Abu Dhabi Summer Season 2016 is back, and it’s bigger and better. This weekend, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority launches its annual programme with the tagline Fun For All. The selection of events is vast, from appearances by international stand-up comics D L Hughley and Marlon Wayans to a concert by Arab stars via magic shows and acrobatic acts.
This is also a year of many firsts: there is a month-long segment targeted specifically at teenagers, the world premiere of Japanese manga movie One Piece Film: Gold, a two-day Arab comedy festival, and no less than three Bollywood concerts headlined by some of India's biggest stars, including Farhan Akhtar. Here's a quick look at what's on offer – mark your calendars.
Bollywood nights
Shaan
• August 11, Emirates Palace
The Indian singer takes the stage accompanied by soon-to-be-revealed top musicians and vocalists. His latest single, Tum Ho Toh, was released on June 14. Shaan is one of the very few Indians to have collaborated with international pop stars – Blue for One Love and Michael Learns to Rock for Take Me To Your Heart. Shaan was a coach on The Voice India, and will be seen on TV screens this month as a judge on The Voice India Kids.
• Tickets Dh145 to Dh245 www.platinumlist.net
Farhan Akhtar and Vishal-Shekhar
• August 11, du Forum
Last in the UAE in 2013 for Dubai Music Week, Indian director, actor and singer Farhan Akhtar makes his Abu Dhabi debut with a special music concert to mark India's Independence Day (August 15). Akhtar will be joined by musicians Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani – expect to hear songs from Salman Khan's new film, Sultan, which is out on Eid weekend.
• Tickets from Dh150 at www.ticketmaster.ae
Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy
• August 13, du Forum
Musicians, pictured from left, Ehsaan Noorani, Loy Mendonsa and Shankar Mahadevan, will play old favourites as well as their latest compositions – including songs from Rock On!! 2, starring Farhan Akhtar.
• Tickets from Dh150 at www.ticketmaster.ae
The comedy
The Kapil Sharma Comedy Show ≥
• August 12, Al Raha Beach Theatre
India's most widely watched TV comedian is bringing his brand of exuberant Hindi stand-up to Abu Dhabi for the first time. His latest TV show, The Kapil Sharma Show, has hosted the likes of Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar.
• Tickets from Dh200 at www.virginmegastore.ae
Heart For Sale
• August 4, Abu Dhabi National Theatre
• September 1-2, Al Ain Municipality
Kuwaiti comedian Tareq Al Ali’s three-hour long comedy show brings with it plenty of laughs. Ali plays a poor man who agrees to sell his heart to a wealthy man needing a heart transplant, but matters get complicated when both men get stuck on a malfunctioning plane. Also starring GCC actors Ahmad Al Faraj and Mais Kamar.
• Tickets from Dh250 at www.ticketmaster.ae
Marlon Wayans
• August 19, Emirates Palace
The youngest of the prodigious Wayans Brothers is known for his big-screen gigs in White Chicks, the Scary Movie franchise and most recently Fifty Shades of Black. Wayans has also just announced he's about to start work on a new NBC show, Marlon, loosely based on his own life. Based on previous stand-up gigs Wayans has performed so far this year in the United States, his Abu Dhabi show promises to be revealing and riotously funny.
• Tickets from Dh145 at www.platinumlist.net
Comedy Superstar
• September 9, Al Raha Theatre
Three members of American comedy royalty are coming together to raise some laughs. Eddie Griffin (Eddie Sherman on the 1990s sitcom Malcolm & Eddie) is joined by D L Hughley, the original host of the stand-up comedy show ComicView, and Charlie Murphy, a writer and cast member of the Comedy Central sketch-comedy series Chappelle's Show who also happens to be Eddie Murphy's brother.
• Tickets from Dh145 at www.platinumlist.net
Arab Comedy Festival
• September 9-10, Town Square, Yas Mall
Popular Emirati satirist Bin Baz hosts the first night, which features live stand-up comedy performances by Saudi comedy trio Fadi Al Shehri, Ibrahim Saleh and Ibrahim Khairallah. The pranksters are popular on social media and host their own YouTube shows.
The second evening will see UAE YouTuber and internet RJ Taim Al Falasi present on stage Jordanian stand-up pro Rajae Qawas, known for his YouTube channel Kharabeesh; young Lebanese comedian and social media influencer Darin Al Bayed; and Fahad Albutairi, whose YouTube show La Yekthar has more than a million subscribers.
• Tickets from Dh100 at www.ticketmaster.ae
Teen and young adults
The District
• August 18 to September 17, du Forum
This new event is designed to give those aged between 14 and 22 a creative outlet. The area is divided into five areas – park, alley, dome, street and block and the schedule includes workshops on smartphone photography, gaming, 3-D design, acting and fashion.
• Open daily; weekends feature an additional line-up of workshops and informal discussions. One-day pass is Dh100, weekend-pass Dh175, season pass is Dh1000 from www.abudhabisummerseason.ae
Just kidding
Hello Kitty Live Fashion and Friends
• July 7 – Culture Centre, Western Region; July 8 – Al Ain Municipality, Al Ain; July 9 – Al Raha Theatre, Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi plays host to the world premiere of this live interactive show, starring the iconic Japanese cat, to tunes by Bruno Mars and Kylie Minogue.
• Tickets from Dh75 at www.TixBox.com
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Musical
• August 4, Al Ain Municipality Theatre; August 5 and 6, Al Raha Theatre.
The loveable rodents of rock hit the stage for this show based on the movie franchise, which boasts plenty of dazzling special effects. The chipmunks will be warbling tunes by One Direction, Maroon 5, Christina Aguilera and Elvis Presley.
• Tickets go on sale soon
Dinosaur Zoo Live
• July 7 – 9, Emirates Palace
A team of skilled performers and puppeteers are bringing dinosaurs back from extinction for this theatrical show. The lifelike creatures – from cute baby dinos to gruesome flesh-eaters – will boost your kids’ prehistoric trivia and give them the chance to cuddle a dinosaur.
• Tickets Dh75 to Dh95 www.platinumlist.net or call 04 314 8222
Family
Jamie Raven Illusion Show
• July 8 and 9, Emirates Palace
British illusionist Jamie Raven made his mark on the TV show Britain's Got Talent last year. Fresh from headlining the West End show The Illusionists, Raven's debut world tour promises a mix of visual illusions, card tricks and interactive special effects.
• Tickets from Dh150 at www.ticketmaster.ae
Cirque Adrenaline
• August 18 and 19, Al Raha Theatre
True to its name, this nail-biting circus brings together some of the world’s bravest stuntmen and nimblest acrobats in a series of perilous circus acts, from flame-wielding fire spinners and jaw-dropping contortionists to death-defying motorcyclists.
• Tickets Dh95 to Dh195 from www.TixBox.com or call 056 675 68 34/35
Fun Nation
• July 14 to August 6, du Forum
Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob will perform and help out with games and workshops for the youngest visitors, who will also be learning to cook up healthy treats in the kitchen. Popular UK cartoon character Shaun the Sheep inspires the “Championsheep” games – such as a sack race in which participants dress up as Bitzer the Dog. A live on-air game titled Tasali will be screened daily on MBC3, in which viewers play a video game against a computerised system.
• Adults Dh40, child Dh20, from www.ticketmaster.ae
[ www.abudhabisummerseason.ae ]
artslife@thenational.ae
