Abigail Klein Leichman
June 20, 2017

A Broadway musical based on the multiple award-winning Israeli film “The Band’s Visit” is set to open on Broadway this fall, with previews scheduled to begin October 7 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City’s theater district.

The 2007 film depicts an Egyptian police band that arrives in Israel to play a concert in the Tel Aviv suburb of Petah Tikva but ends up stranded in a remote desert town called Beit HaTikva by mistake. The sweet story unfolds as the wary travelers are forced to depend on the kindness of Israeli locals to put them up for the night.

American playwright Itamar Moses and composer David Yazbek (“The Full Monty”) adapted the film, which was written and directed by Israeli screenwriter and director Eran Kolirin and won numerous awards from the Israeli Film Academy and international film festivals.

Last December, the musical won eight awards for its critically acclaimed four-week run off-Broadway, and is nominated for seven Drama Desk awards. It was directed by David Cromer, choreographed by Patrick McCollum and starred Tony Shalhoub, John Cariani and Katrina Lenk. Cromer and McCollum will reprise their roles in the Broadway version as well. The cast has not yet been announced.

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