The Band's Visit
The poignant story of how the smallest moments can have the largest impact.
Show Essentials
14
Roles
+ Ensemble
PG13
Rated
1
Act

Full Synopsis

We see the projected words: “Once, not long ago, a group of musicians came to Israel from Egypt.You probably didn’t hear about it. It wasn’t very important.” (“Overture”)

The Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra is stranded at the Tel Aviv airport when the van that was meant to pick them up does not arrive.Tewfiq, the stern conductor, decides they will take a bus instead.

We meet the townspeople of Beit Hatikva: Papi, a young café employee; Itzik, an aimless married man and his frustrated wife Iris; Dina, the world-weary café owner; and others (“Waiting”). Tewfiq and his band arrive. They ask for directions to the Arab Cultural Center where they are to give a concert the following evening, but it turns out they have come to the wrong town (“Welcome to Nowhere”). There are no more buses until the next morning, and so Dina invites the musicians to stay the night.

Dina takesTewfiq and Haled, a handsome trumpet player, to her apartment. She tells them how she ended up alone in this boring town (“It Is What It Is”). Dina invites Tewfiq to go out with her and, after some prodding by Haled, he agrees to go.

At Itzik’s place, Simon, the assistant conductor and clarinetist, and Camal, a wary violinist, have stilted conversation over dinner with Itzik, Iris and Avrum, Iris’ father. As a baby fusses in the other room, Avrum, who used to be a musician himself, tells the story of how he met Iris’ mother, his late wife (“The Beat of Your Heart”).

A young man stands by a phone booth waiting for his girlfriend to call. After Dina and Tewfiq pass by on their way out, Camal insists on using the phone to call the Egyptian embassy and is told they will call back later. Meanwhile Papi, preparing for a double-date with his friend Zelger, is approached by Haled who, over Papi’s objections, is allowed to join.

The rest of The Band, outside Dina’s cafe, plays some music to wile away the time (“Soraya”).

At a restaurant with Tewfiq, Dina reminisces about hearing the songs of the great Egyptian singer Oum Kalthoum and watching Egyptian movies with her mother as a child (“Omar Sharif”). But the arrival of Sammy, a married man with whom Dina is having an affair, disrupts the mood of their dinner.

Outside the café,The Band jams on another tune (“Haj-Butrus”).

Back at Itzik and Iris’ apartment, a conversation about Simon’s inability to finish his concerto causes Iris to blow up and storm out, her frustration with Itzik finally boiling over.

Haled is at a roller rink with Papi, Zelger and their dates, Julia and Anna. After helping Haled with a suspicious security guard, Papi explains his inability to talk to girls (“Papi Hears the Ocean”). Haled’s advice in the style of his idol, Chet Baker, helps Papi to connect with Julia (“Haled’s Song About Love”).

Dina and Tewfiq sit on a lonely bench (“The Park”). She learns Tewfiq’s wife died several years ago. WhenTewfiq sings for her (“Itgara’a), she watches him, trying to understand her feelings (“Something Different”).

While waiting for Iris to come home, Itzik sings to their infant son as elsewhere Camal plays and sings along (“Itzik’s Lullaby”). When Simon comes to say goodnight, Iris returns to the apartment, causing Itzik to leave Simon alone with the baby.When the baby starts fussing again, Simon plays his concerto, finishing it for the first time, and calming the child.

The young man still waits by the phone. But when it finally rings, Camal gets to it first. It is the embassy; Camal is told they cannot help. He leaves the young man to his phone. Tewfiq and Dina return and talk outside of her apartment. She expresses her fear that if something happens between them it will end in disaster, like everything else she does. Tewfiq responds that his wife’s death was his fault; the result of their only son’s suicide for which Tewfiq blames himself. Haled returns and the three of them go inside.

In Dina’s apartment, Haled plays“My Funny Valentine” on the trumpet. Tewfiq says goodnight and goes to bed. Alone with Haled, Dina laments all her missed opportunities (“Something Different Reprise”).Then she begins to kiss Haled.

Still waiting by the phone, the young man yearns for his love (“Answer Me”). When at last she calls, the residents of Beit Hatikva and visiting musicians join in to express their private longings.

The next morning, Tewfiq, Simon, Haled, Camal and the rest of the band say farewell to Dina, Papi and Itzik. As the town of Beit Hatikva fades away, we see The Band warming up. Tewfiq stands before them. He raises his baton...drops his arms...and we go to black.

Lights up: The Band plays for us (“The Concert”).

Casting
← Back to The Band's Visit
Cast Size: Medium (11 to 20 performers)
Cast Type: Ensemble Cast

Character Breakdown

Dina

Owner of a café, beautiful, world-weary, passionate, with a dry wit

Gender: female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: D3
Tewfiq

Egyptian; leader of the Egyptian Ceremonial Police Orchestra; a shy, formal man, carrying a buried burden of sadness

Gender: male
Vocal range top: D4
Vocal range bottom: A#2
Itzik
Gender: male
Vocal range top: Ab4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Haled

Egyptian; trumpet player in the Orchestra; handsome, smooth, a bit of a flirt, loves jazz; trumpet skills are a plus but not required

Gender: male
Vocal range top: F#4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Camal
Vocal range top: E4
Vocal range bottom: F2
Papi

Disheveled, works at café, nervous around girls

Gender: male
Vocal range top: Ab4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Telephone Guy

Man who waits by a phone, very romantic

Gender: male
Vocal range top: Bb4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Avrum
Gender: male
Vocal range top: E4
Vocal range bottom: G2
Zelger
Gender: male
Vocal range top: D4
Vocal range bottom: B2
Julia
Gender: female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: C4
Sammy

A married man and sometime-lover of Dina

Gender: male
Vocal range top: Bb4
Vocal range bottom: C3
Anna

Julia’s cousin, sexy and extroverted

Gender: female
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: C4
Iris
Gender: female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Simon

Egyptian; the assistant conductor and clarinetist in the Orchestra, once wanted to be a composer; clarinet skills are a plus but not required

Gender: male
Vocal range top: Eb4
Vocal range bottom: C3
The Band

Members of the Alexandria Police Ceremonial Orchestra

Full Song List
The Band's Visit: Overture
The Band's Visit: Waiting
The Band's Visit: Welcome to Nowhere
The Band's Visit: It Is What It Is
The Band's Visit: The Beat of Your Heart
The Band's Visit: Soraya
The Band's Visit: Omar Sharif
The Band's Visit: Haj-Butrus
The Band's Visit: Papi Hears The Ocean
The Band's Visit: Haled's Song About Love
The Band's Visit: The Park
The Band's Visit: Itgara'a
The Band's Visit: Something Different
The Band's Visit: Itzik's Lullaby
The Band's Visit: Something Different (Reprise)
The Band's Visit: Answer Me
The Band's Visit: The Concert

Show History

Inspiration

The Band's Visit is adapted from the 2007 Israeli movie, also titled The Band's Visit. The film was written and directed by Eran Kolirin and received Un Certain Regard from the Cannes Film Festival.

Production History

The original production of The Band's Visit began previews off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company on November 11, 2016, opening on December 8, 2016. The production ran until January 8, 2017. It won the Outer Critics Circle Award, Lucille Lortel Award, Obie Award, and New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Musical. Composer David Yazbek won the Drama Desk Award for Best Music and Lyrics. 

Almost exactly a year after it began its off-Broadway run, The Band's Visit premiered on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on November 9, 2017. It won the Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical and is currently nominated for eleven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Critical Reaction

"One of the most ravishing musicals you will ever be seduced by. It is called The Band's Visit."

- New York Times

 

"Beautiful music, beautiful story"

- Washington Post

 

"This show gave me more hope for Broadway might welcome, might foster, might become"

- New York Magazine

Outer Critcs Circle Award

2017 - Outstanding New Score, Winner (David Yazbek)
2017 - Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical, Winner (The Band's Visit)
2017 - Outstanding Director Of A Musical, Nominee (David Cromer)
2017 - Outstanding Book of a Musical, Nominee (Itamar Moses)
2017 - Outstanding Actress in a Muscial, Nominee (Katrina Lenk)
2017 - Outstanding Actor in a Musical, Nominee (Tony Shaloub)
2017 - Best Orchestrations, Nominee (Jamshied Sharifi)

Drama Desk Award

2017 - Outstanding Orchestrations, Nominee (Jamshied Sharifi)
2017 - Outstanding Musical, Nominee (The Band's Visit)
2017 - Outstanding Music, Winner (David Yazbek)
2017 - Outstanding Lyrics, Winner (David Yazbek)
2017 - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, Nominee (Ari'el Stachel)
2017 - Outstanding Director Of A Musical, Winner (David Cromer)
2017 - Outstanding Book of a Musical, Nominee (Itamar Moses)

New York Drama Critics Circle Award

2017 - Best Musical, Winner (The Band's Visit)

Obie Award

2017 - Best Musical, Winner (The Band's Visit)
2017 - Best Director, Winner (David Cromer)

Lucille Lortel Award

2017 - Outstanding Musical, Winner (The Band's Visit)
2017 - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Muscial, Nominee (Ari’el Stachel)
2017 - Outstanding Costume Design, Nominee (Sarah Laux)
2017 - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical, Winner (Katrina Lenk)

Theatre World Award

2017 - Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater, Winner (Katrina Lenk)

Tony® Award

2018 - Best Actress in a Musical, Winner (Katrina Lenk)
2018 - Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Winner (Ari'el Stachel)
2018 - Best Direction Of A Musical, Winner (David Cromer)
2018 - Best Book Of A Musical, Winner (Itamar Moses)
2018 - Best Original Score, Winner (David Yazbek)
2018 - Best Orchestrations, Winner (Jamshied Sharifi)
2018 - Best Lighting Design of a Musical, Winner (Tyler Micoleau)
2018 - Best Sound Design of a Musical, Winner (Kai Harada)
2018 - Best Musical, Winner (The Band's Visit)
2018 - Best Actor in a Muscial, Winner (Tony Shaloub)

Drama League Award

2018 - Outstanding Production of a Musical, Winner (The Band's Visit)
2018 - Distinguished Performance, Nominee (Katrina Lenk)
2018 - Distinguished Performance, Nominee (Tony Shaloub)

Billing

Based on the screenplay by Eran Kolirin

Requirements

You must give the authors/creators billing credits, as specified in the Production Contract, in a conspicuous manner on the first page of credits in all programs and on houseboards, displays and in all other advertising announcements of any kind.
Percentages listed indicate required type size in relation to title size.
The Band's Visit
(100%)
 
Book and Lyrics by
David Yazbek
(50%)
Music and Lyrics by
Itamar Moses
(50%)
Based on the screenplay by Eran Kolirin
(25%)
 
No one but producers, prior presenters of the Play and stars of the Play may receive billing above the title, and no one except stars receiving billing above the title may receive larger or more prominent billing than that afforded to Authors.
MTI agrees to contractually require its licensees to include the following credits on the title page of all programs:
Orchestrations by
Jamshied Sharifi
Additional Arrangements by
Andrea Grody
 
 

Video Warning

In accordance with the Performance License, you MUST include the following warning in all programs and in a pre-show announcement:

ANY VIDEO AND/OR AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS PRODUCTION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

Included Materials

ItemQuantity Included
LIBRETTO/VOCAL BOOK20
PIANO CONDUCTOR'S SCORE1
PIANO VOCAL SCORE2

Production Resources

Resource
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON?
STAGE MANAGER SCRIPT

STANDARD ORCHESTRATION

InstrumentationDoubling
BASS
CELLO
DRUMSBASS DRUM , CRASH CYMBAL , DRUM SET , FRAME DRUM , HI-HAT , NON-WESTERN CHIME , RIDE CYMBAL , RIQ , SHAKER , SNARE DRUM , SWIZZLE , TOMS (3)
GUITARACOUSTIC GUITAR , ELECTRIC GUITAR , NYLON STRING GUITAR
KEYBOARD 2
PERCUSSIONDARBUKA , FRAME DRUM , GUIRO (OPTIONAL) , RIQ
REED 1ALTO FLUTE , BASS CLARINET , CLARINET , TENOR SAXOPHONE
VIOLIN