APRIL 7 • 2022 | 45
with the Broadway and tour
versions in the role of Tewfiq,
conductor of the Alexandria
Ceremonial Police Orchestra.
ISRAELI STAR
IN THE LEAD
“Maybe The Band’s Visit caught
me at a certain time in my life
or tugged at my imagination
because I feel attached to the
character. I felt something
very special and unique in the
simplicity and humanity of all
the characters. Anyone can
identify within the story.”
Gabay brings a varied
resume to the tour. His roles
have stretched from inter-
nationally acclaimed classics
(such as Cyrano de Bergerac
and Who’s Afraid of Virginia
Woolf) at the Beit Lessin
Theatre in Tel Aviv to more
contemporary projects (such
as the feature film Rambo III
and HBO’s Oslo).
Depicting Tewfiq, he relates
to the contradictions present-
ed in the character, someone
affected by personal tragedy
despite projecting the strength
and formality of a police offi-
cer while holding the artistic
soul of a musician.
“In order to portray the
character, I had to learn the
Egyptian accent,” Gabay said.
“This was a challenge, and I
loved it.”
Bringing a special happiness
during the first leg of the tour,
interrupted by the pandemic,
was having one of his five chil-
dren in the cast. Son Adam
(HBO’s Our Boys) was cast as
Papi, a shy café worker.
Offstage, Gabay is happy
that he is accompanied on
tour by his wife, Dafna Halaf
Gabay, an author of children’s
books and writer for children’s
programing in Israel.
“I feel lucky that I’m getting
to see America,” said Gabay,
who reads up about each
tour city just before appear-
ing there. “I enjoy it all more
because my wife is with me.”
The acting team includes
Janet Dacal (Prince of Broadway,
Wonderland, In the Heights) in
The Band’s Visit
continued on page 46
Itamar Moses
ANDREW ECCLES
Joe Joseph,
Sasson Gabay,
Janet Dacal
PHOTOS BY EVAN ZIMMERMAN, MURPHYMADE.
The
company of
The Band’s
Visit North
American
Tour.