The Dream and Team
Our Mission
Kufiya Comedy is where comedy meets community. We bring the magic of live comedy to unexpected spaces, while providing a one of a kind experience that combines the best of live comedy and Arab/Palestinian hospitality, for both our guests and artists. Our mission is to support, inspire, and spotlight communities, artists and stories that have been underrepresented in media.
We produce our KC monthly show, as well as partner with venues and artists to host shows in our space or theirs. In addition, we will be hosting the first comedy festival centered around Asian and MENA artists in Dallas, TX in May 10-12th, 2024 under Kufiya Comedy Festival, our 501(c)(3) company.
THE DUO
THE DUO
CEO/ Talent Acquisition
Marena Riyad is the mastermind behind Kufiya Comedy and the owner/founder of The Haus of Henna. Her talents and body of work are as wide-ranging and fascinating as her origins; a Palestinian who soon found herself living in East Texas. Marena lives her life in the arts, not only as a henna artist, but also as an actress, a stand-up comedian, a director & producer, and a poet. Her mission is to empower women to embrace their individuality, regardless of cultural norms, by focusing on creating impactful change through storytelling. She graduated with a Business and Art Degree from The University of North Texas and is experienced in all aspects of the entertainment industry. When she’s not running her empire, the self proclaimed Femme Fatale of the Middle East can be found touring the country sharing her refreshingly pessimistic take on dating and her coming of age story after being kidnapped from the Holy Land and brought to America at the age of 10. Marena Riyad
COO/ Secretary Treasurer
Alex Hanson is a multi-talented artist with a line of work as unique as his Thai and country Texan origin. His interests and life story can be seen reflected in the productions he’s staged and the films he starred in. His acting career began in 2016 and his first live production was in 2021. He staged and starred in Kenneth Lonergan’s "This is Our Youth" and since then, has worked with these local filmmakers; Midnight Strike Films, Full Circle Films, and UpSpirit Productions. In 2023 he joined forces with Marena Riyad to change the entertainment scene in Dallas with their intimate monthly comedy show, Kufiya Comedy. He strives to expand the vibrant cultural tapestry of Dallas by highlighting Texas based artists whilst serving under-represented groups in media, with special attention to Asian arts and stories. When not actively producing, Alex spends his time at the Thai Cultural Center preparing for various community events and practicing the ranat-thum and glong yao.