Photos: First Look At THE BAND'S VISIT At Writers Theatre

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Artistic Director Braden Abraham, continues its 2023/24 Season with The Band’s Visit, featuring music and lyrics by David Yazbek, book by Itamar Moses, and based on the screenplay by Eran Kolirin. See photos from the production. 

The Writers Theatre production is directed by Zi Alikhan with music supervision by Andra Velis Simon. The Band’s Visit will be presented February 8 – March 17, 2024 in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The Press Opening is Friday, February 16, 2024 at 7:30pm.

Following the blockbuster success of Once, Writers Theatre ventures into another immersive and engaging musical production. This co-production with TheatreSquared is directed by Zi Alikhan, who has previously helmed productions at Geva Theatre Center, Paper Mill Playhouse, Olney Theatre Center, Pasadena Playhouse, and Primary Stages. Music Supervisor Andra Velis Simon returns to WT after previously working on Next to Normal in the 2018/19 season.

In a small Israeli desert town where every day feels the same, a lost bus arrives carrying an Egyptian Police Band. With no hotel and no buses until morning, the musicians are taken in for the night by the locals. Under the spell of the desert sky, these misplaced musicians bring everyone together in the way that only music can. Winner of ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical, The Band’s Visit is a beautifully intimate show, perfectly suited for the Nichols Theatre, about the unifying power of music.

The cast includes: Jacob Baim [he/him] as Sammy, Rom Barkhordar [he/him] as Tewfiq, Harper Caruso [she/her] as Telephone Guy, Jordan Golding [he/him] as Zelger, Dave Honigman [he/him] as Itzik, Marielle Issa [she/her] as Anna, Mark David Kaplan [he/him] as Avrum, Becky Keeshin [she/her] as Julia, Sam Linda [he/him] as Papi, Usman Ali Mughal [he/him] as Haled, Dana Omar [she/her] as Iris, Adam Qutaishat [any/all] as Camal, Yael "Yaya" Reich [they/them] as Dina, and Jonathan Shaboo [he/him] as Simon. The understudies are Nathan Karnik, Rae Robeson and David Sajewich.

The creative team includes: Zi Alikhan (Director), Sebastiani Romagnolo (Choreographer), Andra Velis Simon (Music Supervisor & Additional Orchestrations), Jason Burrow (Music Director), Celia Villacres (Associate Music Director), Afsoon Pajoufar (Scenic Designer), Raquel Adorno (Costume Designer), Solomon Weisbard (Lighting Designer), Willow James (Sound Designer), Greg Geffrard (Intimacy Director), and Smooch Medina (Projections Director). The stage manager is Miranda Anderson and the assistant stage managers are Natalie Cohen and Zachary Crewse.

Tickets are now on sale at Writers Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe; 847-242-6000; www.writerstheatre.org.

Photo credit: Wesley Hitt

Sam Linda, Rom Barkhordar, and Yael “Yaya” Reich

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