The Band's Visit - Musical

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Asher

A narrative musical adaptation of the 2007 acclaimed film follows Egypt’s Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra as it becomes stranded in a small desert town and is taken in by locals. Over the course of a day, the lives of visitors and hosts are transformed through unexpected, tender relationships. The book and lyrics—by Itamar Moses and David Yazbek—emphasize hospitality, patience, and shared humanity, with songs that blend Arabic and Israeli melodies and elements of jazz.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages98

Reading Time2 h 31 min

AccessFree to download

◆ T HE·BAND’S VISIT

Synopsis and credited creators

# ◆T HE·BAND’S VISIT A NEW MUSICAL MUSIC AND LYRICS BY BOOK BY DAVID YAZBEK ITAMAR MOSES BASED ON THE SCREENPLAY BY ERAN KOLIRIN fter a mix-up at the border,Egypt’sAlexandria Ceremonial PoliceOrchestra,bound for the cosmopolitanIsraeli city Petah Tikvah,is stranded in asmall desert town.With no transportationuntil the next day,the band is taken in bythe locals.By morning,the lives of visitorsand hosts are forever altered.Itamar Mosesand David Yazbek's stunning musical adaptation of the 2007 acclaimed film findstranscendence in the surprising and tenderrelationships that are forged betweenstrangers under the desert sky. "The best musical of 2017...Exquisite...It kept evoking forme Anton Chekhov's plays set in Russian backwaters,where aninterruption in the boring,isolating routine of the characterssuddenly opens a window onto their common humanity...Inthe company of strangers,the characters begin to see themselvesanew.The sacred honor of hospitality compels patience andpresence,but it's music that ultimately dismantles barriers...At a time when politics is dividing us not only from each otherbut also from ourselves,The Band's Visit offers balm for thebreach in our souls." —CHARLES McNULTY,Los ANGELES TIMES "Beautiful'is a word we bandy about in the daily pursuit ofadjectives to describe the things we love.But even in an enter-tainment world overrun with superlatives,this is the one you'recompelled to use to describe The Band's Visit...It is gentle,soulful,tuneful—and the best new musical on Broadway.” —PETER MARKS,WASHINGTON PosT "An evening of enchantment...A uniquely unconventionalmusical told in a new manner.” —STEVEN SuSKIN,HUFFINGTON PosT “Overwhelmingly joyous...The Band's Visit takes place in thedesert and,like a mirage,it shimmers.But better.Because thishushed,heart-melting musical is real—and truly magical...Theshow is a quiet musical meditation that casts a spell throughits songs...Moses and Yazbek have created something rare,grown-up and special.The book packs warmth,wit and econ-omy.Irresistible songs blend strains of Arabic and Israeli melo-dies and flecks of jazz...It works so wonderfully because itnever overstates.It doesn't belt.It whispers.It doesn't grab.Itreaches...it shines." —JoE DZIEMIANOWIcZ,NEW YoRK DAILY NEWs "An embraceable musical fable about the surprising friendshipsthat bloom in the middle of a political desert...Connectionsare made on little things,everyday things,common things weall share...Broadway theatergoers looking for something off-the-beaten-musical-track should be charmed by this unassum-ing show.But this disarming musical has the emotional depththat holds up to repeated viewings and the offbeat charm thatcould make it a cult hit." —MARILYN STASIO,VARIETY "The Band's Visit is a sweet,haunting stopover in the desert...This is a play about waiting,and loneliness,and the humanneed to connect with another human...There are no elabo-rately choreographed dance sequences or dramatic betrayals orplot twists.The only revelation is that there are no revelations;that humans and their petty,internal concerns,their hopes andfailures,are worthy enough to sing about...It's a quiet,beau-tiful thing The Band's Visit does." -DANA ScHWARTZ,ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY "Beguiling music and lyrics by David Yazbek and a spare andshrewd book by Itamar Moses...In The Band's Visit we getthe glorious nothingness of an uneventful night in the middle ofnowhere...It is a show about nothing,but it fills the stage withfeeling—the muted kind that dwells in missed connections.” —MICHAEL ScHULMAN,NEW YORKER # ◆THE·BAND’S VISIT The Band's Visit is copyright ◎2018 by David Yazbek and Itamar Moses The Band's Visit is published by Theatre Communications Group,Inc.,520 Eighth Avenue,24th Floor,New York,NY 10018-4156 All rights reserved.Except for brief passages quoted in newspaper,magazine,radio or television reviews,no part of this book may be reproduced in anyform or by any means,electr

FAQs

What is the central premise of The Band's Visit?

An orchestra from Alexandria, Egypt, is stranded in a desert town and taken in by the locals. By morning, relationships between visitors and hosts permanently change.

Who created the music and lyrics, and who wrote the book?

Music and lyrics are by David Yazbek, and the book is by Itamar Moses. The musical is based on the screenplay by Eran Kolirin.

What do the included reviews emphasize about the musical?

They highlight its warmth, tenderness, and gentle emotional impact, focusing on hospitality, connection, and dismantling barriers rather than dramatic twists.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Asher