Stanley

Robert Evanson

Nash Family Foundation

Ford Foundation

Nederlander Organization

Dr. Charlotte K. Frank

Nelson Foundation

Garber Atlas Fries & Associates

Nesenoff & Miltenberg, LLP

Anne and Gordon Getty Foundation

New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council

New York City Council Member, Daniel Garodnick John Gore/Key Brand Entertainment William T. Grant Foundation Harkness Foundation for Dance

New York State Council on the Arts Henry Nias Foundation Pinkerton Foundation PwC Reed Foundation

Pamela and Richard Rubinstein Foundation Rudin Foundation Shubert Foundation The Shubert Organization, Inc. John Ben Snow Memorial Trust Theatre Refreshments Ticketmaster Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund Joyce and George Wein Foundation, Inc. Wenner Foundation West New York Restoration Project Zegar Family Foundation Susan Zohn John Ben Snow Memorial Trust Theatre Refreshments Ticketmaster Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund Joyce and George Wein Foundation, Inc. Wenner Foundation West New York Restoration Project Zegar Family Foundation Susan Zohn

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