Comedy & Writers Benefit for Slain Iraqi Comedian January 8, 2007

Bay Area comedians and writers are coming together to raise money for the family of Walid Hassan, who was murdered during a kidnapping attempt in Baghdad on November 20. Hassan was creator of the sketch comedy show "Caricatures" on al-Sharkiya television, which made fun not only of the US Army and Iraqi authorities but also the Sunni insurgents and Shiite militias. The benefit will feature subtitled video clips of Hassan's show.

Donations requested of $10-20.

Best-selling writers appearing in the two-hour extravaganza will be Daniel Handler of Lemony Snicket, Andrew Sean Greer of Confessions of Max Tivoli, Michelle Tea of Valencia and Rent Girl, and Tom Barbash of On Top of the World.

Comedians performing will be headliner Joe Klocek, Sal Calanni of sketch group Tossing Alice, Ali Mafi of the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, podcast comedy phenomenon Mark Day, Samantha Chanse, Tessie Chua, Arthur Gaus, and Kurt Weitzmann. The benefit will be hosted by Nato Green of Iron Comic and Stephen Elliott of LitPAC.

Money raised will go to Hassan's family through a special fund at Reporters Without Borders.

Laughing Liberally-San Francisco is associated with, but not produced by the Laughing Liberally National Company.

Official Website: http://www.natogreen.com