sign in sign up
<<
Home , Amaluna, Atlantic Theater Company, Barrow Street Theatre, David Cromer, David Yazbek, Erik Liberman

Study Guide: Students & Educators

Heather Baird Director of Education

Tyler Easter Education Associate

Fran Tarr Education Coordinator

1 SECTION I | THE PLAY Synopsis Characters Setting Themes

SECTION II | CAST & CREATIVE SECTION III | YOUR STUDENTS AS AUDIENCE Theater Vocabulary Relating Themes to Our Own Lives Webbing & Discussion Triggers SECTION IV | YOUR STUDENTS AS ACTORS Reading a Scene for Understanding Practical Aesthetics Exercise Mini-Lesson Vocabulary Scene Analysis Worksheet

SECTION V | YOUR STUDENTS AS ARTISTS Post-Theater Critical Thinking Exploration Individual and Peer-To-Peer Critical Assessment Create the Song of Your Life Common Core & DOE Theater Blueprint

SECTION VI | THE ATLANTIC LEGACY

2 Section I: PLAY

The Play PLAY Synopsis Characters Setting Themes

3 SYNOPSIS An Egyptian Police Band arrives in to play a concert. After a mix-up at the border, they are sent to a remote village in the TEWFIQ: Male, 50-59, Egyptian; leader middle of the desert. With no bus until morning and no hotel in of the Egyptian Ceremonial Police sight, these unlikely travelers are taken in by the locals. Under Orchestra, a widower; shy. the spell of the desert sky, their lives become intertwined in the most unexpected ways. HALED: Male, 20-29, Egyptian; handsome womanizer, smooth; loves jazz, member of the orchestra.

CAMAL: 20-39, musician in the band; wants to go home.

THEMES DINA: Female, 25-39, owner of a café, 1. Where do I belong? (Acceptance of one’s circumstances) very attractive. 3. Mistrust 4. Vulnerability ITZIK: Male, 25-39, married to ; 5. Lost a guitarist. 6. Acceptance

IRIS: Female, 20-39, Itzik’s wife, headstrong, unsympathetic.

AVRUM: Male, 18+, Iris’s father.

SETTING PAPI: 20-29, disheveled, works at café, Bet Hatikva, a fictional town in nervous around girls. the middle of Negev Desert in Israel. Once upon a time, not ZELGER: 20-29, brash, charismatic, long ago. friend of Pai’s, sets Papi up with his cousin.

JULIA: 20-29, Papi’s blind date, gloomy and shy.

ANNA: 20-29, Julia’s cousin; sexy and Teacher Objective extroverted. To introduce students to the characters, setting, and story of The Band’s Visit. TELEPHONE GUY: 20-29, street musician, very romantic. Student Goal To understand that actors, working together, will simply SAMMY: Male, 30-39, married man and and truthfully create the story of the play. ex-lover of Dina.

4 Section II: Cast & Creative CAST Director And CAST Cast Bios

5 ANDREA GRODY Music & Lyrics Book Director Music Director

DAVID YAZBEK (Music & Lyrics). A ITAMAR MOSES (Book) is the author DAVID CROMER (Director). Recent ANDREA GRODY (Music Director). varied career as a recording artist, of the full-length plays Outrage, credits include: The Effect (Barrow Recent projects include the world Emmy Award®-winning TV and Bach at Leipzig, Celebrity Row, The Street Theatre), Come Back, Little premieres of Cake Off at the screenwriter, music producer, and Four of Us, Yellowjackets, Back Sheba (Huntington Theatre), Angels Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA pianist has somehow led Yazbek Back Back, Completeness and The in America (Kansas City Rep) and and the Bucks County Playhouse; to become one of Broadway’s Whistleblower; the musicals Nobody at the Almeida Theatre in The Fortress of Solitude at Dallas preeminent composer/lyricists. His Loves You (with Gaby Alter) and . NY Credits include: Women Theater Center and the Public three shows, , Dirty Fortress of Solitude (with Michael or Nothing at Atlantic Theater Theater; Unknown Soldier at the Rotten Scoundrels and Women on Friedman); and the evening of short , Really Really at MCC, The WIlliamstown Theatre Festival; the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown plays /Stories (or But You House of Blue Leaves and Brighton and Love’s Labour’s Lost at the have received a combined 24 Tony Will Get Used to It). His work has Beach Memoirs on Broadway, When Delacorte Theater in Central Park; Award® nominations, including three appeared Off-Broadway, at regional the Rain Stops Falling and Nikolai and the regional premieres of The for Best Score. As a recording artist, theaters across the country and in and the Others at Great Immensity and Venice at Yazbek is responsible for five albums: , , Israel, and Theater. Also at the Barrow Street . Other favorites The Laughing Man, To ck, Damascus, Venezuela, and is published by Faber Theatre he has directed , Our include Robin Hood at Williamstown Tape Recorder and Evil Monkey Man. & Faber and Samuel French. He has Town and Orson’s Shadow as well (as Composer/Music Director) and He has written and/or produced for received new play commissions from as Adding Machine, which was a Tectonic Theater Project’s Carmen: such acts as XTC, Ruben Blades, The McCarter Theater, Playwrights BST production at the Minetta Lane. An Afro-Cuban Jazz Musical with The Persuasions, Joe Jackson, Tito Horizons, Berkeley Repertory Originally from , his credits Moisés Kaufman and Arturo ’Farrill. Puente and many others. He also Theatre, The Wilma Theater, South there include Sweet Bird of Youth Upcoming: at Yale Rep. produced the original cast albums Coast Rep, Theatre Club, (The Goodman); A Streetcar Named Andrea’s writing credits include the of his Broadway shows. He has three Lincoln Center and The Goodman Desire, Picnic and (Writers full-length musical Strange Faces Grammy Award® nominations. In Theatre. On television, Itamar has Theatre); Cherrywood, Mojo, and The and several songs for The Civilians’ the past couple of years, he has written for both TNT’s “Men of a Hot l Baltimore (Mary-Arrchie); The Let Me Ascertain You series. She is scored the final season of HBO’s Certain Age” and HBO’s “Boardwalk Cider House Rules (co-directed with an Associate Voice Teacher at New “Boardwalk Empire,” composed Empire.” Itamar holds an MFA in Marc Grapey at Famous Door); and York Vocal Coaching. B.A. Princeton music for Larry David’s Fish in the Dramatic Writing from NYU and has (The Journeymen); University, M.A. Royal Conservatoire Dark and written songs and music for taught playwriting at Yale and NYU. among others. For Michael Ira of Scotland. at Central Cromer (1966-2015). Park’s Delacorte Theater, all while opening productions of Scoundrels and Women on the Verge in London’s West End. In past lives, he has written dozens of scripts and many songs for television and film, won an Emmy Award® for his stint on “Late Night with ” and wrote the unrelenting theme song for “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” David is seven.

6 GEORGE ABUD BILL ARMY (Camal) (Zelger) (Itzik) (Dina)

Proud Lebanese-American actor. is so excited to be making his Broadway: Something Rotten! (OCC Broadway: Once, Spider-Man: Turn Broadway: Karl Schell in debut! nom.); (Tony Off the Dark, The Miracle Worker. starring and Roger Broadway: Act One (Lincoln Center nom.; OCC Award). Off-Broadway: Off-Broadway: (Vineyard Rees (Tony-nom. Best Musical; OBC Theater, directed by ); Almost, Maine (); Theatre), Touch (59E59), Last Recording). Upcoming International: Relatively Speaking, an evening Two Gentlemen of Verona (The Dance (). Regional World Premiere of Mohammed of three one-act plays by Ethan Public/NYSF); Modern Orthodox; It’s includes: Indecent (Yale and Fairouz and David Ignatius’s The Coen, Elaine May, and , My Party. Regional: Williamstown, LaJolla Rep), iWitness (Mark Taper New Prince with directed by John Turturro. Off- The Old Globe, Center Theatre Forum), Elemeno Pea, Cloudlands, (Dutch National Opera, Amsterdam). Broadway: The Changeling (Red Bull Group, Barrington Stage, Hudson Caucasian Chalk Circle (South Coast Off-Broadway: Peer Gynt opposite Theater); Old Jews Telling Jokes; All’s Valley Shakespeare Festival. Rep), Camille (Bard Summerscape), Gabriel Ebert, Nathan The Wise Well That Ends Well and Measure Television: Recent guest stars on Lost Land (Steppenwolf Theater), opposite F. Murray Abraham, and for Measure (The Public Theater). “Blacklist”, “”, and and Lovelace: A Rock Opera (LA Allegro directed by Company Member of the Potomac “”. Recurring roles on Weekly, LADCC and Garland Award (). Regional/ Theater Project since 2007: Scenes “Law & Order” (CSU Tech Beck), winner). Film/TV: Look Away, Evol: NY: A Midsummer Night’s Dream from an Execution (opposite Jan “Numb3rs”, and “The Onion News The Theory of Love, FracKtured, (Puck, Geva Theatre Center), Fiddler Maxwell), Vinegar Tom, Gertrude Network”. Several films. Playwright: “Elementary,” “The Get Down,” on the Roof (Human Race Theatre), – The Cry, The Europeans, and No Almost, Maine; Last Gas; LOVE/ and “The Blacklist.” Co-creator of and Oliver Twist End of Blame. TV: “Deadbeat” (Hulu), SICK, all available through DPS. the comedy web series “Miss Teri” (Shakespeare Theatre of NJ), The “Cohab” (Webseries). MFA: NYU. Proud AEA member. and a member of several bands Other Shore (Sonnet Repertory Bill dedicates his work to his new including her own, moxy phinx. www. Theatre). Solo-: Change son or daughter who is due to arrive katrinalenk.com Partners: A Broadway Love Affairat possibly before the end of the run of Birdland, Never Been Young at 54 this show, and his wife, Jessica! Below. This performance is for my mother Paulette, with great love to my father, my Sitto and my Erica. “Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life, bringing peace, abolishing strife.”

7 ERIK LIBERMAN ANDREW POLK RACHEL PRATHER JONATHAN RAVIV (Telephone Guy) (Avrum) (Julia) (Sammy)

Broadway: LoveMusik (dir. Harold : Burning, Mouth To Mouth National tours: Once (Girl standby); New York work includes: Martyrs Prince, OCR). North American Tour: and The Accomplices (Drama Desk Peter and the Starcatcher (u/s Molly/ Street at Theater for the New City, Fiddler on the Roof with Topol and Nomination, The New Group), Ted/Prentiss/Bumbrake). Regional: The Ragged Claws at Cherry Lane, . Off-Broadway:Dani Diner The Musical (workshop), Fiddler on the Roof; . Graduate Lies My Father Told Me with the Girl, For Elise, Minnie’s Boys, Mabou Walmartopia (Minetta Lane), The of the Boston Conservatory. Thanks National Yiddish Theatre and My Mines Dollhouse, The Calamity of Green Zone (Lincoln Center), Flight to God, my family, Jeremy, and CGF. Name Is Asher Lev at the Westside Kat Kat and Willie. Regional: War (Lortel), Vick’s Boy (Rattlestick), Proud member of AEA. Theatre (Outer Critics Circle award Paint with Patti LuPone (Original among others. Regional: The for Best Play). Other regional credits Cast, Goodman), The Hunchback Homecoming, Speed-The-Plow include: The Boy Who Danced On of Notre Dame (OCR, La Jolla and (A.C.T.), At Home At The Zoo Air at Diversionary Theatre (World Paper Mill), Somewhere in Time (Philadelphia Theatre Co.), A New Premiere), Love’s Labour’s Lost (Original Cast, Portland Center War (Long Wharf), Dinner with at Shakespeare Theatre of New Stage), Reefer Madness! (Original Friends (), Angels in Jersey, Fiddler on the Roof with the Cast, Ovation and Garland Awards), America (Alliance), Arena Stage, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Into (Dir. Mark Lamos, Actors Theatre of Louisville, among Oklahoma! at Portland Center Stage, CT Critics Circle Award), Merrily many others. Film: The Humbling, Homebody/Kabul with Curious We Roll Along (Dir. Eric Schaeffer, Rebel In The Rye (2017 release), Theatre Company, Arabian Nights Helen Hayes Award). Concert: About Ray (2017 release), Norman, at Berkeley Rep., The Chosen at ’s Hollywood Arms, The Moderate Rise… (2017 release), Chicago’s Writers’ Theatre, Lady Raising the Roof at Town Hall. TV: Jamie Marks Is Dead, Love Is Madeline at Steppenwolf Theatre “Vinyl,” “The Knick,” “Unforgettable.” Strange, Shelter among others. TV: and The Light In The Piazza at both Honors: Lotte Lenya Competition for “House of Cards” (Harry Marshall – Arena Stage & . Singers, YoungArts, The Moth. @ Season 4&5), “Madame Secretary,” Television credits include: “The erikliberman, www.erikliberman.org “Hell On Wheels,” “The Good Wife,” Blacklist,” “Zero Hour,” and “Pan “Blue Bloods,” “Person of Interest,” Am.” “The Blacklist,” “The Closer,” “30 Rock,” all “Law & Order” shows, among others. Training: London’s Webber-Douglas Academy (Fulbright Scholar). Associate Artist at A.C.T. Founder of The Cape Cod Theatre Project.

8 SHARONE SAYEGH KRISTEN SIEH ARI’EL STACHEL (Anna) (Tewfiq) (Iris) (Haled) is honored to be making her Atlantic recently appeared Off Broadway is a founding member of The TEAM, Atlantic Debut! Stage work includes debut in The Band’s Visit. As an at Lincoln Center in The Mystery with whom she has written and the workshop of The Visitor (Public actor of Isreali/Iraqi descent, it’s of Love & Sex opposite Diane Lane performed numerous new works, Theater), We Live in Cairo (Eugene incredibly exciting to bring this and starred on Broadway in Act including RoosevElvis (The Royal O’Neill Theatre Center), and The new Middle Eastern musical to One and Golden Boy, receiving Court, Walker Arts Center, The Golem of Havana (Barrington Stage life. Broadway: Mamma Mia!. Off Tony Award nominations for both A.R.T., The Vineyard, etc.). Other Company). TV/Film work include a Broadway: Title role in Scheherazade performances. He is a Golden Globe credits include: The Public Theater guest starring role on “Blue Bloods” (Prospect Theater Co) and the world Award-winning actor with a diverse (Fortress of Solitude, February (CBS), “Jessica Jones” (Netflix), and premiere of The Wildness (). resumé of engaging roles and House), Classic Stage Company most recently an appearance in the Regional: Maria Elena in Buddy (The perhaps best known for his starring (Iphigenia in Anne Washburn’s upcoming feature film “Can Hitler Muny), Aouda in 80 Days (Florida role as the obsessive-compulsive Iphigenia in Aulis), The Foundry (O, Happen Here?” Huge thanks to Tara Rep), Vidya in Disconnect (San Jose detective Adrian Monk in the hit Earth), Half Straddle (Ghost Rings), Rubin and Nicolosi & Co. Proud New Rep, BACC Nom.). Workshops: television series “Monk,” for which Pig Iron (Viola in ), Studio graduate at NYU. arielstachel. Margaritaville (Dir. Charles Ashley), he won a Golden Globe Award and Ripe Time (The World is Round com and @arielstachel Hazel (Dir. Lucie Arnaz), Sheila three Primetime . at BAM), Elevator Repair Service Levine (Dir. ), Hooray Additional television credits include (Gatz, The Sound and the Fury, For Iceboy (Dir. ), War “Nurse Jackie,” “Too Big to Fail,” etc.), /Clubbed is F*cking Awesome (Dir. Leisl “Wings” and “BrainDead,” a CBS Thumb (Men on Boats), Banana, Tommy), Bengal Tiger… (Lark). BFA: summer series created by Michelle Bag & Bodice (Beowulf: A Thousand Syracuse University. This one’s for and Robert King. Feature film Years of Baggage), The Builders Eema, Abba, ha mishpacha, and credits include Big Night, The Siege, Association, The New Group, The her Yossi. sharonesayegh.com @ Galaxy Quest, Men in Black, Men in O’Neill Center, The 52nd St. Project, sharonesayegh Black II and Pain & Gain. Shalhoub and others. Regional credits include voiced the character of Luigi in the Syracuse Stage, Denver Center popular animated movies Cars and Theater, Long Wharf, and Baltimore Cars II, and he will reprise his role CenterStage. Television: “House of in the upcoming Cars III. He voiced Cards,” “Orange is the New Black,” the role of Splinter in the Teenage “The Blacklist,” “Boardwalk Empire” Mutant Ninja Turtle movie franchise. and “Law & Order.” Recently, he completed filming Tomboy, starring Michelle Rodriguez and Sigourney Weaver and Final Portrait with Geoffrey Rush and Armie Hammer, directed by Stanley Tucci.

9 SARAH LAUX MOUNA R’MIKI (Costume Designer) (Dialect Coach) Broadway: The Humans, Fully is very happy to collaborate with Committed. Off Broadway/regional: Atlantic Theater for the first time and The Effect (); honored to be part of The Band’s Visit Empathitrax (Colt Coer); Thresh/ adventure. She is an actor as well as Hold (Pilobolus Dance Theater); a dialect coach for Arabic, Spanish Come Back, Little Sheba (Huntington and French. She has been working on Theatre Company); Women or Nothing various multicultural and multilingual (Atlantic Theater Company); Really projects. Recent credits as an actress Really (MCC); Baby Screams Miracle include Othello in A Study in Othello (Clubbed Thumb). Broadway Associate (Central Park), Marina in Usual Girls design credits include An Act of God, (Signature, Ensemble Theater), The Last Ship, If/Then, War Horse Micheline/Josephine in Rest Upon The DANIEL DAVID STEWART ALOK TEWARI (U.S.), The Performers. Feature Film: Wind (Skirball Center of Perf. Arts). She (Papi) (Simon) Freak Show, directed by Trudie Stylers. co-wrote, co-produced and acted in Nowhere/Now Here directed by John is thrilled to be making his Atlantic Theatre includes Awake and Sing! TYLER MICOLEAU Gould Rubin & Kat Yen (Theaterlab). Theater Company debut with this (Public / NAATCO); The Queen, (Lighting Designer) Film: Sara in The Guest (Festival circuit: incredible cast and crew. He recently Martyrs Street, Blind Angels (Theater Atlantic Theater: Dreams of Flying “Special Mention Award of Merit” at the finished making his Broadway debut for the New City); A Fable, Through Dreams of Falling, Oohrah!, Anon, LA Best Shorts Competition / Castell in Deaf West’s Spring Awakening, the Yellow Hour, War (Rattlestick); The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow, Award at the Film Festival), voicing the role of Ernst. Theater credits Bunty Berman Presents, Rafta, Rafta…, The Night Heron, Dublin Carol, Mojo. SAGA (Tangier Film Festival official include: Hally in “Master Harold”… Marie and Bruce (The New Group); Recent Off- Broadway: The Effect selection). TV: “La Recette de l’Amour” and the Boys, Wally Webb in Our Town Night Over Erzinga, Bengal Tiger (Barrow Street), Iowa, Familiar, Antlia (2M TV Morocco). Stella Adler Studio of also directed by David Cromer, Finn at the Baghdad Zoo (Lark); Masked Pneumatica (Playwrights Horizons, Acting Conservatory program. Frey in Intelligence-Slave, John Taplow (Buenos Aires); Inana (Denver Center); Drama Desk nom.), First Daughter in The Browning Version, and most Betrothed (Ripe Time) and Marco Polo Suite (Public), Pike St. (Epic Theatre RICHARD A. HODGE recently Peotr in Fathers and Sons (The Group, Argentina). Television: Ensemble), King Liz (Second Stage), (Stage Manager) w/ Alfred Molina, all with LA Theatre “Royal Pains,” “House of Cards,” “The The World of Extreme Happiness Off-Broadway:Women or Nothing Works. Belfry (Dominic), The Burnt Part Blacklist,” “Deadbeat,” “Blue Bloods,” (MTC). Other notable Off-Broadway: (Atlantic Theater); The Effect, Every Boys (Pete), Sixty Miles To Silverlake “30 Rock,” “Homeland,” “Fringe,” When The Rain Stops Falling (Lincoln Brilliant Thing, Tribes, Our Town, (Denny), Little Miss Scrooge (Smike), “Law & Order,” “L&O: CI,” “L&O: Center Theater, Lucille Lortel Award), Adding Machine: A Musical, BUG, Metamorphisis (Phaeton) and The Lion SVU,” “Guiding Light.” Film: Shelter, Blasted (Soho Rep., American Theatre Mistakes Were Made, Orson’s in Winter (Prince John). Film/TV credits Brooklyn’s Finest, Emily & Tim. Wing Hewes Award), Bug (Lucille Lortel Shadow, Red Light Winter (Barrow include: “Kids Vs. Monsters,” “The and OBIE Awards). Regional: La Jolla, Street Theatre); Iow@, Kindness Sound of Magic,” “K.C. Undercover,” Arena, Huntington, Alley, Goodman, (Playwrights Horizons); Nikolia and the “Incident(s) at Paradise Bay,” “The ART, Trinity Rep, Old Globe, Dallas Others, When The Rain Stops Falling Middle,” “Goodwin Games,” “Man Up!” Theater Center, Long Wharf, among (Lincoln Center Mitzi Newhouse); The and “Cougar Town.” Along with his many others. 2010 for Valley of The Astonishment (Theatre for acting, Daniel is an avid Screenwriter Sustained Excellence. a New Audience); The Heir Apparent and aspiring filmmaker. As always, (Classic Stage Company); Killer love to his family. Daniel is a proud CLIVE GOODWIN Joe, Underneath The Lintel (Soho member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA. www. (Scenic Designer) (Sound Designer) Playhouse). Other New York: Stop danielstewart.me @daniestew Atlantic Theater Company: The is a multi-award winning Sound The Virgens (St. Ann’s Warehouse). Lieutenant of Inishmore, The Designer and consultant working Los Angeles: Tribes (Mark Taper), Our Beginning of August, The Cherry across many disciplines including Town (The Broad). International: Stop Orchard. Additional Credits: The Book theater, film, TV and music. The Virgens (Sydney Opera House); of Mormon (Tony Award), Something Girl Blog From Iraq: Baghdad Burning Rotten! (Outer Critics nomination), DEAN SHARENOW (Pleasance Courtyard: Edinburgh). Waitress, Oh Hello!, Blackbird, The (Music Contractor) TYKAC. Father, An Act of God, It’s Only a works as both a music contractor Play, The Visit (Drama Desk nom.), and record producer/engineer. His ASHLEY-ROSE GALLIGAN Airline Highway, Finding Neverland, Broadway credits include Sting’s The (Assistant Stage Manager) Pippin Nine, (Tony Award Nom.), Last Ship and David Yazbek’s Women Off-Broadway:, The Effect The Pillowman Casa (Tony Award), on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, (Barrow Street Theatre); The Nether Valentina, I’ll Eat You Last with as well as Twelfth Night, The Total (MCC); Scene From A Marriage , A Steady Rain with Bent, Fortress of Solitude, Much Ado (NYTW); Your Mother’s Copy of Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig, A About Nothing (all The Public Theater), the Kama Sutra, Far From Heaven, Behanding in Spokane, The Coast of and Burleigh Grimes (New World The Flick, The Whale (Playwrights Utopia (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Stages). He also serves as contractor- Horizons); Cheri, Kung Fu (Signature); Promises Circle and Hewes Awards), in-residence at the Public. Dean’s The Muscles in Our Toes (Labyrinth); Promises, , Pal Joey (Tony Nom), recording engineer and producer Preludes ( Workshop, LCT3); Alec es Liaisons Dangereuses L (Tony Nom., credits include The Great Comet, Old Baldwin: A Musical Tribute Gala ), Speed-the-Plow, Hats, Preludes, Fortress of Solitude, (Roundabout). Regional: Huntington Take Me Out, and . London/ Women On The Verge…, and Bloody Theatre Company, ArtsEmerson, UK: West End, National Theatre, Bloody Andrew Jackson, as well as Contemporary American Theatre Donmar Warehouse, Old Vic, Almeida solo albums for Shaina Taub, David Festival. Other: NBC’s Peter Pan Live!. Theatre, Opera North, Chichester Sanborn, Stephen Lynch, David Yazbek, B.F.A. Stage Management, Emerson Festival Theatre. Also: Peter Grimes Joan Baez, and Jonatha Brooke. He College. (Metropolitan Opera), ’s is a Grammy Award nominee for Best Amaluna The . With David Cromer: Album Engineering. House of Blue Leaves, Tribes. 10 Section III: AUDIENCE Your Students AUDIENCE As Audience Theater Vocabulary Relating Themes to Our Own Lives Webbing & Discussion Triggers

11 “Plays should tell simple, honest stories.” ­—, American playwright & noted actor, William H. Macy, founders of Atlantic Theater Company

The following activities will assist your students in understanding the intentions of the playwright to tell a simple story.

12 Teacher Objective To be able to discuss theater through a common, shared vocabulary.

Student Goal To understand that the most effective way to discuss theater and new ideas is through a shared vocabulary.

Action: The events that move along the story of the play and which influence the characters within the play.

Characters: Individuals the audience learns about from their actions and reactions.

Ensemble: A group of performers working together to create a complete production.

Dialogue: The exchange of speech between two characters which reveals the feelings of the character as well as the story of the play.

Monologue: A speech by one actor on stage which is intended to reveal the inner thoughts of the character the actor plays.

Character Arc: The change produced in a character by the events and other characters in the play.

Musical Theater: A twentieth century creation where writers and musicians collaborate to create a play which features song, dance and drama.

Mood: The overall feeling the play evokes.

Costume: The clothes, boots, etc., worn by the actors based on their character.

Prop: Objects used by an actor to enhance their character. For example, wine glasses at a bar for drinks.

Set: The constructed environment of a play within which the action takes place.

Sound: Noises and music used in the play.

13 RELATING THEMES TO OUR OWN LIVES ISRAELI – ARAB CONFLICT TIMELINE The Band’s Visit characters’ understanding of themselves is as important as their understanding of each other. But it would be neglectful not to recognize the social and political undertones that frame this chance encounter between people from different sides of a political and cultural struggle; the Arab-Israeli conflict. This rendezvous in the fictional town of Bet Hatikva materializes soon after the signing of the Camp David Accord, a pivotal moment in the timeline of that conflict.

CHET BAKER’S BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

Chet Baker is mentioned in The Band’s Visit. How might a musican from across the globe and decades in the past have influences the characters in The Band’s Visit?

14 ISRAELI – ARAB CONFLICT TIMELINE

May 14, 1948 THE STATE OF ISRAEL DECLARED ESTABLISHMENT.

July 1956 – Early 1957 SUEZ CRISIS BETWEEN ISRAELI AND EGYPT OUTBURST. Israeli army forces attacked Egypt, triggered by Egypt nationalizing Suez Canal, initiating the Suez Crisis. In early 1957, Israel withdrew.

June 5, 1967 SIX-DAY WAR OUTBURST. Israeli eventually occupied east Jerusalem, all of West Bank, Gaza, Golan Heights and Sinai.

October 6, 1973 YOM KIPPUR WAR OUTBURST. Egyptian and Syrian forces attacked against Israeli army, aiming to win back the lost war in 1967.

September 17, 1978 CAMP DAVID ACCORD SIGNED BETWEEN ISRAEL AND EGYPT. Egyptian president Anwar el-Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed the Camp David Accords at White House in the , which is the first peace agreement between the two countries.

Haganah fighters expel Palestinians from Haifa. May 12, 1948.

REFERENCE LINKS: history.com bbc.com 15 CHET BAKER’S BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

Sometimes known as the Prince of Cool bandleader for the Pacific Jazz, greatly praised his aggressive, and the James Dean of jazz, on July 24 of the year 1953. intense solos and firmer Chet Baker was one of the most With a large fan base drawn tone, and many considered popular and controversial jazz by his movie star looks, and his recording between this musicians of the 20th Century. his Miles Davis style of music, period to be among the best Chet Baker was born in Yale, Baker won many jazz polls in in his music career. Baker was Oklahoma, on December 23, Down Beat where he ranked #4 found dead on May 13th, 1988, 1929. Chet dropped out of male vocalist and was named outside his Hotel Prins Hendrik, high school at the age of 16 Metronome top trumpeter in in Amsterdam, . and joined the Army. In the the year 1953. In the late 50’s, He had severe head wounds year 1952, Baker moved to heroin addiction started taking which were apparently LA, where he started working its’ toll on Baker’s music career. sustained from having fallen with Charlie Parker. He then Baker was arrested several from the 2nd-floor window. joined Gerry Mulliganand rose times between 50’s and 60’s Cocaine and heroin were found to stardom with Mr. Mulligan’s on drug-related charges. in his room, and later on, an quartet. The quartet released Baker gradually recovered and autopsy revealed the drugs many fan favorites including started performing again in were present in his body. The “My Funny Valentine”, “Walkin’ 1970’s with the help of Dizzy death was ruled as an accident. Shoes”, and “Bernie’s Tune”. Gillespe, who helped him In 1953, Chet went solo and arrange concerts in New York. formed his very own quartet. He In 1973, he had a reunion show made his 1st recording as the with Gerry Mulligan. Critics chetbaker.net 16 Step One Write the Webbing Ideas on the WEBBING & chalkboard. Step Two Have each student add their impressions DISCUSSION of the meaning of one of these concepts on the board, and how it relates to their own experiences.

TRIGGERS Step Three Use the students’ responses to focus on how unique each student’s perception is Teacher Objective of these concepts. Why is this true? To develop critical thinking skills through examining the themes in The Band’s Visit. Step Four Ask the students to discuss how their Student Goal sense of personal self-esteem and/or To understand that the story of the play relates to their vulnerability plays a role in their own own lives. lives.

Materials Step Five Chalkboard, chalk, paper, pens, the webbing ideas, and Share the discussion trigger and questions with the class: discussion triggers. What are the obstacles we create for Webbing Ideas ourselves and others in our society, and 1. Where do I belong? (Acceptance of one’s circumstance). what do we do when circumstances 3. Mistrust reveal the vulnerability behind those 4. Vulnerability obstacles? 5. Lost 6. Acceptance What is reality, and can artists ever truly capture it?

Discussion Questions A Conversation from The Band’s Visit

HALED (Sighs. Then:) We would like tickets to Betah Tikvah.

TICKET GIRL Petah Tikvah or Bet Hatikvah?

HALED Yes. Betah Tikva.

Positive communication builds trust. Do you believe that trust is made more difficult when two individuals speak different languages?

In your life, has there been a time when you found difficult to communicate with someone who speaks a different language?

17 Section IV: ACTORS Your Students ACTORS As Actors Reading a Scene for Understanding Practical Aesthetics Exercise Mini-Lesson Vocabulary Scene Analysis Worksheet

18 “Actors should remain truthful to the story and their character.” - David Mamet, American playwright & noted actor, William H. Macy, Founders of Atlantic Theater Company The following activities are designed to assist your students in understanding the actor’s “job.” Like every job, even acting has its “tools.”

The Practical Aesthetics acting technique was developed by David Mamet, William H. Macy and the founding members of the Atlantic Theater Company. This technique offers the actor a set of analytical tools to understand the playwright’s intentions and what the characters want. This process of script analysis additionally helps define the actor’s job on stage.

19 Teacher Objective Practical Aesthetics Exercise To introduce the Practical Aesthetics “tools” for breaking down a scene. To understand Step One the character and the story of the scene by Divide the students in pairs. Ask relating the character’s actions to the the students to select which student’s own life. character they want to portray.

Student Goal Step Two To understand that an important part of Allow the students time to read the creating a simple, honest character involves scene silently to themselves. knowing what that character “wants.” Step Three Materials Ask the students to read the Introduction Pens, pencils, copies of the following scene from The Band’s to the Practical Aesthetics Acting Visit, and copies of the Literal, Want, Action, As-If worksheet Technique sheet on page 23 and and/or Mini-Lesson. answer the four questions on the Scene Analysis Worksheet.

Note: The four questions and the students’ answers to them form the basis for the Practical Aesthetics scene analysis; and enables the actor to create a simple, honest character— they’re simply being honest to their own experiences!

Step Four After the students have completed the question worksheet, ask each pair of actors to read the scene in the front of the class room for an “Audience.” The students should incorporate the ideas from the worksheet as they read the scene.

20 DINA What does it mean?

TEWFIQ In wintertime, take an umbrella. In summertime, put a hat on your head. In autumntime, stay at home. A SCENE (A moment.) DINA So...what do you play in the orchestra? You play, like, army music? (DINA makes the sounds of rapid snare drumming.)

FROM TEWFIQ No, no. We are traditional orchestra. We play classical Arab music. THE BAND’S DINA What, like, Oum Kalthum? Farid? TEWFIQ You think it’s silly. VISIT DINA No. TEWFIQ No? You like Oum Kalthum?

DINA Yes!

TEWFIQ No.

DINA Yes! Don’t tell me what I like! She is one of my favorite singer. (Beat.) When I was little girl we used to have here, Arab music, Egyptian music. I didn’t what it was, just that it was from these... mysterious people, that I would never meet, but who came to me, through the radio. And on TV, Egyptian movies! Every Friday afternoon all the street in Israel is empty because Arab movie every Friday afternoon.

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

DINA The best movie was, em, “River of Love”? Where they meet on the train, she is reading, and he says—

TEWFIQ “A book is a loyal companion always.”

DINA You know it!

TEWFIQ Oh. Yes.

21 ANALYSIS Script analysis is the process of breaking down a beat within a scene. We ask four questions in order to do this.

1. What is the character literally doing? 2. What does the character want? 3. What is the essential Action? 4. What is that action like to me? It is AS-IF…

Literal As-If In this step, the actor determines what the character In this step, the actor personalizes the action he or she is playing is literally doing according to by finding a real-life situation in which they the text. would behave according to the action they have Purpose: An actor has to travel far—think of this chosen for the scene. preparation as the road map. Example: Get a favor. It’s AS-IF I forgot to do my science Want homework and I’m asking my teacher In this step, the actor identifies the goal of the for an extra day to hand it in. character in the scene, specifically what the character wants from the other character/s in the scene. The Purpose: To gain personal insight and given circumstances of the story inform the WANT. urgency to the scene or beat. Purpose: To focus the actor on the characters’ Tactics & Tools interaction. Different ways an actor goes about getting his action. Action Playing an ACTION is the physical pursuit of a goal. Example: Plead, flirt, demand, inspire, Defining the ACTION of the scene allows the actor challenge, level, threaten. to determine what result or CAP he or she is looking for from the other actor/s in the scene. Living in the Moment Reacting impulsively to what the other actor Examples: in the scene is doing, from the point of view Put someone in their place. of the chosen action. Beg someone for forgiveness. Get a favor. Get someone to let me off the hook. Force someone to face the facts. Inspire someone to greatness. Get someone to see the light. Purpose: Using an action gives the actor a task and a specific point of view. The Atlantic Theater Company teaches that the Action creates character.

22 Mini-Lesson Vocabulary Acting Tactics & Tools to Use in The As-If Step

Literal: The process of accessing the basic story-line of the characters in a particular scene or beat. Want: The process of identifying the goal Laughing to get what you want of the character in a scene or beat. Teasing to get what you want Action: The actor’s physical pursuit of a specific goal. Testing to get what you want Threatening to get what you want As-If: A way to determine what this action means to me. Pleading to get what you want Flirting to get what you want Bartering to get what you want Bribing to get what you want Begging to get what you want Crying to get what you want Demanding to get what you want Leveling to get what you want Inspiring to get what you want Challenging to get what you want

23 Here are your “tools” for understanding your character:

IF YOU’RE PLAYING DINA... IF YOU’RE PLAYING TEWFIQ...

Dina is literally talking to Tewfiq is literally talking to What is my character Tewfiq about her connection Dana about her interest in literally doing? to Arab music. his music.

Dana wants Tewfig Tewfiq wants Dana to see What does my to understand how that his culture is more character want? passionately she relates to complex than people think. his culture.

To get someone to put their To get someone to see a What is the action I’m faith in me. simple truth. going to play?

The As-If...

24 ARTISTS Section V: ARTISTS Your Students As Artists Post Theater Creative Response Activity Post Theater Creative Writing Activity Common Core & DOE Theater Blueprint

25 “Create your own work.” - David Mamet, American playwright & noted actor, William H. Macy, Founders of Atlantic Theater Company

Photo from THE BAND’S VISIT. Credit: unknown

Photos on the next page were taken during the first rehearsal of THE BAND’s VISIT by Ahron R. Foster. Photo 1: Full Cast of THE BAND’S VISIT. Photo 2: David Yazbeck, Music & Lyrics; Eran Kolin, Screenplay; David Cromer, Director; Actors Katrina Lenk and Tony The following activities will assist your Shaloub. Photo 4: Full cast and students in understanding themselves as crew sitting down to do the first artists creating original work that connects read-thru of the script. with their own experiences and world. 26 27 POST-THEATER CRITICAL THINKING EXPLORATION Step One “WHAT IS ART?… WHAT IS HISTORY?… Reflecting onThe Band’s Visit, ask each student to reflect and respond to the WHAT IS THE ROLE OF AN ARTIST IN SOCIETY?…” three questions/concepts on the graphic organizer: What is Art? What is History? Teacher Objective What is the Role of an Artist in Society? To develop critical thinking skills through examining the language and Allow 7 minutes for this activity. themes of The Band’s Visit. Step Two Student Goal Projecting the graphic organizer on the To understand that their opinions and observations of an artistic experi- Smart Board or overhead projector, gather ence are valuable in finding connections between their own lives and the the students’ reflections and responses so world surrounding them. that everyone can share ideas.

Materials Chalk/Smart Board, paper, pens, the attached graphic organizer. Step Three Discuss the ideas shared looking for connections between the three concepts.

Step Four As a class arrives at one cumulative, community statement for each concept.

28 WHAT IS WHAT IS WHAT IS THE ROLE OF ART? HISTORY? AN ARTIST IN SOCIETY?

29 “I LIKE... I DISCOVER... I WISH...” Teacher Objective Step One To develop critical thinking skills through examining the aesthetics of Divide the students into three groups, The Band’s Visit. ask each group to select a scribe and a reporter. Student Goal To understand that their opinions and observations of an artistic Step Two experience are valuable in building an appreciation for their own lives and Assign each group a section of the the world surrounding them. graphic organizer, allow them seven minutes to discuss their ideas around Materials their section – What they liked, what they Chalk/Smart Board, paper, pens, and the “I LIKE... I DISCOVER... I discovered, or what they wish in relation WISH....” graphic organizer (on the next page). to the production of The Band’s Visit. Step Three Using the smart/chalk board as a recording space, ask the three reporters to share what their group thinks about the three points of view they were assigned. Step Four Discuss each group’s choices with the entire class to engage the students in deciding if they agree or disagree with the choices/opinions of each group.

Step Five Lead the class to arrive at a community consensus for each section.

30 I LIKE... I DISCOVER... I WISH...

31 CREATE THE SONG OF YOUR LIFE

Teacher Objective Step One To develop critical thinking skills through examining the language and Review the definition of a song: A short themes of The Band’s Visit. poem or other set of words set to music or meant to be sung. Student Goal To understand that their opinions and observations of an artistic expe- Step Two rience are valuable in finding a creative outlet for their own lives and the Select an individual, situation, or iconic world surrounding them. moment from your own life. Use this selection as the writing trigger for your Materials poem/song. Chalk/Smart Board, paper, pens, iPhone or android device. Step Three Figure out what kind of poem/song you want to write. For example, do you want something intense? Do you want a subtle song or do you want to push the limits of your imagination? You’re the creative artist here, make up your mind - go for it!

Step Four Spend several minutes free writing your poem/song about the individual, situation, or iconic moment.

Step Five Reflect on your poem/song and then rewrite the lyrics using more than one literary element (alliteration, analogy, metaphor, archetype, etc.) to add depth and color to your poem/song.

Step Six Using your iPhone or android device add a beat or rhythm under your words.

Step Seven Share!

32 Enduring Understanding Strand Benchmarks Theater conveys the significance individuals place on their life choices. For example: Jobs, relationships, THEATER MAKING: ACTING hopes for the future. Benchmark: Students increase their ability as imaginative actors while continuing to participate as Theater conveys the meaning behind an individual’s collaborative ensemble members. Students demonstrate struggle to have his or her life choices validated by family, the ability to reflect on and think critically about their own friends and society/community. work.

Essential Questions THEATER MAKING: PLAYWRITING/PLAY MAKING Do the direction and staging reinforce the theme of “where do I belong” which is prevalent in The Band’s Benchmark: Students refine their ability as playwrights Visit. to express point of view and personal vision.

The Band’s Do you accept the concept put forward in DEVELOPING THEATER LITERACY Visit that connecting with someone on a human level can be personally transformitive? Benchmark: Students develop skills as critics by analyzing the critical writings of others.

MAKING CONNECTIONS THROUGH THEATER Benchmark: Students demonstrate a capacity for deep personal connection to theater and a realization of the meaning and messages of theater.

WORKING WITH COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL RESOURCES Benchmark: Students invigorate and broaden their understanding of theater through collaborative partnerships with theater professionals.

33 Section 6: The Atlantic Legacy Atlantic Theater Company & Atlantic Acting School

Inspired by the Group Theater, Stanislavsky, and a for ensemble acting, David Mamet and William H. Macy formed the Atlantic Theater Company with a select group of Undergraduate drama students. Since its inception in 1985, Atlantic has produced more than 100 plays and garnered numerous awards, including: 12 , 15 , 16 OBIE Awards, six Outer Critics Circle Awards, seven Drama Desk Awards, three Drama League Awards, three New York Drama Critics Circle Awards and the . Noted productions include: Spring Awakening, Port Authority, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Boy’s Life, and . The Atlantic Theater Company’s mission is to produce plays simply and truthfully, utilizing an artistic ensemble. Atlantic believes that the story of the play and the intent of its playwright are at the core of a successful theatrical production.

The Atlantic Acting School fosters new generations of actors by passing on the tools learned from Mamet and Macy and by preparing students for all aspects of a career in film, television and theater. The Atlantic offers studies through New York University, a full-time conservatory program, part-time programs and summer workshops. Atlantic for Kids offers acting classes in an after school setting as well as summer programs for children ages 4 to 18.

Linda Gross Theater 336 West 20th Street New York, NY, 10011 Atlantic Stage 2 330 West 16th Street New York, NY, 10011

76 Ninth Avenue, Suite 537, New York, NY 10011 atlanticactingschool.org atlantictheater.org 34