Homeland Insecurity - Shabana Rehman at 11th Annual WOW Festival January 15, 2011

JAN 15 16 and 20 all shows 8pm
Written and performed by SHABANA REHMAN

“A female Muslim stand-up comic”—somehow such a description seems nearly improbable, yet, such words accurately characterize

Shabana Rehman whose one-woman show Homeland Insecurity shocks, enlightens and touches audiences. Rehman was born in Pakistan and immigrated to Norway as a child along ...with her family. Shabana’s unique perspective combines the comedic ironies of cultural juxtapositions along with the story of her harrowing journey toward freedom of expression and artistic liberty.

Homeland Insecurity is a tour de force that reaches into the audience’s heart to reveal how much all of us have in common with those strange invaders we call immigrants/aliens/foreigners.

"...her show is intimate, amusing
and a bit heartbreaking."
Bloomberg

"Where East Meets West Warily,
She Makes Them Laugh"
New York Times

"Nice Witch of the North"
Time Magazine

Where is home? Brooklyn, Oslo or Karachi? Shabana escapes Norway, as she recounts her own father's journey from Karachi, Pakistan to Oslo. Funny, sensual and provocative, Norway's most famous Muslim comedienne has built a reputation for groundbreaking, controversial and popular comedy. A frequent participant on talk shows and public debates, her political stunts like Mullah-lifting and body painting herself with the Norwegian flag have given her celebrity status in her native Norway.

Shabana entered the stage in Oslo in 1999. She has been featured by The New York Times and Time magazine. In addition to her prolific comedy career, Shabana is a highly respected columnist, satirist, and public speaker in Scandinavia and the Scandinavian community in the US. She has received several awards for her writing and comedy and has played in several countries, including Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Germany and the USA.

About Festival:

Footloose presents the 11th Annual Women on the Way Festival at two venues in San Francisco January 13-30, 2011. See original, innovative theater, dance and comedy by a diverse and talented group of women. Each year this festival receives rave reviews and packs the house. Join the crowds at Shotwell Studios and The Garage for an engaging night out. Be sure to get your tickets early as space is limited! Check details at ftloose.org for complete schedule and descriptions.

All Shows at 8 PM; Facebook: www.artist.to/footloosepresents; Twitter.com/ftloose

Advance purchase with credit card at brownpapertickets.com/producer/5930

Tickets: $15-$20 sliding scale; Info/Reservations: 415-289-2000
Or call 1-800-838-3006

Footloose is funded in part by grants from the Zellerbach Family Foundation, Grants for the Arts/San Francisco Hotel Tax, generous businesses and individuals. Corporate sponsor is the San Francisco Bay Guardian.

Women on the Way artists for January 2011:

SHOTWELL STUDIOS: 3252-A 19th St., Folsom/So Van Ness SF 94110:

Thursdays-Sundays, January 13-30, 2011; 12 shows at 8:00 pm

Genny Lim solo theater; Jessica Ferris solo physical theater; Silvia Girardi Acting multidisciplinary theater; Shabana Rehman solo comedy; Christine Bonansea multidisciplinary performance; Alison Whittaker comedic solo theater; Leigh Shaw ensemble theater; and Pearl Marill Dance Theater, physical comedy.

THE GARAGE: 975 Howard Street, 5th/6th Streets, SF 94103:
Thursdays-Sundays, January 14-30, 2011; 11 shows all at 8:00 pm

Dance and dance theater performances by Blair Bodie and Julia Graham of BodiGram, Sheena Johnson/REBEL HOME, Jennifer Mellor Dance Project, Raisa Punkki of punkkiCo, Malinda LaVelle of ProjectTHRUST, Alyce Finwall Dance Theater, Philein Wang of ZiRu Productions and
Gretchen Alterowitz with Erica Rose Jeffrey of Counterpointe.