ORIN WOLFSTYLESFOUR PRODUCTIONS EVAMERE ENTERTAINMENT

ATLANTIC THEATER COMPANY

DAVID F. SCHWARTZ BARBARA BROCCOLI FREDERICK ZOLLO
GROVE•REG LASSEN BLUME BALDWIN THOMAS STEVEN PERAKOS MARC PLATT
THE SHUBERT ORGANIZATION THE BARUCH/ROUTH/FRANKEL/VIERTEL GROUP ROBERT COLE DEROY-CARR-KLAUSNER
FEDERMAN-MOELLENBERG FILMNATION ENTERTAINMENT ROY FURMAN FVSL THEATRICALS HENDEL-KARMAZIN
HORIPRO INC. IPN JAM THEATRICALS THE JOHN GORE ORGANIZATION KOENIGSBERG-KRAUSS DAVID MIRVISH TRACKS
JAMES L. NEDERLANDER AL NOCCIOLINO ONCE UPON A TIME PRODUCTIONS SUSAN ROSE PAUL SHIVERICK
Executive Producer: ALLAN WILLIAMS
present
1. OVERTURE ................................................................ The Band
2. WAITING ................................................................... Company
3. WELCOME TO NOWHERE .................................... Dina, Itzik, Papi
4. IT IS WHAT IT IS ............................................................... Dina
Music and Lyrics by Book by

DAVID YAZBEK ITAMAR MOSES 5. THE BEAT OF YOUR HEART .................... Avrum, Camal, Itzik, Simon
Based on the screenplay by Eran Kolirin
6. SORAYA .................................................................... The Band
with
KATRINA LENK TONY SHALHOUB 7. OMAR SHARIF ................................................................. Dina
JOHN CARIANI ARI’EL STACHEL
GEORGE ABUD ETAI BENSON ADAM KANTOR ANDREW POLK 8. HAJ-BUTRUS .............................................................. The Band
BILL ARMY RACHEL PRATHER JONATHAN RAVIV
SHARONE SAYEGH KRISTEN SIEH ALOK TEWARI
9. PAPI HEARS THE OCEAN .................................................... Papi
Scenic Design Costume Design Lighting Design Sound Design
SCOTT PASK SARAH LAUX TYLER MICOLEAU KAI HARADA
10. HALED’S SONG ABOUT LOVE ...................................... Haled, Papi
Projection Design Hair & Wig Design Casting Dialect Coach 11. THE PARK ............................................................. Dina, Tewfiq
MAYA CIARROCCHI CHARLES G. LaPOINTE TARA RUBIN CASTING MOUNA R’MIKI &
ZOHAR TIROSH-POLK
12. ITGARA’A ..................................................................... Tewfiq
Orchestrations Music Supervisors Music Coordinator
JAMSHIED SHARIFI ANDREA GRODY & DEAN SHARENOW 13. SOMETHING DIFFERENT .......................................... Dina, Tewfiq
DEAN SHARENOW
Advertising and Marketing Digital Marketing Press Representation Associate Producer 14. ITZIK’S LULLABY .................................................... Itzik, Camal
AKA SITUATION INTERACTIVE POLK & CO. STEVEN CHAIKELSON
Production Management Production Stage Manager Company Manager General Management
15. SOMETHING DIFFERENT (REPRISE) .................................... Dina
JUNIPER STREET RICHARD HODGE TRACY GELTMAN FORESIGHT
PRODUCTIONS THEATRICAL 16. ANSWER ME .......................................... Telephone Guy, Company
Music Director & Additional Arrangements
ANDREA GRODY 17. THE CONCERT ........................................................... The Band
Choreography by
18. AFIFI (BONUS TRACK) .................................................. The Band
PATRICK McCOLLUM
Directed by

DAVID CROMER
World Premiere presented by Atlantic Theater Company, New York City, 2016.
Original Broadway Cast Recording on Ghostlight Records.
 CAST
KATRINA LENK – Dina
TONY SHALHOUB – Tewfiq
JOHN CARIANI – Itzik
ARI’EL STACHEL – Haled
GEORGE ABUD – Camal
ETAI BENSON – Papi
ADAM KANTOR – Telephone Guy
MUSICIANS
ANDREW POLK – Avrum ANDREA GRODY – Conductor / Keyboard
BILL ARMY – Zelger JEFF THEISS – Associate Conductor / Keyboard 2
RACHEL PRATHER – Julia GEORGE ABUD – Violin / Oud
JONATHAN RAVIV – Sammy ALEXANDRA ECKHARDT – Electric / Acoustic Bass
SHARONE SAYEGH – Anna OSSAMA FAROUK – Darbouka / Riq
KRISTEN SIEH – Iris PHILIP MAYER – Drums / Arabic Percussion
ALOK TEWARI – Simon SAM SADIGURSKY – Clarinet / Saxophone / Flute
HARVEY VALDES – Oud / Guitar
GARO YELLIN – Cello
 N E W YO R K T I M E S The rest of The Band, outside Dina’s cafe, plays some music to
wile away the time (SORAYA).
Excerpted Review:
At a restaurant with Tewfiq, Dina reminisces about hearing the
“ THE BAND’S VISIT IS A RAVISHING MUSICAL songs of the great Egyptian singer Oum Kalthoum and watching
THAT WHISPERS WITH ROMANCE ” Egyptian movies with her mother as a child (OMAR SHARIF).
But the arrival of Sammy, a married man with whom Dina is
— Ben Brantley having an affair, disrupts the mood of their dinner.
Breaking news for Broadway theatergoers, even — or perhaps
Outside the café,The Band jams on another tune (HAJ-BUTRUS).
especially — those who thought they were past the age of
infatuation: It is time to fall in love again.
Back at Itzik and Iris’ apartment, a conversation about Simon’s
inability to finish his concerto causes Iris to blow up and storm
One of the most ravishing musicals you will ever be seduced
out, her frustration with Itzik finally boiling over.
by opened at the Barrymore Theater. It is called “The Band’s
Visit.” This portrait of a single night in a tiny Israeli desert
Haled is at a roller rink with Papi, Zelger and their dates, Julia
town confirms a lyric that arrives, like nearly everything in
and Anna. After helping Haled with a suspicious security guard,
this remarkable show, on a breath of reluctantly romantic hope:
Papi explains his inability to talk to girls (PAPI HEARS THE
“Nothing is as beautiful as something you don’t expect.”
OCEAN). Haled’s advice in the style of his idol, Chet Baker, helps
Papi to connect with Julia (HALED’S SONG ABOUT LOVE).
With songs by David Yazbek and a script by Itamar Moses,
“The Band’s Visit” is a Broadway rarity seldom found these days
Dina and Tewfiq sit on a lonely bench (THE PARK). She learns
outside of the canon of Stephen Sondheim: an honest-to-God
Tewfiq’s wife died several years ago. When Tewfiq sings for her
musical for grown-ups. It is not a work to be punctuated with
(ITGARA’A), she watches him, trying to understand her feelings
rowdy cheers, despite the uncanny virtuosity of Mr. Yazbek’s
(SOMETHING DIFFERENT).
benchmark score.
Kristen Sieh, John Cariani, Alok Tewari, Andrew Polk, George Abud
While waiting for Iris to come home, Itzik sings to their infant
Directed by David Cromer with an inspired inventiveness that
son as elsewhere Camal plays and sings along (ITZIK’S LULLABY).
never calls attention to itself, “The Band’s Visit” flows with the
grave and joyful insistence of life itself. All it asks is that you SYNOPSIS 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
When Simon comes to say goodnight, Iris returns to the apartment,
causing Itzik to leave Simon alone with the baby. When the baby
be quiet enough to hear the music in the murmurs, whispers insists on using the phone to call the Egyptian embassy and is
We see the projected words: “Once, not long ago, a group of starts fussing again, Simon plays his concerto, finishing it for the
and silences of human existence at its most mundane — and told they will call back later. Meanwhile Papi, preparing for
musicians came to Israel from Egypt. You probably didn’t hear first time, and calming the child.
transcendent. a double-date with his friend Zelger, is approached by Haled
about it. It wasn’t very important.” (OVERTURE)
who, over Papi’s objections, is allowed to join.
[Even in its off-Broadway incarnation at the Atlantic Theater
The Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra is stranded at the
Company] this show was always close to perfect musically. Mr.
Tel Aviv airport when the van that was meant to pick them up
Yazbek’s quietly simmering score, which inflects Broadway
does not arrive. Tewfiq, the stern conductor, decides they will
balladry and character songs with a haunting Middle Eastern
take a bus instead.
accent, felt as essential as oxygen.
We meet the townspeople of Beit Hatikva: Papi, a young café
Mr.Yazbek’s melody matches the exquisitely uncertain certainty
employee; Itzik, an aimless married man and his frustrated wife
of the lyrics. That “something different” is the heart-clutching
Iris; Dina, the world-weary café owner; and others (WAITING).
sensation that throbs throughout this miraculous show, as precise
Tewfiq and his band arrive. They ask for directions to the Arab
as it is elusive, and all the more poignant for being both.
Cultural Center where they are to give a concert the following
evening, but it turns out they have come to the wrong town
Never mind its reputation as dullsville. Beit Hatikva is a place
(WELCOME TO NOWHERE). There are no more buses until
you want to visit if you’re looking for signs of new and exciting
the next morning and so Dina invites the musicians to stay the night.
life in the contemporary American musical. In this case, that
includes one of the season’s most exquisitely wrought scores
Dina takes Tewfiq and Haled, a handsome trumpet player, to her
by Mr.Yazbek.
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
Whenever the show sings, Mr.Yazbek’s music transports you to
her and, after some prodding by Haled, he agrees to go.
a place both exotic and touchingly familiar.
At Itzik’s place, Simon, the assistant conductor and clarinetist,
There’s not a performance, or a sung note, that feels out of key
and Camal, a wary violinist, have stilted conversation over
here.When the ensemble delivers the show’s final number, “Answer
dinner with Itzik, Iris and Avrum, Iris’ father. As a baby fusses
Me,” the music takes on a transcendent harmonic shimmer that
in the other room, Avrum, who used to be a musician himself,
stops the heart. An answer is hardly guaranteed, but there’s
tells the story of how he met Iris’ mother, his late wife (THE
untold enchantment in the asking.
BEAT OF YOUR HEART).
Sharone Sayegh, Katrina Lenk,
Jonathan Raviv, Tony Shalhoub, Andrew Polk
The young man still waits by the phone. But when it finally 1. OVERTURE ITZIK
TIME IS LIKE
IRIS
JUST WAITING FOR
WAITING WAITING ITZIK
TIME IS LIKE IN BORING
DINA
BUILD SOME BUILDINGS
rings, Camal gets to it first. It is the embassy; Camal is told they SYRUP SOMETHING AN OCEAN PUT SOME JEWS IN
cannot help. He leaves the young man to his phone. Tewfiq and 2. WAITING AND I’M THE BUG TO HAPPEN, PAPI
DINA/ITZIK/PAPI
STUCK IN THE +IRIS/ AVRUM/ ANNA/ LIKE IN BARREN
Dina return and talk outside of her apartment. She expresses SYRUP, FOR ANYTHING TO ZELGER JULIA TEL MAN THEN BLAH BLAH BLAH
PAPI
her fear that if something happens between them it will end in WAITING, HAPPEN, YOU JUST TO WAITING I CAN’T ITZIK
WHAT’S NEW HERE, JUST KIND OF TRYING WAITING — WAIT HAPPEN FOR CONTROL LIKE IN BULLSHIT ITZIK
disaster, like everything else she does. Tewfiq responds that his TO FIND OUT TO FIND OUT SOMETHING MY BEIT HATIKVA!
YOU’RE WAITING
wife’s death was his fault; the result of their only son’s suicide I’M WAITING WHAT I’M DOING WHAT I’M DOING LIFE PAPI
WRONG WRONG FOR TO HAPPEN SO LIKE IN BLAND DINA/ITZIK/PAPI
for which Tewfiq blames himself. Haled returns and the three CAUSE THAT’S WHAT
SOMETHING I’M HERE YOU ARE IN RENOWNED
WE DO HERE— BEIT HATIKVA
of them go inside. SAME AS WE DO EVERY DAY ENSEMBLE TO JUST DINA
AHHH… HAPPEN DRIFTING LIKE IN BASICALLY BLEAK AND BEIGE GO AHEAD, LOOK AROUND BEIT HATIKVA
AHHH… JUST RIGHT AND LUCKY YOU,YOU HAVE FOUND
FOR SOMETHING, BEIT HATIKVA
In Dina’s apartment, Haled plays “My Funny Valentine” on the I DON’T KNOW, SOMETHING BLAH BLAH BLAH
WELCOME TO NOWHERE
trumpet. Tewfiq says goodnight and goes to bed. Alone with TO HAPPEN,YOU KNOW, DINA ALONG.
JUST SOMETHING DIFFERENT YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK, +ANNA JULIA DINA PAPI/ITZIK
Haled, Dina laments all her missed opportunities (SOMETHING STICK A PIN IN A MAP HNNNNNN PAPI
TO HAPPEN THERE’S TWO KINDS OF WAITING FOR TEL MAN WITH A “B.”
DIFFERENT REPRISE). Then she begins to kiss Haled. JUST WAITING, THERE’S THE KIND WHERE YOU’RE ANYTHING +AVRUM OF THE DESERT
FOR SOMETHING TO CHANGE, EXPECTING SOMETHING TO BUILD A ROAD TO THE
MIDDLE OF THE DINA/ITZIK/PAPI
JUST A CHANGE— NEW OR EVEN STRANGE HAPPEN WELCOME TO NOWHERE
Still waiting by the phone, the young man yearns for his love BUT THIS KIND OF WAITING, AND YOU FOR DESERT HNNNNNN
AVRUM YOU KEEP LOOKING OFF OUT INTO SOMETHING POUR CEMENT ON THE
(ANSWER ME). When at last she calls, the residents of SPOT IN THE
Beit Hatikva and visiting musicians join in to express their
SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE
WE’RE MOVING IN A CIRCLE,
THE DISTANCE
EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW THE WAIT WAIT WAIT
YOU
WAIT... DESERT 4. IT IS WHAT
THAT’S BEIT HATIKVA.
private longings. AROUND AND AROUND WITH VIEW IS NEVER GONNA CHANGE. IT IS
THE SAME SCENERY
GOING BY DINA AVRUM ZELGER/ ITZIK 3. WELCOME TO DINA/ITZIK/PAPI
WELCOME TO NOWHERE. DINA
BUT NO ONE’S COMPLAINING
YOU WAIT... JULIA/ ANNA/
IRIS/ TEL MAN NOWHERE DINA
I WAS ROMANTIC
AND YOUNG AND STUPID
WE’RE EXPERTS AT WAITING— PAPI
DINA Behold, where there was once only desert, the I MET MY HUSBAND,
WAITING town of Beit Hatikva. See! Apartments. Gaze
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT PETAH TIKVAH YOU KNOW HOW THESE THINGS GO.
ENSEMBLE FOR upon! My café. While you’re here, be sure to
SOMETHING SUCH A CITY, EVERYBODY LOVES IT.
OHHH… go back and forth between my café and the YOU’VE GOT YOUR STORY
FOR FOR LOTS OF FUN, LOTS OF ART, LOTS OF
AHHH... apartments. So much to explore. YOU’RE IN YOUR MOVIE
ANYTHING SOMETHING CULTURE,
THAT’S PETAH TIKVAH— WITH A “P.” YOU ARE THE HERO
ITZIK + SAMMY TO HAPPEN PAPI
WHERE YOU ARE, THIS IS NOT PETAH YOU THINK YOU KNOW—
TIME’S LIKE A RIVER, SOMETIMES YOU WAIT... JUST FOR TIME PICK A SANDHILL OF YOUR CHOOSING
WAITING ANYTHING IS TIKVAH
TIME IS AN OCEAN YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS
FOR TO A SUCH A CITY, NOBODY KNOWS IT.
THIS SOFA IS MY BOAT ITZIK YOU THINK IT ALL WILL HAPPEN
ANYTHING HAPPEN RIVER, NOT A FUN, NOT A ART, NOT A CULTURE,
AND I’M JUST DRIFTING RIGHT ALONG TAKE SOME BRICKS THAT YOU THINK IT ALL WILL GO
I’M I’M SOMETIMES THIS IS BEIT HATIKVA— WITH A “B.” NO ONE’S USING

Adam Kantor

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).

A CERTAIN WAY IGNITING WITH A MINOR 9TH
RESOLVING TO A MAJOR SIX
YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE STORY THEN SOMETHING CLICKS
YOU THINK A HAPPY ENDING
BUT YOU DON’T KNOW THE STORY
AND EVERYTHING STARTS.
THERE GOES THE KICK DRUM
SPELLING OUT THE RHYTHM OF LOVE
What about you, General? You have TELLING YOU GET OFF YOUR SEAT
someone waiting for you, in Egypt? A wife? AND MOVE YOUR FEET
AND DANCE TO THE BEAT OF
TEWFIQ YOUR HEART.
Me? No. I had, at one time, but…
AND IF YOU PLAY ME “SUMMERTIME”
DINA AND IF I STOP AND CLOSE MY EYES
BUT THEN YOU SEE IT I’LL SEE AN ANGEL SWIRLING,
YOU LEARN YOUR LESSON MOVING,YOUNG AND SO ALIVE.
GROW UP A LITTLE THIS MUSIC IS A TIME MACHINE
YOU SETTLE IN, THIS MUSIC IS A GIFT FROM GOD.
THEN IT IS WHAT IT IS HER FACE WAS BEAUTIFUL
YOU’VE GOT WHAT YOU GOT, MY GOD, HER FACE WAS BEAUTIFUL.
THEN BLAH BLAH BLAH SO MAYBE I’M ROMANTIC
MAYBE I’M A SENTIMENTAL FOOL
MAYBE MUSIC IS THE FOOD OF LOVE
5. THE BEAT OF BUT MUSIC AND LOVE, WHO CAN
YOUR HEART TELL THEM APART?
AVRUM CAMAL/ITZIK/SIMON
AVRUM
JUST LET ME HEAR
SHE WAS IN A WHITE DRESS
THE DOWNBEAT
WITH RED AND PURPLE RIBBONS IN
LET ME HEAR THE
HER HAIR.
DOWNBEAT
SHE WAS DANCING WITH SOMEBODY,
AND LET ME HEAR
BUT IN LOVE AND MUSIC, ALL IS FAIR.
THE BUM, BUM, BUM
BUM, BUM, BUM
WE WERE FINISHING “THE GIRL
AND LET ME HEAR YOU
FROM IPANEMA,”
KICK THE KICK
GOING INTO “SUMMERTIME.”
I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF MY SOLO
AVRUM/ITZIK
WHEN HER EYES MET MINE.
AND WHACK THE SNARE
LOVE STARTS ON A DOWNBEAT
LOVE STARTS WHEN THE MUSIC STARTS
AVRUM/ITZIK/SIMON
LOVE STARTS WHEN THE TUNE IS SWEET
AND SHAKE YOUR ASS
AND YOU LIFT YOUR FEET
AVRUM/ITZIK/SIMON/CAMAL
TO THE BEAT OF YOUR HEART. AND STIR UP THE AIR
LOVE MAKES A RHYTHM
AVRUM
LOVE DANCES IN A DANCER’S SHOES
AND DANCE WITH THE GIRL WITH
IT MOVES WHEN YOU START TO MOVE
THE RIBBONS IN HER HAIR—
AND WHAT IS THE GROOVE?
THE BEAT OF YOUR HEART!
AVRUM/IT Z IK/SIMON/CAMAL
EMBRACING THE RHYTHM OF LOVE
AND WE PLAYED “MOON RIVER” THAT’S EXACTLY THE SAME
AND “I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND”
AS THE BEAT OF YOUR
AND THE GIRL IN THE WHITE DRESS
AND THE RIBBONS IN HER HAIR
AVRUM CAMAL
DANCED TO MY BAND. HEART! THE BEAT OF YOUR HEART!
AND I COULD FEEL MY HEART ITZIK/SIMON
IT STARTED JUMPING IN MY CHEST THE BEAT OF YOUR HEART!
AND I SMILED AT HER
AND SHE SMILED AT ME
CAMAL/ITZIK/SIMON
AND THE MUSIC DID THE REST THE BEAT OF YOUR HEART!
LOVE SPARKS ON THE UPBEAT,
Katrina Lenk, Tony Shalhoub
6. SORAYA
7. OMAR SHARIF
DINA
OUM KALTHOUM AND OMAR SHARIF
CAME FLOATING ON A JASMINE WIND.
FROM THE WEST, FROM THE SOUTH,
HONEY IN MY EARS,
SPICE IN MY MOUTH.
DARK AND THRILLING, STRANGE
AND SWEET.
CLEOPATRA AND A HANDSOME THIEF
AND THEY FLOATED IN
ON A JASMINE WIND,
OUM KALTHOUM AND OMAR SHARIF.
AND THEY FLOATED IN
ON A JASMINE WIND,
OUM KALTHOUM AND OMAR SHARIF.
FRIDAY EVENING—OMAR SHARIF
IN BLACK AND WHITE AND BLURRY
THROUGH TEARS.
MY MOTHER AND I WOULD SIT THERE
IN A TRANCE.
HE WAS COOL TO THE MARROW
THE PHARAOH OF ROMANCE.
SUNDAY MORNING, OUM KALTHOUM.
HER VOICE WOULD FILL OUR LIVING
ROOM.
THE SHIP FROM EGYPT ALWAYS CAME,
SAILING IN ON RADIO WAVES.
AND THE JASMINE WIND
DEEP PERFUME
OUM KALTHOUM
AND THE LIVING ROOM BECOMES
A GARDEN
AND THE TV SET BECOMES THE FOUNTAIN
AND THE MUSIC FLOWS
IN THE GARDEN
AND EVERYTHING GROWS.
OUM KALTHOUM AND OMAR SHARIF
CAME FLOATING ON A LEMON LEAF,
FLYING IN ON A JASMINE WIND,
OUM KALTHOUM AND OMAR SHARIF.
AND WE DANCED WITH THEM IN
A JASMINE-SCENTED WIND,
OUM KALTHOUM AND OMAR SHARIF.
8. HAJ-BUTRUS
9. PAPI HEARS
THE OCEAN
PAPI
I DON’T KNOW WITH THE GIRLS
I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO,
I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START.
I’M SMARTER UP HERE THAN I AM
DOWN HERE
AND UP HERE I’M NOT TOO SMART.
THEY MIGHT SAY ONE THING
OR ANOTHER
THEY MIGHT HAVE SMILED AT ME
ONCE OR TWICE,
IF THEY HAVE BREASTS AND THEY’RE
NOT MY MOTHER
THEN ALL I HEAR IS
CHUUUUUUU…
AND THE HANDS GET HEAVY,
OH THE HANDS,
I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH
THE HANDS OR THE FEET.
FROZEN IN FEAR LIKE A DEER WITH THE
LIGHTS IN THE EYES
THE PULL, THE PULL,
INVISIBLE BUT REALLY REAL.
YOUR EYES, HER EYES
AND SOON YOU’RE LOOKING IN
A MIRROR
YOU REALIZE YOU CAN’T GET NEARER
YOU ARE BOTH RIGHT THERE.
YOU GLOW, SHE GLOWS
TWO SUNS, NO SHADOW
YOUR SKIN, HER SKIN
AND EVERYTHING’S ALL LIGHT
NO EDGE, NO EDGE
NO WALLS, NO BORDER
TWO STREAMS OF WATER
THAT BECOME THE SEA.
PAPI
THE DANCE, THE DANCE THE DANCE
THE DANCE
YOU SEE, THE WIND THAT
MOVES THE TREES IS
THE ALGEBRA THAT MOVES
YOUR KNEES IS
WRITTEN IN HER EYES.
HALED/PAPI
HER EYES, YOUR EYES
YOU’RE ONLY LOOKING IN A MIRROR
HALED
YOU REALIZE YOU CAN’T GET NEARER
AND THERE’S NOWHERE
YOU DON’T MEET.
Adam Kantor, Bill Army, Sharone Sayegh
11. THE PARK
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET.
10. HALED’S AND SOON YOU’RE ALL ONE PUDDLE.
SHE MIGHT BE WANTING TO GET SONG ABOUT YOU TALK, SHE TALKS 12. ITGARA’A
TOUCHY-FEELY IT’S NOT ABOUT THE CONVERSATION
SHE MIGHT BE TALKING TO ME
REALLY NICE
LOVE THE WORDS ARE LIKE YOUR LIPS
ARE REACHING OUT
TEWFIQ
ITGARA’A
ITGARA’A
SHE MIGHT AS WELL BE SPEAKING SWAHILI TO KISS THE EAR.
HALED ITGARA’A
CAUSE ALL I HEAR IS CHUUUUUUU NOT BREAK THE ICE
YOU’RE HERE, SHE’S HERE ITGARA’A
YOU MELT THE ICE.
TWO DROPS OF WATER MIN EL WIHDA
AND MY TONGUE GETS BIG YOU MELT YOURSELF
AND I CAN’T MOVE MY KNEES
AND MY EYEBALLS FREEZE
AND ALL I SEE’S A TUNNEL
AND THERE’S COTTON IN MY HEAD
MY LEGS ARE FULL OF LEAD
AND MY BRAIN GOES DEADER
THAN THE DEAD SEA
DEAD DEAD
DEAD IN THE MIND AND I FIND
THAT I KIND OF GO INTO AN
INFANTILE TRANCE.
I’M PEEING IN MY—NOT LITERALLY
PEEING IN MY
BUT YOU KNOW I MAY AS WELL BE
PEEING IN MY—
THEN I LOSE MY WITS
MY LIGHTS GO OFF
I’LL GET ALL STICKY IN THE PITS
I SMELL LIKE FALAFEL.
AND MY EARS GET HOT
AND I FEEL REAL AWFUL
AND ALL I HEAR IS…
DEAD DEAD DEAD
BELLY UP, GOING ROUND
SINKING DOWN DOWN DOWN LIKE A
SCHMUCK.
DEAD IN THE HEAD
DEAD IN THE WATER
DEAD IN A MAGICAL SEA FULL OF SUCK.
GO AHEAD AND TELL ME I SHOULD
KEEP ON TRYING.
GO AHEAD AND TELL ME I SHOULD
BREAK THE ICE.
I’LL BE STANDING HERE DEAF AND DYING
AND ALL I’LL HEAR IS...
Rachel Prather, Etai Benson, Ari’el Stachel
MIN EL FARAH
ITGARA’A
ITGARAHOUM
INTA EL WIHDA
INTA EL FARAH
ITGARAHOUM
13. SOMETHING
DIFFERENT
DINA
IS THIS A HYMN? IS THIS A LOVE SONG?
SOMETHING ANCIENT BY A POET,
MAYBE HAFIZ? MAYBE RUMI?
IS HE SINGING ABOUT TWO HEARTS
SEARCHING IN THE DARKNESS?
OR IS HE SINGING ABOUT FISHING?
THE TUNE SEEMS SAD, BUT ARE THE
WORDS SAD?
WHAT’S HE SAYING? IS HE PRAYING?
AND WHY DOES IT GET TO ME?
IS HE LONELY, MAYBE, REACHING
OUT FOR SOMEONE?
LOOK AT ME. MAYBE I’M THE ONE
WHO’S FISHING.
EVERY DAY YOU STARE TO THE WEST,
TO THE SOUTH
YOU CAN SEE FOR MILES BUT THINGS
NEVER CHANGE
THEN HONEY IN YOUR EARS, SPICE IN
YOUR MOUTH
NOTHING’S AS SURPRISING AS THE
TASTE OF SOMETHING STRANGE
AND HERE’S THIS MAN, RIGHT
HERE BESIDE ME
KIND OF DEEP, AND KIND OF CUTE IN
HIS SERGEANT PEPPER SUIT
IS THIS MY SHEIK? IS THIS MY
OMAR SHARIF?
WELL I KNOW IT’S SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
WHO IS THIS MAN RIGHT HERE
BESIDE ME?
CLOSER BY AN INCH OR TWO MY
CHEEK WOULD TOUCH HIS EAR
WHAT IS HE THINKING, WHAT DOES
HE WISH FOR?
IS HE SINGING ABOUT WISHING?
SOMETHING NEW I’VE NEVER SEEN
BEFORE
THROUGH THESE WALLS I BUILD,
THESE GATES I PROTECT
SOMETHING NEW I DIDN’T NOTICE
I WAS HOPING FOR
NOTHING IS AS BEAUTIFUL AS
SOMETHING THAT YOU DON’T EXPECT.
LOOK AT THOSE HANDS, THOSE ARE
NOT YOUNG HANDS
BUT THEY MOVE LIKE THEY ARE
SWIMMING THROUGH THE MUSIC
THROUGH THE MUSIC
AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT I FEEL AND
I DON’T KNOW WHAT I KNOW
ALL I KNOW IS I FEEL SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
TEWFIQ
ITGARAHOUM
DINA
HE MAKES ME FEEL SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
14. ITZIK’S LULLABY
ITZIK
A GREAT BIG HOUSE THERE IS SOMEWHERE
THAT’S FILLED WITH SUN AND
Tony Shalhoub, Katrina Lenk
LOVELY THINGS.
INSIDE THE HOUSE THERE IS A ROOM:
A BABY SLEEPS, A DADDY SINGS.
THANK GOD HE IS A LUCKY MAN
A BUSY MAN, A HAPPY MAN.
THANK GOD THE GIFT WAS GIVEN HIM
TO FINISH ALL THE THINGS HE PLANS.
I’M SORRY, SON. I DON’T KNOW WHY
THIS GIFT HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN ME.
IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE HOW I TRY
I END UP DRIFTING ON THE SEA.
WE FELL IN LOVE,YOUR MOM AND I,
WE MADE OUR PLANS AND STARTED LIFE
BUT NOW WE FIGHT AND BACK AWAY,
THE LOSER AND THE LOSER’S WIFE.
CAMAL ALL STAYS THE SAME
I GUESS I AM A YA LEYL,YA LEYLIA THEN HONEY IN YOUR EARS, SPICE
PATIENT MAN
I GUESS I HAVE THE TA’ALA ILAYA
GIFT TO BE.
A QUIET ROOM, A YA HABIBI
SLEEPING CHILD
YOU NEED THIS GIFT YA LEYL TELEPHONE MAN
IF YOU’RE LIKE ME.
A GREAT BIG HOUSE THERE IS SOMEWHERE WHERE ARE YOU? WHERE ARE YOU?
THAT’S FULL OF SUN AND
LOVELY THINGS.
INSIDE THE HOUSE, THERE IS A ROOM.
A BABY SLEEPS, A DADDY SINGS.
ITGARA’A
When you drink, drink deeply.
Drink deeply of the moonlight
drink deeply of the dark
of the loneliness
of the joy.
You will never drain the moonlight
you can never end the dark.
In your eyes, the flash of joy
in your mouth, the sweet shock of honey.
You are the joy
you are the loneliness.
Drink deep.
— DY
15. SOMETHING
DIFFERENT
(REPRISE)
DINA
IS IT A HYMN? IS IT A LOVE SONG?
THE MUSIC IS SO BEAUTIFUL
IT MELTS AWAY SO QUICKLY
AND YOU’RE STANDING IN THE SILENCE
STANDING IN THE DARKNESS
SINGING ABOUT WISHING.
EVERY DAY YOU STARE TO THE WEST,
TO THE SOUTH
YOU CAN SEE FOR MILES BUT IT
IN YOUR MOUTH…
16. ANSWER ME
HERE I AM. HERE I AM. AND THE
LIGHT IS DYING—
WILL YOU ANSWER ME?
ALL ALONE IN THE QUIET,
AH, MY EARS ARE THIRSTY
FOR YOUR VOICE, FOR YOUR VOICE.
CAN YOU ANSWER ME?
IF I TRY, MAYBE I CAN SEE YOUR SHADOW
IN THE SODIUM LIGHT THAT
MASQUERADES AS MOON.
P R O D U C ED B Y D E A N S H A R E N O W A N D D AV I D YA Z B E K
Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered by DEAN SHARENOW
Executive Producer: KURT DEUTSCH
Pro Tools Engineer: IAN KAGEY
Vibromonk Piano Technician: MIKE MICCIO
Recorded November 12-13, 2017 at Vibromonk and Steel Cut Audio, Brooklyn, NY
Mixed and Mastered at Steel Cut Audio
Music Supervisors: ANDREA GRODY and DEAN SHARENOW
Music Director and Additional Arrangements: ANDREA GRODY
Music Coordinator: DEAN SHARENOW
Orchestrations by JAMSHIED SHARIFI
Electronic Music Design: BILLY JAY STEIN and HIRO IIDA
Music Preparation: PETER FOLEY
Production Stage Manager: RICHARD HODGE
Company Manager: TRACY GELTMAN
Associate General Manager: JALAINA ROSS
Assistant Company Manager: BRIAN TUCKER
Stage Manager: CHARLENE SPEYERER
Assistant Stage Manager: ASHLEY-ROSE GALLIGAN
Package Design: STEPHANIE LAYTON
Cover Art: AKA | Photos by SOPHY HOLLAND and MATTHEW MURPHY
Show Press: POLK & CO. – MATT POLK, WAYNE WOLFE, JEFFREY FAUVER and MOLLY WYATT
Music and Lyrics © 2017 Yeidlesounds (BMI).
The Band’s Visit opened on Broadway November 9, 2017 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
GHOSTLIGHTRECORDS.COM /GhostlightRecords @GhostlightRcrds
IF I TRY, I MIGHT TAKE OFF LIKE A SPARROW
AND I’LL TRAVEL ALONG A GUIDING ℗ & © 2018 Sh-K-Boom Records, LLC. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws. All Rights Reserved.
BREEZE.
VERY SOON. VERY SOON. THAT’S THE
SOUND OF LONGING.
ARE YOU THERE? ARE YOU THERE?
WILL YOU ANSWER ME?
SAMMY
IN MY DREAMS, MY BELOVED LIES
BESIDE ME.
SAMMY/ZELGER
WHEN THE SUN LIGHTS THE ROOM, I
FIND IT’S ONLY ME—
(One by one, the people join in:)
ONLY ME,
ONLY ME,
WITH THE WORLD AROUND ME.
TELEPHONE GUY
ONLY YOU,
WHEN THE SUN AND MOON AND
STARS ARE GONE
WHAT’S LEFT IS ONLY YOU.
ALL
WILL YOU ANSWER ME?
ANSWER ME.
17. THE CONCERT