The Band's Visit - Atlantic Theatre Company (Off Broadway)

Haven't heard anything but am eagerly anticipating early reports. I've got a feeling it's going to be a big one

Thanks for the tip! Just got one!

Yes, the Back25 seats are will call, and it is a small theater. You can see fine from anywhere. I've done the program a couple of times. Often I've been in the first row. That's my favorite. But I've been seated all over. I'm glad the Atlantic does this. And I'm looking forward to this one!

Updated On: 11/7/16 at 06:19 PM

NY Times story about it

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/11/06/theater/atlantic-theater-company-has-a-new-musical-from-david-yazbek.html

If anyone has an extra Back 25 they can't use please let me know. I thought I bought one for tomorrow night but apparently not. Now all back 25 is sold out

Updated On: 11/12/16 at 05:05 PM

According to the theater's website, last night's (Friday night's) performance was the 1st preview and it was cancelled.

Thank you to everyone who has sent me a PM about back 25. But I'm really looking for something for tonight (long shot, I know) because I am already coming into the city from Long Island for a show this afternoon. I would be willing to put you in touch with the people who have offered me other dates so it can be an even switch

If you can go on the 20th matinee, I know someone who has one

I saw this tonight. I have to say I was really pleasantly surprised. I vaguely remember the movie as a charming if slight film with a few memorable quirky characters and a plot that doesn't go anywhere. This hasn't changed on stage. This is not a big dramatic show, its a small imitate story of some unlikely friendships and honestly the perfect cure for what has been such a horrible week.

Yazbeck has written a wonderfully tuneful score that definitely has echoes of Women on the Verge in a few songs. Katrina Lenk is a real standout here and has most of the score and sings it wonderfully. There was a one song that she sings (while chopping up a watermelon) that reminded me of Model Behavior.

David Cromer gave a speech before the show mentioning that it was still in previews and that there may be a few missed lighting cues etc and that the show was still "coming together." First of all the show is in fine shape and I didn't think a disclaimer was necessary. The lighting does need work as a few scenes later in the show were not right, but nothing too bad, certainly not worthy of a speech before the show.

Overall the show is much like the film. Pleasant but slight. It shows a pleasant side of humanity and the characters are a fun group to spend 90 minutes together with. I think the score stands up really well, though some things could be cut. (I really hated the song John Cariani sang to his son). The transitions and endings of a few songs could be tighter as well. I don't see much of future life for this other than a cast recording (that I would buy), but it was a really nice end to a tough week.

In the second scene of the show, the inhabitants of a nondescript town inform us repeatedly what a dull, drab place it is. Not exactly the kind of information to suggest a festive theatregoing experience awaits the paying customers. Well, it wholly lived down to the non-expectations it afforded, being as dull and as drab as the town in question. The score was of similar stripe.

I saw the show on Wednesday evening and really enjoyed it! I'll echo the below sentiments that this is an intimate and introspective musical without much in terms of plot. The true star of the show is David Yazbek's score, which I loved. The whimsy he's well known for from his previous musicals is on full display in songs like "Welcome to Nowhere," "Beat of Your Heart," and "Papi Hears the Ocean," but they're balanced with some beautiful and soaring ballads like "Omar Sharif," "Something Different," and "Answer Me." Does anyone associated with or tangentially connected to the production know if they're planning on recording the score with this cast? I really hope they do!

They've assembled a great cast for this production, but Katrina Lenk is the standout of the bunch. She's delivering a funny, sad, sexy, and mysterious performance and she nails the humorous frustration ("It Is What It Is" and the emotional moments equally well. I also particularly enjoyed Tony Shalhoub and Daniel David Stewart. I like Scott Pask's set design a lot and thought it was very impressive and expansive for the size of the Linda Gross Theater. Itamar Moses' book is mostly well-written and well-paced, although I think he glosses over some of the story arcs for some of the characters that I think could be fleshed out. I also very much appreciated David Cromer's direction and never thought the show felt disjointed even though it continuously moves from character to character. Cromer did speak to the audience before the show and cautioned that they had reworked at least 30 minutes of material that afternoon alone, so I think they've making a lot of changes to the show as they go through the preview process. Had he not mentioned it, though, nobody would have noticed because the performance went off without a hitch.

After this limited run at the Atlantic, does anybody know if they have their sights on Broadway in the 2017-2018 season? It seems like they've assembled too many sizable talents to let the show collect dust after they workshop it here. As I said about a cast recording, I hope they do plan to transfer the show next season. I was so taken by the score, the performances, and the overall production that I'd love to see it again and would love for a wider audience to see it, too.

Anyone have the run time on this?