This guy just flew in from Uzbekistan…and boy are his arms tired!
Well, not exactly, but Natan Badalov is about to debut his solo show, Connect The Dots, on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 9 pm. It’s the Queens leg of the 19th annual New York Comedy Festival, which runs from Nov. 3 to Nov. 12.
Badalov, who really was born in Uzbekistan, but grew up in Jackson Heights, will explore his complicated relationship with Judaism, his past, and his future during this brand new stand-up routine at QED Astoria. (It’s kind of a homecoming because he currently lives in Astoria…Plus, his arms won’t be too tired.)
Tickets cost $15.
Badalov, who is 31 and single, will joke about his mother’s desire for him to marry a Nice Jewish Girl during Connect The Dots. He’ll recount his break-up with an Ashkenazi Rabbi and his struggle to feel at home as a Bukharian Jew in the United States.
In other words, Catskills shtick is ceding to Aralkum Desert one-liners.
Launched in 2004, the New York Comedy Festival endeavors to present more than 100 shows featuring more than 200 performers over 10 days in all five boroughs this year. Caroline’s, the Apollo Theater, and Carnegie Hall are among participating venues.
Badalov’s resume includes gigs at Adult Swim, Rochester Fringe Festival, Chosen Comedy Festival, Funnymmigrants Comedy Festival, and Laughing Devil Comedy Festival. He created Park West, an animated web series about his time in yeshiva which ran on Jewzy.tv, Channel 101 NY, American Jewish Film Festival, Alternative Film Festival, and ANIMATOR – a Polish animated film competition. He also wrote The Unibrow and Plastic Bag, short stories published by Be’chol Lashon, a nonprofit that celebrates diverse Jewish voices.
Located at 27-16 23rd St., QED Astoria has a 1,200-square-foot space with a bar and showroom. The name derives from “Quod Erat Demonstrandum” or “That Which Has Demonstrated” in Latin.
Images: Natan Badalov