We Live in Cairo

The show was inspired by a 2011 photograph taken by Ed Ou for The New York Times of young Egyptian activists looking at a computer screen.{{Cite web |last=Wallenberg |first=Christopher |date=9 May 2019 |title=With 'We Live in Cairo,' Boylston's Lazour brothers are at the biggest stage of their career |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/theater/dance/2019/05/09/with-live-cairo-boylston-lazour-brothers-are-biggest-stage-their-career/qppBHb7i88PXlDAouuppYO/story.html |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=The Boston Globe |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Musical-Drama 'We Live In Cairo' Follows Egypt's Arab Spring From Hope To Despair |url=https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2019/06/19/we-live-in-cairo-arab-spring-musical |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=www.wbur.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Nesbitt |first=Joy |date=31 January 2020 |title=Their Take on the Arab Spring Is Remaking Musical Theater |url=http://www.ozy.com/good-sht/their-take-on-the-arab-spring-is-remaking-musical-theater/267666 |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=OZY |language=en-US}} The first draft of the show was written as the protests were happening, and ended with Hosni Mubarak's ousting from power.{{Cite web |last=Simon |first=Clea |date=17 May 2019 |title=Musical about 2011 Egyptian uprising to premiere at American Repertory Theater |url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/05/musical-about-2011-egyptian-uprising-to-premiere-at-american-repertory-theater/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Harvard Gazette |language=en-US}} However, as events continued to unfold, the Lazour brothers decided the show needed to include the aftermath of the protests as well. The brothers were eventually able to meet with some Egyptian activists to gain more insight for the show, including Wael Ghonim and Ganzeer, who created the poster art for the show.{{Cite web |date=30 May 2019 |title="We Live in Cairo": a Musical Rendition of the Egyptian Revolution Comes to the US Stage |url=https://egyptianstreets.com/2019/05/30/we-live-in-cairo-a-musical-rendition-of-the-egyptian-revolution-comes-to-the-us-stage/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Egyptian Streets |language=en-US}} Early drafts of the show told the story non-linearly, but the decision was eventually made to stick to a chronological telling of events.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-30 |title=Daniel and Patrick Lazour Talk About How We Live in Cairo Became the Show It Is Today |url=https://www.theatermania.com/news/daniel-and-patrick-lazour-talk-about-how-we-live-in-cairo-became-the-show-it-is-today_1754420/ |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=TheaterMania.com |language=en-US}}

The show had its first reading at Columbia University.{{Cite web |title=We Live In Cairo |url=https://namt.org/musicals/we-live-in-cairo/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=NAMT |language=en-US}} In 2015, the production had a residency at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center's National Music Conference.{{Cite web |last=Drexel |first=Kitty |title=We Will Be Free When We Are All Free: "We Live in Cairo" |url=https://www.netheatregeek.com/2019/05/23/we-will-be-free-when-we-are-all-free-we-live-in-cairo/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=The New England Theatre Geek |date=23 May 2019 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Grossman |first=Nancy |title=Review: We Live in Cairo: You Say You Want a Revolution |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/boston/article/BWW-Review-WE-LIVE-IN-CAIRO-You-Say-You-Want-a-Revolution-20190525 |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}

The show was part of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals in 2016. At the time the show was a single act. That same year, the show had a residency at the American Repertory Theater. The show was workshopped at American University in Cairo in 2017. The show also had a staged reading at the New York Theatre Workshop in April of that year.

The show premiered on in 2019 at the American Repertory Theater's Loeb Drama Center.{{Cite news |last=Skethway |first=Nathan |date=10 May 2019 |title=A Look Inside Rehearsals for We Live in Cairo at A.R.T. |work=Playbill |url=https://playbill.com/article/a-look-inside-rehearsals-for-we-live-in-cairo-at-art |access-date=14 January 2023}} Previews began 14 May, with opening night on 22 May.{{Cite news |last=Fujishima |first=Kenji |date=14 May 2019 |title=We Live in Cairo at American Repertory Theater Releases Production Photos |language=en-US |work=TheaterMania |url=https://www.theatermania.com/boston-theater/news/we-live-in-cairo-american-repertory-theater_88747.html |access-date=2023-01-14}} The show was directed by Taibi Magar and choreographed by Samar Haddad King. The production used projections to create outdoor scenes and to show actual social media posts, footage, and photographs from the 2011 protests.{{Cite web |last=Verini |first=Bob |date=24 May 2019 |title=We Live in Cairo: An Arab-Spring Awakening |url=https://nystagereview.com/2019/05/23/we-live-in-cairo-an-arab-spring-awakening/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=New York Stage Review |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Litvin |first=Margaret |date=2019 |title=We Live in Cairo |url=https://arabstages.org/2019/11/we-live-in-cairo/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=arabstages.org}}

In August 2024, it was announced that We Live in Cairo would receive an Off-Broadway run at the New York Theatre Workshop from October 27 to November 24, following previews beginning on October 9.{{Cite web |last=Duckett |first=Richard |title=Boylston brothers Daniel and Patrick Lazour's 'We Live in Cairo' set for Off-Broadway |url=https://www.worcestermag.com/story/entertainment/theater/2024/07/10/boylston-brothers-daniel-and-patrick-lazour-are-off-broadway-bound/74273596007/ |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=Worcester Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Russo |first=Gillian |date=2024-08-28 |title='We Live in Cairo' sets full Off-Broadway cast |url=https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/theatre-news/news/we-live-in-cairo-sets-full-off-broadway-cast |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=New York Theatre Guide |language=en}} The announced cast included Ali Louis Bourzgui as Amir, Drew Elhamalawy as Hassan, John El-Jor as Karim, Nadina Hassan as Layla, Michael Khalid Karadsheh as Hany, and Rotana Tarabzouni as Fadwa. The production was directed by Taibi Magar.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Deb |date=2024-11-03 |title=The journey of six Egyptian student activists of the Arab Spring in ‘We Live in Cairo’ Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop |url=https://dctheaterarts.org/2024/11/03/the-journey-of-six-egyptian-student-activists-of-the-arab-spring-in-we-live-in-cairo-off-broadway-at-new-york-theatre-workshop/ |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=DC Theater Arts |language=en-US}}

The show begins with the actors teaching the audience a protest song ("Genealogy of Revolution").{{Cite web |last=Gottlieb |first=Jed |date=25 May 2019 |title='We Live in Cairo' addresses universal struggles for freedom |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/05/25/we-live-in-cairo-addresses-universal-struggles-for-freedom/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Boston Herald |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=21 April 2021 |title=Track-by-Track Breakdown: The Lazours Found a Way to Flap Their Wings During a Pandemic |url=https://playbill.com/article/track-by-track-breakdown-the-lazours-found-a-way-to-flap-their-wings-during-a-pandemic |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=Playbill}}{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Rem |date=27 May 2019 |title="We Live in Cairo:" Fully Committed, Still in Beta-Testing |url=https://thetheatretimes.com/we-live-in-cairo-fully-committed-still-in-beta-testing/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=The Theatre Times |language=en-US}}

Six young Egyptian students from the American University in Cairo (Amir, Fadwa, Hany, Hassan, Karim, and Layla) meet in a warehouse to discuss demonstration tactics ("Loud Voice").{{Cite web |last=Halawa |first=Ahmed |date=19 June 2019 |title=The Story of the 2011 Egyptian Uprising Told in Song and Dance |url=https://al-fanarmedia.org/2019/06/the-story-of-the-2011-egyptian-uprising-told-in-song-and-dance/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=Al-Fanar Media |language=en-US}} Layla takes photographs in Cairo and notices the poverty around her ("Cairo Street Scenes"). After a student is killed by the Egyptian police, the six take to the streets and to social media to protest ("Flap My Wings"). Karim goes out one night to paint a mural in support of the protesters ("Wall Song").

Amir, a Christian, falls for Layla, who is Muslim. He composes a song for her ("Movement"). Amir later finishes a song he has been working on to inspire his friends, and plays it for them ("Tahrir is Now").

The act ends with the students protesting at Tahrir Square and Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak being ousted from power ("The 18 Days").

Mohammed Morsi is elected to power. Hany believes the results of the free election should be respected, while Fadwa disagrees, thinking Morsi is just as much of a tyrant as Mubarak. Hassan's connections to the Muslim Brotherhood cause further conflict. Disagreements splinter the group, with Hany moving to New York City to attend law school.

Amir is killed in Rabaa Square during a protest. Hany returns to Egypt but is arrested, along with Fadwa. Layla visits Hany in prison, where she reaffirms her commitment to not only survive in Cairo, but to live in Cairo ("Living Here").

The characters gather at a celebration. Initially, Layla thinks the event is meant to celebrate her boyfriend Amir's new album, co-created by his brother, Hany, but the event turns out to be celebrating the release of Fadwa, a protester who was in prison. While gathered, they see photos of Khaled Said, a student killed in police custody.

The six take part in the Tahrir Square protests, and on Day 18 of the protests, Hosni Mubarak is ousted from power.

The characters become divided following the election of Mohammed Morsi, with Fadwa urging further activism, while Hany considers their objective - a democratic election - to have been completed.

• Amir – a Coptic Christian songwriter and guitar player who is Hany's brother. He falls in love with Layla.
• Fadwa – a "firebrand" activist who spent time in prison for a previous protest.{{Cite web |last=Aucoin |first=Don |date=23 May 2019 |title=In ART's 'We Live in Cairo,' the strains of a revolution |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/theater/dance/2019/05/23/art-live-cairo-strains-revolution/7TAJbxjZkOMSH0PMhDGUlI/story.html |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=The Boston Globe |language=en-US}}
• Hany – Amir's brother, a Copt songwriter and aspring lawyer, who is less enthusiastic about the potential relationship between his brother and Layla.
• Hassan – a graffiti propagandist with family connections to the Muslim Brotherhood
• Karim – a graffiti propagandist who is a mentor to and attracted to Hassan
• Layla – a Muslim photographer who is in love with Amir

The 2019 production had a band with seven musicians (Madeline Smith, Naseem Alatrash, Kate Foss, Bengisu Gökçe, Nacho González Nappa, Ghassan Sawalhi, Jeremy Smith) playing doumbek, hand drums, guitar, oud, and strings. The show's music was characterized as mixing punk, traditional Middle Eastern music, and 1960s folk music. The Lazours have cited Sayed Darwish, Ramy Essam, Fairuz, Umm Kulthum, and Sheikh Imam as musical influences.

On 25 January 2021 the Lazours released "Flap My Wings: Songs from We Live in Cairo", an album of songs from the show.{{Cite web |last=Ell |first=Jenny |date=12 January 2021 |title=Songs from musical We Live In Cairo to feature on Daniel and Patrick Lazour's forthcoming album |url=https://www.westendbestfriend.co.uk/news/songs-from-musical-we-live-in-cairo-to-feature-on-daniel-and-patrick-lazours-forthcoming-album?format=amp |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=www.westendbestfriend.co.uk}}{{Cite web |last=Duckett |first=Richard |title=Boylston's Lazour brothers release "Flap My Wings: Songs from We Live in Cairo" album |url=https://www.telegram.com/story/entertainment/2021/01/24/lazour-brothers-boylston-release-soundtrack-musical-egyptian-revolution/4220480001/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=The Worcester Telegram & Gazette |language=en-US}} The songs were largely recorded not by the original cast, but by the Lazours and by popular Arab musicians.{{Cite web |last=El Homaïssi |first=Lama |date=2 February 2021 |title=Patrick& Daniel Lazour with Lama El Homaïssi |url=https://brooklynrail.org/2021/02/theater/Flap-My-Wings-Songs-from-We-Live-in-Cairo-is-an-Ode-to-the-Egyptian-Revolution |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=The Brooklyn Rail |language=en-US}} "Flap My Wings" and "Genealogy of Revolution" were released as singles prior to the album's release. The album does not present the songs in the order they appear in in the show.

Track listing:

• Genealogy of Revolution (Hamed Sinno)
• Wall Song (Hadi Eldebeck)
• Cairo Street Scenes (Rotana)
• Movement (Jakeim Hart, Parisa Shahmir)
• Loud Voice (Haboya, Mohamed Araki, Mohamed Sharhabil)
• Flap My Wings (The Lazours)
• Living Here (Emel Mathlouthi)
• Each & Every Name (Naseem Alatrash)
• The 18 Days, Pt. 1 (In the Morning) (Original cast)
• The 18 Days, Pt. 2 (A Million People) (Original cast)
• The 18 Days, Pt. 3 (Our Square) (Original cast)
• Tahrir is Now (Ramy Essam)
• Dreaming Words (Demo) (The Lazours)

The 2019 production saw mostly positive reviews from Arab Stages, the Boston Herald, GBH,{{Cite web |date=23 May 2019 |title=Arts This Week: 'Rhapsody,' 'We Live in Cairo,' 'School Girls' and 'The Ebonic Woman' |url=https://www.wgbh.org/news/arts/2019/05/23/arts-this-week-rhapsody-we-live-in-cairo-school-girls-and-the-ebonic-woman |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=WGBH |language=en}} New York Stage Review, New England Theatre Geek, and TwoCircles.{{Cite web |last=Fatima |first=Nikhat |date=16 June 2019 |title=Play review: We Live in Cairo |url=http://twocircles.net/2019jun16/431752.html |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=TwoCircles.net |language=en-US}} The show received mixed to negative reviews from the Arts Fuse,{{Cite web |last=Caggiano |first=Christopher |date=24 May 2019 |title=Theater Review: "We Live in Cairo" – A Well-Intentioned But Amateurish Musical Take on The Arab Spring |url=https://artsfuse.org/184710/theater-review-we-live-in-cairo-a-well-intentioned-but-amateurish-musical-take-on-the-arab-spring/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=The Arts Fuse |language=en-US}} The Boston Globe, and The Theatre Times. Several reviews felt the show needed a more intimate space than the Loeb Drama Center.

The 2024 production also saw mixed reviews,{{Cite web |date=2024-10-28 |title=Review: We Live in Cairo, a Rent for the Egyptian Revolution |url=https://www.theatermania.com/news/review-we-live-in-cairo-a-rent-for-the-egyptian-revolution_1754088/ |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=TheaterMania.com |language=en-US}} with many reviews praising the show's design but criticizing its book.{{Cite news |date=2024-10-27 |title='We Live in Cairo' Falls Short of Being Revolutionary |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/27/theater/we-live-in-cairo-review.html |work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web |last=Canacci |first=Bill |title='Rent'-like musical 'We Live in Cairo' presents protest, revolution during Arab Spring |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/entertainment/theater/2024/11/08/arab-spring-egypt-we-live-in-cairo-review-hosni-mubarak/76090083007/ |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=North Jersey Media Group |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ross |date=2024-11-07 |title=NYTW’s “We Live in Cairo” Sings Strong of Revolution |url=https://t2conline.com/nytws-we-live-in-cairo-sings-strong-of-revolution/ |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Times Square Chronicles |language=en-US}} Vulture noted "the Lazours have crafted a piece that is long on emotion with melodies that can burn with revolutionary fervor, if at the expense of clarity and structural coherence".{{Cite web |last=McHenry |first=Jackson |date=2024-10-28 |title=International Arrivals: We Live in Cairo and Bad Kreyòl |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/theater-review-we-live-in-cairo-bad-kreyol.html |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Vulture |language=en}} New York Stage Review{{Cite web |last=Finkle |first=David |date=2024-10-28 |title=We Live in Cairo: 2012 Egyptian Revolution Set to Music, Craftily Explored |url=https://nystagereview.com/2024/10/27/we-live-in-cairo-2012-egyptian-revolution-set-to-music-craftily-explored/ |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=New York Stage Review |language=en-US}} and New York Theatre Guide gave positive reviews of the production, with the latter calling it "timeless and beyond any single movement".{{Cite web |last=Fimmano |first=Austin |date=2024-10-27 |title=‘We Live in Cairo’ review — love in the time of the Arab Spring |url=https://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/reviews/we-live-in-cairo-off-broadway-review |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=New York Theatre Guide |language=en}}

• 2016: Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theatre{{Cite web |title=2016 Richard Rodgers Awards – American Academy of Arts and Letters |url=https://artsandletters.org/pressrelease/2016-richard-rodgers-awards/ |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=artsandletters.org}}

Category:2019 musicals

Category:American musicals

Category:Musicals inspired by real-life events

Category:Musicals set in the 2010s

Category:Musicals set in Egypt

Category:Works about the Arab Spring