MINNEAPOLIS —Hennepin Theatre Trust will enhance the spirit of Broadway’s hit musical THE BAND’S VISIT with pre-show, nightly concerts during the show’s Minneapolis run at the historic Orpheum Theatre (910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis) Tuesday, Dec. 10 to Sunday, Dec. 10, 2019 as part of the 2019-2020 Bank of America Broadway on Hennepin season. The Tony Award-winning production tells the story of lost musicians who show up in a Middle Eastern desert town and bring the town to life in unexpected and tantalizing ways.

Each night a local music group will bring sounds from around the world to patrons for a special performance in the Jack Link’s Legend Lounge (900 Hennepin Ave), located next to the theatre. All concerts are free and open to the public. Using talent from the Twin Cities’ vibrant and diverse cultural communities, patrons can enjoy different styles of music ranging from Ukrainian folk music to Brazilian Forró and Turkish classical music.

“The pre-show concert series for The Band’s Visit allows us to expand our arts offerings in the Hennepin Theatre District,” said Mark Nerenhausen, the Trust’s president and CEO. “By sharing world music with our Broadway audiences and introducing them to new sounds, we’re also supporting local artists and providing them a new performance space in the heart of downtown Minneapolis. It’s a win-win for everyone and allows the Trust to contribute to the vibrancy of the district.”

The week concludes with the Nihavent Trio, which includes a violinist with The National Arab Orchestra who has worked directly with two members of the show’s touring ensemble.

Scheduled performers include:

Tuesday, December 10 (6 to 7:30 p.m.) – Ukrainian Village Band
The band plays a variety of folk and modern music representing the country’s various ethnic communities, and includes drums, vocals, fiddle, bass, guitar, and accordion. Facebook:

Wednesday, December 11 (6 to 7:30 p.m.)
Not yet announced

Thursday, December 12 (6 to 7:30 p.m.) – Siama’s Congo Music
Congolese musician Siama Matuzungidi has toured the world with many popular soukous artists. Together with David Johnson, he brings the music of his homeland to Twin Cities audiences.

Friday, December 13 (6:30 to 8 p.m.) – Samba Meu
This acoustic Brazilian-roots ensemble performs Forró and other styles at a wide variety of local venues, warming the hearts and souls of Minnesotans with the sounds of Brazil.

Saturday, December 14 (6:30 to 8 p.m.) – Siama’s Congo Music

Sunday, December 15 (5 to 6:30 p.m.) – Nihavent Trio
Performing Turkish classical music and some folk styles, this trio features Laura Harada, who is a violinist with The National Arab Orchestra, and its repertoire also includes Armenian favorites.

After a mix-up at the border, an Egyptian Police Band is sent to a remote village in the middle of the Israeli desert. With no bus until morning and no hotel in sight, these unlikely travelers are taken in by the locals. Under the spell of the desert sky, their lives become intertwined in the most unexpected ways. THE BAND’S VISIT celebrates the deeply human ways music, longing and laughter can connect us all.

Tickets are on sale now at the State Theatre Box Office (805 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis), by calling (800) 982-2787 or by visiting HennepinTheatreTrust.org. Ticket prices range from $50 to $136.*
All pricing includes a Building Restoration Fee of $5.00.

Performance dates are Tuesday, Dec. 10 to Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019 with performances on Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.
Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice.

HENNEPIN THEATRE TRUST drives cultural and economic vitality in Minnesota through leadership of the dynamic Hennepin Theatre District in downtown Minneapolis and educational programming that reaches every area of the state. Its historic theatres — Orpheum, State and Pantages — and new event center at 900 Hennepin light up Hennepin Avenue with top-tier entertainment, including the best of Broadway and a wide variety of arts programming. Hennepin Theatre Trust is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at HennepinTheatreTrust.org.

BANK OF AMERICA ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE At Bank of America, our focus on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors is critical to fulfilling our purpose of helping make people’s financial lives better. Our commitment to growing our business responsibly is embedded in every aspect of our company. It is demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our customers, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocate groups, such as community and environmental organizations, in order to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at www.bankofamerica.com/about, and connect with us on Twitter at @BofA_News.

BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA (BAA) is part of The John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com and The Broadway Channel. Led by 11-time Tony-winning producer John Gore (Owner & CEO), BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 44 markets with over 400,000 subscribers. Current and past productions include Beautiful, Cats, Chicago, Dear Evan Hansen, Groundhog Day, Hairspray, Hello, Dolly!, Million Dollar Quartet, On Your Feet!, The Producers, School of Rock and Waitress. Broadway.com is the premier theater website for news, exclusive content and ticket sales. For more information please visit BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com and Broadway.com.

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