Fresh off its big win at the 2018 Tony Awards, The Band’s Visit will welcome a familiar face to its cast. Sasson Gabay, who played the role of Tewfiq in the 2007 film, will reprise his performance in the musical adaptation on Broadway. He’ll begin performances at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre June 26.
The announcement was made by Orin Wolf in the press room of the 72nd annual ceremony.
Gabay will succeed Dariush Kashani in the role. Tony Shalhoub, who won a Tony Award June 10 for his performance as Tewfiq, took a hiatus from the musical in March to shoot the second season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and returned to the show for select performances in May before resuming production on the Amazon series.
Gabay recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Israeli Film Festival; in addition to The Band’s Visit, he is perhaps most known for his work in screen in such films as Rambo III, Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem, and Delta Force One: The Lost Patrol.
In addition to wins for Best Musical and Shalhoub, The Band’s Visit won the Tonys for leading actress Katrina Lenk, featured actor Ari’el Stachel, director David Cromer, composer David Yazbek, book writer Itamar Moses, orchestrator Jamshied Sharifi, sound designer Kai Harada, lighting designer Tyler Micoleau.