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Sherif Hedayat is an Egyptian American stand up comedian. He started his career in 1996 while attaining a B.A. in Mass Communications and Public Speaking from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. His humor covers a wide range of topics including family, education, religion, careers, dating, television, stereotypes, racism and growing up in the Middle East. Through his experiences living in America and the Middle East, he bridges the cultural gap in a way that everyone can understand. After almost four years away from stand up comedy, he returned in late 2006 with a new found energy and motivation. So far in 2007 he has opened for Comedy Central's Axis Of Evil Comedy Tour, the first all Middle Eastern comedy tour to air on national television. In July, he was one of 72 comedians selected to compete in Comedy Central's Open Mic Fight. Sherif currently tours clubs and colleges around the country.
Comedy Clubs (USA)
Chicago Improv - Chicago, IL
Funnybone Comedy Club - Dayton, OH
Funnybone Comedy Club - Huntington, WV
Funnybone Comedy Club - Newport, KY
Jokers Comedy Cafe - Dayton, OH
The Comedy Store (Belly Room) - Los Angeles, CA
New York Comedy Club - New York, NY
Comedy Clubs (International)
Off The Wall Comedy Club - Jerusalem, Israel
Theatres
Ohio Theatre - Cleveland, OH w/ Comedy Central’s Axis Of Evil Comedy Tour
The Vic - Chicago, IL w/ Comedy Central’s Axis Of Evil Comedy Tour
Colleges
The Ohio State University - Columbus, OH w/ Ahmed Ahmed
University Of Maryland - Arabian Nights
Wright State University - Dayton, OH w/ Aries Spears
Competitions
2007 - Comedy Central’s Open Mic Fight - Regional Contestant
2007 - Famecast.com Season 3 - Top 25
What's the first joke you ever wrote?
Sherif Hedayat: Hmmm....wow....hahaha...Oh ya..... I said "I'm Egyptian, Egypt is in Africa so technically I'm African-American.....I'm African from the waist down." Years later, when my material got better, the owner of my hometown comedy club broke the news to me that it was a hack joke and I needed to drop it. I was very upset...but I got over it.
What is the source of your sense of humor?
Sherif Hedayat: My life. You get a lot of material when you're a skinny Middle Eastern kid growing up in America.
In school, were you the class clown or the quiet nerd?
Sherif Hedayat: I was definitely the class clown. The problem was I had a big mouth and learned very quickly that if what I said wasn't funny I was going to get my butt kicked.
Is it better to be feared or loved on your way up the comedy ladder?
Sherif Hedayat: Definitely loved. This is a tough business so you have to work together to move up the ladder. If you're feared then you are unapproachable and you might miss out on opportunities. The only reason I knew about this competition was because a good comedian friend of mine sent me an email and said I should submit a tape.
Your stardom: a karmic inevitability or old fashioned luck?
Sherif Hedayat: A little bit of both. I'm not a very religious guy but I believe anything that happens to me will happen for a reason. On the other hand, a little luck never hurts but you can't just sit around waiting for it to happen. You have to work hard and luck seems to follow.
2009
JANUARY
1/2 - 1/4 - FUNNYBONE COMEDY CLUB - Newport, KY
1/7 - FUNNYBONE COMEDY CLUB - Newport, KY
1/21 - 1/22 - FUNNYBONE COMEDY CLUB - Toledo, OH
1/25 - FUNNYBONE COMEDY CLUB - Toledo, OH
FEBRUARY
2/12 - 2/15 - FUNNYBONE COMEDY CLUB - Dayton, OH
2/18 - Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival Showcase
Go Bananas Comedy Club - Cincinnati, OH
2/25 - Last Comic Eating benefit show for comedian Bill Arrundale
Funnybone Comedy Club - Dayton, Ohio
2/27 - Case Western Reserve University w/ Ahmed Ahmed
Cleveland, Ohio
MARCH
3/12 - 3/15 - FUNNYBONE COMEDY CLUB - Huntington, WV
3/26 - 3/28 - Joey’s Comedy Club - Livonia, MI
3/29 - Threat Level Funny Comedy Show - All Star Comedy Club - Allen Park, MI
MAY
5/1 - 5/2 - New York Arab American Comedy Festival - Manhattan, NY
TBA - FUNNYBONE COMEDY CLUB - Hartford, CT
JUNE
6/5 - 6/6 - LAUGH-IN COMEDY CAFE - Ft. Myers, FL