The Band's Visit

The words “Once, not long ago, a group of musicians came to Israel from Egypt. You probably didn’t hear about it. It wasn’t very important.” are projected onto the stage (“Overture”).

At the Tel Aviv airport, the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra finds themselves stranded. The van that was meant to pick them up does not arrive and Tewfiq, the stern conductor, decides they must take the bus instead. The Band arrives in Beit Hatikva and we meet the locals: Papi, a young café employee; Itzik, an aimless married man who feels as though he is adrift in the ocean; Iris, his frustrated wife; and Dina, the world-wise café owner (“Waiting”). The Band arrives in town and asks for directions to the Arab Cultural Center, where they will be playing a concert the following night. However, they are shocked to find that they have purchased bus tickets to the wrong town and there are no more buses leaving until the morning (“Welcome to Nowhere”). Seeing their plight, Dina invites the musicians