The European premiere of David Yazbek and Itamar Moses’ Tony-winning The Band's Visit began previews September 26 prior to an official opening October 6 at London's Donmar Warehouse. Helmed by Artistic Director Michael Longhurst, the production will continue through December 3.
Leading the company are award-winning film, TV, and stage actor Alon Moni Aboutboul (Snowfall) as Tewfiq and seven-time winner of the Israeli Female Singer of the Year Award, and judge on Kokhav Nolad (the Israeli version of American Idol), Miri Mesika as Dina.
Watch Mesika perform "Omar Sharif" from the musical in the video above.
The cast and onstage band also features Sharif Afifi, Jason Alder, Marc Antolin, Harel Glazer, Levi Goldmeier, Ido Gonen, Michal Horowicz, Emma Kingston, Shira Kravitz, Nitai Levi, Yali Topol Margalith, Ashley Margolis, Carlos Mendoza de Hevia, Peter Polycarpou, Ant Romero, Idlir Shyti, Maya Kristal Tenenbaum, Sargon Yelda, and Baha Yetkin.
Based on the screenplay by Eran Kolirin, The Band's Visit has music and lyrics by Yazbek and a book by Moses. Winner of 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the story follows a group of musicians from Israel who become lost upon their arrival in Egypt.
The production also has musical supervision by Nigel Lilley, design by Soutra Gilmour, lighting design by Anna Watson, sound design by Paul Groothuis, choreography and movement and intimacy direction by Yarit Dor, casting by Anna Cooper, musical direction by Tarek Merchant, associate direction by Orr Benezra-Segal, assistant musical direction by Natalie Pound, resident assistant direction by Dadiow Lin, cultural consultation by Dr. Lina Khatib, Arabic music consultation by Attab Haddad, dialect coaching by Caitlin Stegemoller, assistant design by Lucy Sneddon, assistant lighting design by Cat Salvini, and assistant sound design by Daberechi Ukoha-Kalu.
