Molly Sweeney

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The Lantern Theater Company is  continuing its 2020/21 season with a filmed production of Molly Sweeney by playwright Brian Friel, directed by Peter deLaurier and featuring Anthony Lawton, Ian Merrill Peakes and Genevieve Perrier. This fully designed production was filmed at  Lantern’s home at St. St. Stephen’s Theater, 10^th and Ludlow Streets in Center City Philadelphia. Molly Sweeney will stream on demand from Friday, January 22, through Sunday, February 14, 2021. Molly is a 41-year-old Irish woman who has been blind since she was 10 months old. Raised at home, she was taught by her father to  appreciate the tactile world around her and has become a self-assured and independent woman... until her husband Frank and her ophthalmologist  Mr. Rice persuade her to undergo risky surgery to restore her vision. The play examines how the characters make assumptions about the lived experiences of others. Lantern Theater Company will explore the themes of Molly Sweeney on its Lantern Searchlight blog, available online at lanterntheater.org/searchlight. Tickets for the productions are $20 per household and are available online at www.lanterntheater.org or by calling (215) 829-0395. Ticket buyers will receive an email with full instructions and a private access link.

 

The Hip Hop Nutcracker

The Kimmel Center for Performing the Arts presented The Hip Hop Nutcracker which was directed and choreographed by Jennifer Weber and was recorded live at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on December 12, 2020. Performed by 12 break-dancers, a violinist and a DJ, this astounding adventure on the stage was mind-boggling. Each member of the troupe exhibited phenomenal athleticism as some twirled around on their heads, and others balanced upside down on one arm. Dancers cavalcaded across the stage and back to the familiar tones of  Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. Through the magic of  flash videography Clara and the Nutcracker Prince time-traveled through decades. There were extraordinary lighting effects and special effects. In one number, “snow” fell onto the stage as dancers dressed in white imitated snowflakes falling from the sky. Due to the pandemic, there are no plans to have live shows of this performance, but if the Kimmel should arrange for it to be performed  live in the future, I would highly recommend making reservations to see it.           

A Week With Frog and Toad

 

Despite the pandemic and the world-wide closing of theatre doors, the Arden Theatre has found a way to bring joy into every theatre enthusiast’s home by streaming its successful run of the Arden Children’s Theatre’s A Year With Frog and Toad. Starring Jeffrey Coon as the Frog, Ben Dibble as the Toad, Steve Pacek as the Snail and a host of other friends in 2004, 2009 and again in 2016, this tale is every bit as delightful in 2020. There are many songs, and the  lyrics are so “catchy” you want to sing along and hope the songs never stop. “Eating Cookies” and "Toad Looks Funny in a Bathing Suit” had the audience rocking. There were a lot of recurring jokes that had the younger members of the audience scream in laughter and my  “sophisticated” 12-year-old granddaughter who had seen the show in 2016 smile.  Snail delivering mail that took a year- lights onto the snail’s progress throughout the course of the show’, and the reference to a broken clock every time someone wanted to know the time. Donald Eastman did a fantastic job with the set design- a separation of the stage floor serves as both a swimming pool and later as a fire pit for an outdoor evening. Thom Weaver  did marvelous  work with the lighting, changing daytime to night. This is one show that can be seen endless times and something new can be appreciated from it with each experience. Kudos to the Arden for making it available again.

This Is The Week That Is

 

 1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s only all comedy theatre, is presenting their annual political satire, This Is the Week That Is through January 3, 2021. Because the production is being streamed onto your devices, there are obviously differences with this iconic landmark of humor and ones of the previous 14 years. There are fewer large numbers and cast interactions. The pace is slower, and the audience is encouraged to participate in live chats throughout the show. Thankfully, there are also bits that are still recurring, such as the adored Patsy from the stoop of South Philly who this year can be found at Four Seasons Landscaping. David Jadico has returned and is the only cast member to have been part of the show for all fifteen seasons. Bravo to the ensemble cast who overcame gigantic hurdles in preparing for this show. They not only had to individually write their own material but they also had to film themselves on their iPhones! Newcomer Annie Fang is an amazing COVID-19 and  Brett Ashley Robinson is marvelous as CiCi.  The outstanding performance of the show, however, is the entire cast performing their rendition of “Masks, the Musical, ” a parody of several Broadway shows. Video and sound designer Jorge  Cousineau gathered all individual videos and seamlessly made a video of the singing and dancing that is exceptional. For more information or tickets, call 215- 592-9560 or visit online at www.1812productions.org.

 

The Hip Hop Nutcracker

The Kimmel Cultural Campus will be happy to present the streaming premiere of The Hip Hop Nutcracker, a contemporary dance phenomenon, on Saturday December 12, at 7 pm. Tickets to the streaming event must be purchased in advance and are available at kimmelcenter.org. This is set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless music and is re-imagined through a multi-camera, fast-paced, production with a dozen all-star break dancers, a DJ and a violinist, There is also a special appearance by MC Kurtis Blow, one of the founding fathers of rap music, who opens the show. Just like in the original version of the Nutcracker, the themes of love and community remain the same. This virtual production is directed and choreographed by University of Pennsylvania graduate and Olivier Award nominee, Jennifer Weber and is produced by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) Proceeds from this cultural event will benefit the Kimmel Cultural Campus’ ‘Road to Reopening’ Relief Fund. General admission tickets are $25 and allow guests to stream the show on the night of the event only. There is also a VIP ticket for $55. This ticket not only allows guests to stream the show the night it plays, but also to have access to view it “on demand for 48 hours. VIP ticket holders also can gain entry to a live, post-show talkback with the show’s creators as well as an autographed poster that will be mailed to their home.  For more information and to purchase tickets, visit kimmelcenter.org.

 

The Wolves

 

The Wolves, written by Sara DeLappe and directed by Nell Bang-Jensen was originally scheduled to be produced on stage by Philadelphia Theatre Company last March when the world was turned upside -down by the Corona virus epidemic and theatres were forced to close. High School girls from different schools play on a recreational soccer team, The Wolves. As the play opens in Week One, there are nine zoom boxes with girls talking. In subsequent weeks, there may be fewer zoom boxes with girls inside and then additional ones which slide open as more girls join in. In the beginning, the girls seem to talk all at once and pay little attention to each other. As they begin to stretch and warm up there is some glimpse of a soccer team, beyond chatty teens. As the weeks progress, the audience can appreciate the magic of the work of the director, the designer, and the zoom boxes in the sharing of orange slices with teammates and the running off to visit a coach, giving information to a scout,  and running back to join the team. After a week’s break, in Week Six, a few have returned to play soccer and the rest of the team slowly straggles in. The girls’ comments about feeling ill at ease and events in the last week leave clues about what has happened. It is a strongly written section and each actor plays her part exceeding well. The Wolves is now streaming for a 48 rental from Philadelphia Theatre Company for a pay- as- you- can until December 20, 2020 .  This play is being streamed including the original cast so the audience gets a virtual experience just as it would have been produced on PTC’s main stage in March. It is extremely well done.  To rent it, log in to your PTC account or contact the Virtual Box Office M-F between 12:00 pm and 5:00:pm at 215-985-0450. The Wolves runs for 90 minutes with no intermission. You might very well want to watch it more than once. I know that I did.

 

Vinny DePonto Presents Mental Amusements virtually at Bristol Riverside Theatre

Mentalist Vinny De Ponto is giving a mind-blowing virtual performance sponsored by the Bristol Riverside Theatre. He speaks of his show, Mental Amusements, as a carnival, and it is certainly a carnival for the mind. The combination of psychological tricks and illusion must be seen to be believed. Vinny asks someone in the “front row”  to think of a zodiac sign and concentrate on it while he writes it down. He then shows it to the participant after she names the sign and it is the same. This is only one of many ways in which he interacts with his audience. He also asks everyone, including people in general admission seats, to make a pendulum with dental floss and a ring. The things that he could make the pendulum do remotely are fascinating.  There are two ways to enjoy this amazing production. If you want to be part of the show and interact with Vinny, purchase a $50 ticket. If you want to just sit back and be amazed and even follow along with some “tricks “ on your own, purchase a general admission ticket for $35. Due to popular demand, the show has been extended to November 6. While you might hesitate and think twice before purchasing tickets at this price for a virtual show, I can guarantee that it is worth it!

The (Virtual) Days of Re-Creation at PTC

 

Philadelphia Theatre Company is producing The Days of Re-Creation, on September 30, 2020, a virtual play written entirely by people of color. While 2020 will be recorded as a year of fear, and death, it will also be remembered as a year of change, rebirth and re-creation. The Days of Recreation: A Virtual Play is seven 10 minute plays on this theme of re-recreation which relate in some way to one of the days of creation from the Book of Genesis. The show runs for 80 minutes with no intermission beginning at 7:00 pm. There will be a talkback after the show. There will be an announcement of the theatre’s plans for the upcoming theatre season at 6:45 before the show begins. For more information on how to get your free   tickets, visit https://philadelphiatheatrecompany.org/the-days-of-re-creation/ or call 215- 985- 0420.

 

Virtual Mental Amusements at Bristol Riverside Theatre

Bristol Riverside Theatre is beginning its fall season with a brand new interactive magic show. The Bucks County theatre is bringing award-winning Mentalist Vinny DePonto’s virtual show, Mental Amusements, into the audience's homes September 24-26. Mental Amusements is a brand new, interactive, virtual magic show brought to you by the award-winning mentalist Vinny DePonto. DePonto’s mind-reading skills will exhilarate and flabbergast everyone.  DePonto is bringing the carnival into audiences’ homes. Once getting a ticket, audiences are granted admission into a carefully crafted carnival of the mind, designed exclusively for the virtual stage  Two types of tickets are available for this show. There are Front Row Tickets that put audiences right into the action. Front Row Ticket holders can participate in the show and have their minds read. Front Row tickets cost $50. General Admission tickets allow audiences to watch the show and comment without being seen or heard. General Admission tickets cost $35. The show runs approximately 60 minutes.  Tickets and more information are available online at brtstage.org or by calling the box office at 215-785-0100. More information about the show can also be found at:mentalamusements.com.

 

 

RED ALERT : LIVE EVENTS in support of Entertainment and Arts Workers

 

Live Events Industry Has Organized Movement for Buildings

 And Venues Nationwide to Light up Red in Support of

Entertainment and Arts Workers

PHILADELPHIA LOCATIONS WILL INCLUDE THE SUZANNE ROBERTS  THEATRE, THE PENNSYLVANIA

CONVENTION CENTER, THE KIMMEL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, LIVE NATION VENUES, AND MORE

  Philadelphia members of local chapters of event, stage, and venue organizations are banding together and imploring the US Congress to offer economic relief to the Live Events Industry by passing the RESTART ACT (S.3814.) Shuttered since March 2020, putting millions of people out of work, the industry is organizing a national ‘Red Start’ campaign on September 1, 2020 when buildings, venues and iconic locations in Philadelphia and nationwide will light up red from 9 pm  to 12 midnight to raise public awareness that the Live Events Industry is on Red Alert for its very survival and to create congressional pressure to act now. The North American event comes on the heels of a similar event held on August 11 in the UK  when over 700 buildings were lit, calling attention to the same plight facing the Live Events Industry there.

 

SUMMER MUSIC FEST: A Night At the Movies

Artistic Director Keith Baker on keyboard leading the 5 piece band, various singers and musical groups have joined the fun over the years. This year, of course, the theatre closed its doors to the public in March due to the Corona virus pandemic. Keith Baker and his crew were not to be deterred. They’ve scheduled a three-part Summer Fest which can be accessed online after purchasing a ticket. I’ve just seen the second one, A Night At the Movies, and it was remarkable. Keith Baker, co- founder and Artistic Director, hosted the concert live from his living room and interviewed the soloists. Rebecca Robbins, Sean Thompson, Demetria Joyce Bailey and guitarist, Neil Nemetz and violinist Claudia Pellegrini before they performed. When Rebecca performed San Francisco in her living room, she was in one of five zoom squares surrounded by the band. With her gorgeous soprano voice she lifted her champagne glass voice high to match her voice! Sean Thompson has a soothing pure voice that is a pleasure to listen to as he sings Moon River and Unchained Melody. Demetria Joyce Bailey sings Stormy Weather and Goldfinger and if you close your eyes you could picture her in Porgy and Bess… a phenomenal voice. The 5 member band is frequently featured as you see and hear 2 guitars, a keyboard, a drum set and a violin. Although this is a virtual event, every soloist is featured in a visually unique and appealing way in a well-designed zoom arrangement. 

The last concert of the series a Broadway Summer Spectacular is scheduled for September 2, 4, 6.  It will feature Broadways bests from composers like Stephen Sondheim, Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein.               

      

SUMMER MUSIC FEST: A Night At the Movies

Bristol Riverside Theatre is continuing its 25 year tradition of its Summer Music Fest. Held annually, these music events not only raise funds to help keep the theatre afloat during the regular theater season, but delight the audiences as well. With Co-Artistic Director Keith Baker on keyboard leading the 5 piece band, various singers and musical groups have joined the fun over the years. This year, of course, the corona virus dictated that the theatre close its doors in March due to the pandemic. Keith Baker and his crew were not to be deterred. They’ve scheduled a three-part Summer Fest which can be accessed online after purchasing a ticket. I’ve just seen the second one, A Night At the Movies, and it was remarkable. Thanks to Keith Baker and his production team, this BRT virtual presentation is one that everyone will be talking about for virtually days on end.

Keith Baker, hosted the concert live from his living room and interviewed the soloists Rebecca Robbins, Sean Thompson, Demetria Joyce Bailey and guitarist, Neil Nemetz and violinist Claudia Pellegrini before they performed. When Rebecca performed San Francisco in her gorgeous soprano voice, she lifted a champagne glass voice high to match the high notes she achieved at the song’s end. Sean Thompson had a soothing, pure voice that was a pleasure to listen to as he sang Moon River and Unchained Melody. Demetria Joyce Bailey's deep throaty voice was mesmerizing as she sang Stormy Weather and Goldfinger.  . In this virtual event, every soloist was featured from a different visual perspective. The zoom arrangement was well designed and unique.  The last concert of the series, a Broadway Summer Spectacular, is scheduled for September 2, 4, 6.  It will feature Broadway's bests from composers like Stephen Sondheim, Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein.              

Kimmel' Center's Covid -19 Relief Concert

KIMMEL CULTURAL CAMPUS CO-PRESENTS

COVID-19 RELIEF CONCERT

CHRISOPHER JACKSON:LIVE FROM THE WEST SIDE

STREAMED LIVE FROM NEW YORK

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15 AT 8 P.M. EST

DONATIONS OF $40+ 

+ ACCEPTED STARTING AUGUST 4

The Kimmel Cultural Campus is one of a select group of 16 nonprofit arts organizations across the nation who have partnered to present an exclusive live-streamed concert event, Christopher Jackson: Live from the West Side, on Saturday, August 15 at 8 p.m. EST. Jackson is a Grammy and Emmy Award-winning songwriter/composer and a Tony Award nominated actor best known for originating the role of George Washington in Hamilton. Accompanied by a live band, Jackson will   perform songs from his favorite musicals, pop standards and some of his original material. He will also share stories from his time with   In the Heights and Hamilton. Audience members will be invited to text questions which                       will be answered during the live event.

CHRISTOPHER JACKSON: LIVE FROM THE WEST SIDE is accessible with a $40 donation and includes access to the livestream performance plus an additional 72 hour of on-demand viewing of the livestream. Donations support the Kimmel Cultural Campus’ Covid 19 Relief Fund. ”Nonprofits arts presents are the lifeblood of the performing arts industry.” said Jackson, as he explained his partnering with the Covid-19 Relief Concert.

Beginning Tuesday August 4^th donations of $40+ to the Kimmel Cultural Campus Relief Fund will grant access to Christopher Jackson: Live from the West Side. Donations can be made at www.kimmelcenter.org.

 

 

Broadway Philadelphia 2020-2021 Season

The Kimmel Center Cultural Campus

And the Shubert Organization

Present

2020-2021 Broadway Philadelphia Season

With 14 Blockbuster Productions

And a combined

49 Tony Award Wins

Take a deep breath and look forward to the fall when all the covid 19 shelter in place will be nothing but a memory and everyone will be out and about enjoying the theatre once more. There's nothing better  than experiencing theatre produced by Broadway Philadelphia. Here’s something to look forward to.

·        Broadway Philadelphia is presented collaboratively by the Kimmel Center for the performing Arts and The Shubert Organization with productions at the Academy of Music, the Merriam Theatre and the Forrest Theatre. The upcoming season is dynamite. It includes: Pretty Woman: The Musical, (October 21 -  Nov, 8, 2020 - Academy of Music),  My Fair Lady (Nov 17 - 29, 2020- Academy of Music). 1776 (Dec. 8 – 20, 2020 – Forrest Theatre), Hairspray (Dec. 29 – Jan 3, 2021- Merriam Theatre,) The Cher Show (Jan 5 - 17, 2021- Academy of Music,) Blue Man Group (January 26 - 31. 2021 –Merriam Theatre,) Beautiful –The Carole King Musical (February 2- 14, 2021. – Academy of Music). Aint Too Proud (March 16- April 4 2021 - Academy of Music,) Anastasia (March 16-21, 2021- Merriam Theatre), RENT: 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour (April 9-11, 2021, -Merriam Theatre), Oklahoma! (May 4 – 16. 2021 – Forrest Theatre,) Disney’s The Lion King (May 26- June 20, 2021- Academy of Music, Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida (July 14 – 18 2021 – Academy of Music) and Hadestown (July 27 – August 8, 2021 – Academy of Music). Hamilton will return as part of the following season. The dates and venue will be announced at a later date. Tickets are on sale now and subscribers can save up to 25% off single ticket prices. Tickets may be purchased online at kimmelcenter.org/broadway20-21 or by calling 215-893-1055. For the second consecutive year, subscription packages include a Wednesday matinee option. New this season, subscribers have the option of swapping one of the shows in their subscription package for a season extra of their choice. 

Cabaret

Lauren Molina as Sally Bowles

Bristol Riverside Theatre, located at 120 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, Pa. is producing a dazzling rendition of the challenging musical, Cabaret through April 12. Set in Berlin, Germany in 1929-1930, Cabaret offers a glimpse of some lives before the war breaks out.  Robb Sapp is a talented and engaging Emcee.  The ensemble cast is brilliant. Many of them have come to the BRT stage from Broadway or from Broadway touring companies. While Sally Bowles (Lauren Molina) belts, “Don’t Tell Mama,” each Kit Kat girl attains high kicks and maintains her spot as she moves dizzyingly around in a formatted circle. There is excellent choreography maintained on the chairs as the girls engage their hands, feet and their entire bodies while Sally once more has a chance to illustrate her talent as she sings “Mein Herr.”  The set design is done to perfection. There is an easy transition from The Kit Kat Club to Fraulein Schneider’s Rooming House and back again. Frequently, while the transition is being made, there are projections on the walls showing the time period - dates, dancing girls, etc., so it is easy to miss the young men and women moving chairs and props off stage to reset the scene. Bristol Riverside favorite, Jo Twiss, shows everyone why she has such a reputation as she portrays Fraulein Schneider flawlessly. I have seen several iterations of Cabaret and I have never seen this character portrayed with more feeling. This is an excellent rendition of an amazing musical. For more information or tickets, call 215- 785- 0100 or visit brtstage.org

A Woman of No Importance

Ian Merrill Peakes & Karen Peakes

Oscar Wilde’s A Woman of No Importance will be playing on the mainstage of the Walnut Street Theatre at 825 Walnut Street, through March 1, 2020. The set is magnificent with revolving rooms. It is a delightful revival of Wilde’s moralistic play in the Victorian age when women had few of the advantages of men. The times were rife with a double standard; men did as they wanted; women did as they were told…but the women are kept bedecked in long gowns,jewelry,and petty gossip. Wilde pokes fun of this society and laugh lines are sprinkled throughout the dialogue.The women seem to have everything they need until Mrs. Arbuthnot (Alice Roper) enters looking for her son Gerald (Brandon O’Rourke). Clearly she is not “one of them” but she is admitted to the salon and given a seat. Her son appears, to tell her he has been offered a significant job as secretary to an important man. When Mrs. Arbuthnot discovers who her son’s patron will be, she is horrified and asks her son to leave the room for a moment. In the argument that ensues between Mrs. Arbutnoth and the patron Mr. Kelvil (Ian Merrill Peakes), it is disclosed that Mr Kelvil is actually the boy’s father who had refused to marry the mother 20 years ago, causing her a lifetime of heartache and shame. She does not want Gerald to have anything to do with the man who had rejected both of them 20 years ago. Nor does she want him to know her reasons for objecting to his taking the position as secretary. Added to this lovely cast of characters is Miss  Hester Worley, (Audrey Ward) a wealthy American who disagrees with most of the Brit’s way of life. Gerald is in love with the American and wants to have this new job so he will be in a position to propose marriage. Wilde adds a sumptuous twist at the end of the play. Enjoy! For more information or tickets, call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787 or visit www.walnutstreettheatre.org or Ticketmaster

Riverdance 25th Anniversary

Riverdance Troupe

The Kimmel Center Cultural Campus presents Riverdance: 25^th Anniversary at the Merriam Theatre through January 26th as part of its Broadway Philadelphia 2019-2020 Season. The dancing is phenomenal, of course. The principal dancers have been dancing since they were between 2 and 5 years old and have won a myriad of competitions to get to where they are today. Riverdance 25 is a bigger production than Riverdance 20. Each new musical number is introduced by a magnificent projected setting. The settings are life-like and unique, making it difficult to believe they are projections on a curtain. Dancers interact with spots on the projections. There is a humorous interaction in Act Two entitled Trading Taps.  The Riverdance Male Principal and 2 male troupe members have “a challenge” by the American Tappers. Each side does a routine and the other side has to try to do one better. In the end, they end up dancing together. It is a great insight into how two different styles of dancing can merge. Music abounds throughout. When the dancers are not on the stage, the Riverdance Band is playing or singers are singing. The music is haunting. When Haley Richardson plays the fiddle the whole stage is transformed. When she gets into a musical duel with Emma Frampton on the Saxophone, you’ll wish they’d never stop playing but then it’s time for those incredible dancers. A Russian Folk Dance Troupe joins the Riverdance troupe for some numbers. All dancers dance a variety of routines with impeccable precision. The vocal and instrumental acts are extraordinary. This is an exceptional show. For more information or tickets visit www.kimmelcenter.org

The Vertical Hour

Joe Guzman & Genevieve Perrier

The Lantern Theater Company, located at 10th and Ludlow Streets, is presenting the Philadelphia premiere of British playwright David Hare’s The Vertical Hour through February 16, 2020. Genevieve Perrier brilliantly portrays Nadia, the retired American foreign-war correspondent-turned college professor engaged to a British ex-pat. Marc Levasseur  portrays Philip Lucas, her fiancé. Even though she is a successful college professor at Yale, Nadia has never quite gotten over the war in Iraq and the inequities there. Philip suggests a short vacation to meet his parents and Nadia is charmed by Lucas, Philip’s hippie father, portrayed by Joe Guzman. The two have several heart-to-heart talks about war, love, and life. Philip is unsettled by their closeness. Rounding out the ensemble cast are newcomers to the Lantern, Ned Pryce and Sydney Banks, both of whom portray Nadia’s students  at Yale. The sets are beautifully arranged and the set changes are intriguing. This is a very thought-provoking play on many levels. For more information or tickets, call 215-829-0395 or visit online www.lanterntheater.org

Ensemble Cast

The Kimmel Center, as part of its 2019-2020 Broadway Philadelphia series, is presenting The Band’s Visit at the Academy of Music through January 19, 2020. This one-act is a surprising vision of stark sets, delightful projections and phenomenal music.

 A Superscript begins with:

 No one has ever heard this story

 It is not very important.

 An Egyptian orchestral ensemble appears on the doorsteps of an Israeli cafe which is located in the middle of nowhere. Laughter ensues as the language barrier between the owner and the bandleader explains the confusion. The band has chosen the wrong destination for their expected concert the following evening. Dina, the café owner, declares that speaking in English would help everyone. Perhaps out of boredom, perhaps because she is inherently kind, Dina, (Janet Dacal) offers to feed the band in the café and later to put them up for the night. Yet we see another side of Dina as she sits in a night spot with the band leader (Sasson Gabbay). Dina sees her lover out with his wife in “their” place and becomes jealous so she calls out to him. A short angry exchange in Hebrew ensues between Dina and her boyfriend Sammy (Marc Ginsburg) as his wife walks offstage. It is brief and doesn’t matter whether or not the audience can understand the words. She then turns all of her attention back to the bandleader Tewfiq. The Band’s Visit begins with a minimalistic set with a partial circular revolving stage. This leads to the ease of multiple set changes by adding chairs, lamps and tables. The bare walls are a surprising set-up for future projections which play an integral part of this beautiful production. As scenes progress, they become progressively more complex. Bare walls turn and rooms have a small amount of furniture. Egyptian band members  interact with Israelis, finding common ground. Music is the universal language that connects them. Walls turn again and Dina is magnificently shadowed on a back wall as she slowly moves across the stage, singing “Omar Sharif". Underlying everything is the music. There is always the band’s music, either accompanying the singers or playing in groups of two or three in the corner of the stage or solo as part of the script. It is delightfully both Middle Eastern and contemporary. The music sets a basis for commonality in the two distinct cultures. There is a comedic note running throughout the story. A Telephone Guy (Mike Cefalo) waits by a phone booth for a girl to return his call. As various characters pass him, some will ask “Has she called yet?” to which he always replies, “Soon.” He tries to fend off others from using the phone booth in case he should miss his call. What a joyful moment when the phone rings! After the band has departed the following day, Dina closes the café with a parting, “This is not a very important story.” It is, however, a very important story. It is a story of people from one culture helping to solve problems in another; it is the story of people forgetting their differences and joining together over their similarities.  To see the wonderful acting of this ensemble cast, the marvelous blend of melodies in their singing, and the breathtaking music of the band, visit www.kimmelcenter.org for tickets or more information. It is not music that you will sing on your way out of the theatre but it is music that you will revel in while you are there.