Governors State University displayed a sense of diversity on campus with the showing of Im Hussein Jubilee Show in the Center for Performing Arts on October 19.
With a show both in Arabic and English, the performers of Im Hussein Jubilee Show kept the entire audience enticed and on the edge of their seats. The Ajyal Theatrical Group has been in business for 25 years and continues their success with the various tours to over 15 locations in the United States.
GSU student Jineen Natour enjoyed the show. “It was great to see a mix at our school,” said Natour. “It was hilarious and I can’t wait for the next show.”
The main character, Im Hussein, is played by Najee Mondalek, who is also the producer and writer of all Ajyal Theatrical Group plays. He was eager to have one of his shows take place in Chicago, a city which holds one of the largest Arab populations in the United States.
Im Hussein is a female character played by a male actor, which gives the show a funny twist on the reality of the daily life of Arabs and Muslims.
“The audience fell in love with this character and I don’t know what the secret is,” Mondalek says. “Im Hussein is a mix of so many personalities and I meet a lot of people in real life that I compare to her. She is a symbol of our problems, our life, what we find funny or sad.”
The first show the Ajyal Theatre produced is titled What a Shame. There were a total of nine actors in the show with barely anyone in the audience to watch. Slowly but surely, year after year, the audience grew and Mondalek continues to compose new skits for their upcoming tours.
Mondalek indicated that the main goal of the theatre is not to solve the issues that are presented but rather to put them in the spotlight in a comedic way, to allow the audience to have a connection on an emotional and intellectual level.
The Center for Performing Arts continues to bring diverse performances to the university for the entertainment of students and visitors alike.