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Egyptian Band in Israel Musical Wins Big on Broadway

Egyptian Band in Israel Musical Wins Big on Broadway

20 Established 1961 Tuesday, June 12, 2018 Lifestyle Awards

Cast and creative team of ‘The Band’s Visit’ pose in the 72nd Annual Media Room at 3 West Club in on June , center, and the cast and crew of ‘ On This Island’ accept the award for best musical 10, 2018. — AFP photos revival at the 72nd annual Tony Awards at . Egyptian band in Israel musical wins on Broadway

heart-warming musical about an Egyptian band visiting an Israeli desert town triumphed on New York’s Broadway late Sunday, sweep- ing the board with 10 Tony Awards, the high- est honors in American theatre. It was an extraordinaryA success for a quiet, contemplative, 90- minute production aching with longing for human connec- tion and understanding, far removed from the brash com- mercialization of its competitors. “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” was the other big winner of the biggest night in Broadway, going home with six gongs, including best play from the star-studded 72nd annual Tony Awards. Nominated eleven times, “The Band’s Visit” triumphed over “Mean Girls” and “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical”-the two most nomi- nated shows-for the prestigious best new musical prize. “Our show offers a message of unity in a world that US actor Alex Wyse (left) and US producer Ken Davenport, more and more seems bent on amplifying our differences. winners of the award Best Revival of a Musical for ‘Once In the end, we are far more alike than different,” said pro- on this island’ pose in the 72nd Annual Tony Awards ducer Orin Wolf in accepting the award. Its Arab-influ- Media Room. enced score, spliced with klezmer, is the work of compos- er-lyricist , based on the book by writer Itamar Moses and directed by . All three won Tonys. Dialogue is in heavily-accented English, with smatterings of spoken Arabic and Hebrew, evoking the US actor Ariel Stachel (left) winner of the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for atmosphere of being in the Middle East. ‘The Band’s Visit’ and US writer David Yazbek winner of the award for Best Original Score ‘The Band’s Visit’ pose in the While the Arab-Israeli conflict is never referenced, 72nd Annual Tony Awards Media Room. human connections forged through music and culture prove a bridge when the Egyptian musicians wind up in from kids the Middle East thanking us and telling the wrong town owing to a pronunciation error. “I am part us how transformative our representation is for them.” of a cast of actors who never believed that they’d be able , who delivers a star turn as Israeli cafe own- to portray their own races,” said Ari’el Stachel, an Israeli- er Dina, and as band leader Tewfiq, also American who won a Tony for his Broadway debut as took home Tonys. Egyptian band member Haled. “We’re getting messages

British producer Sonia Friedman, winner of the award for Tony Shalhoub, winner of the award Best US writer David Yazbek winner of the US actor , winner of the US actor , winner of the Best Play for ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts One Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role award for Best Original Score for the ‘The award for Best Performance by an Actor in award for Best Performance by an Actor in and Two’. in a Musical for ‘The Band’s Visit’. Band’s Visit’. a Featured Role in a Play for ‘Angels in a Leading Role in a Play for ‘.’ America.’

British composer Andrew Lloyd US singer win- Webber, winner of the award for ner of the Special award. Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.

US singer Bruce Springsteen performs at the 72nd annual US actress , winner of the award for Best Performance by US actress , winner of the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Tony Awards. an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical for ‘Rodgers and Featured Role in a Play for ‘’s Three Tall Women.’ Hammerstein’s .’

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