As a teenager, the comedian Mo Amer went to watch Bill Cosby perform live in Houston and he has never forgotten the awe and excitement of that experience. It was exactly then that he began seeing comedy as an art form and as part of his future.
Now, Amer says he is dubbed the Arab-American Cosby in newspaper reviews around the world - a comparison he finds both flattering and uncomfortable.
Tonight, Amer will perform at the DIFC's Gramercy as an introduction to the new monthly series of stand-up comedy, which is expected to start in September, by the Dubai-based Jamil Abu Wardeh, who produced the Axis of Evil comedy tour.
The show
Amer is the only Arab-American comedian to have performed for the US troops and coalition forces and is part of the Allah Made Me Funny: The Official Muslim Comedy Tour. He will be bringing his solo show Legally Homeless: Trials of a Refugee to Dubai, where he looks at the absurdities of terror, politics, being a refugee in the US and working as a travelling comedian. The project will also be a documentary.
Amer said his routines aim to promote cultural understanding.
"Most places I have been in America, people have rarely, if ever, had interactions with an Arab-American or Muslim. Meeting your supposed enemy can soften the heart," he said. "Comedy allows space for expression and opinion. I find it becomes a powerful medium for breaking down walls of ignorance."
Dubai audiences should expect a fun, yet universal, show.
"I know the [UAE comedy] scene is in its infancy compared to the US, but it's in great hands and comedians are working hard and putting in lots of effort," said Amer.
His "ultimate goal" is to film a Showtime special here.
A screenplay about a Palestinian Muslim living in Palestine, Texas, who is illegally elected mayor, is also in the works.
Just for laughs
The reason for introducing Middle Eastern stand-up to the region is to "change the script," said Abu Wardeh. He first heard of Amer's work during a Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal in 2008, and noticed his great on-stage energy.
"Comedy gives a sugar-coated voice to more serious issues," says Abu Wardeh. "Arab actors like Duraid Lahham in Syria and Adel Imam in Egypt used comedy to express the frustrations of a generation and two decades later, you have revolutions in their respective countries."
Abu Wardeh also has his eyes set on comedians such as Sugar Sammy, Dean Obeidallah, Nina Conti, Louis CK and Eddie Izzard, and hopes they will be on board come September for the monthly stand-up comedy nights in Dubai.
Mo Amer will perform tonight at The Gramercy, DIFC, at 9pm. For tickets, which cost Dh120 and include a complimentary beverage, call 04 437 7511 to book in advance
