This September will mark 55 years since the debut of Fiddler on the Roof and the show couldn’t be more popular. There’s a production currently playing in New York where the show is completely performed in Yiddish (directed by Joel Grey). There’s a VRBO commercial currently running that uses the music from the show’s “Matchmaker, Matchmaker.” And there’s the tour that is playing at Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa for a run from May 7th to May 19th.
Fiddler on the Roof was written by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick with a book by Joseph Stein. This production is directed by Bartlett Sher, whose beautiful revivals of South Pacific, The King and I and the currently running My Fair Lady in New York have received great acclaim. This revival ran on Broadway for over a year starting in 2015. The choreography is by Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter (inspired by original choreography by Jerome Robbins.)
The musical is set during the Russian Revolution. Yehezkel Lazarov plays Tevye, the dairyman who lives in Anatevka with his wife, Golde (Maite Uzal) and his five daughters including Tzeitel (Mel Weyn), Hodel (Ruthy Froch) and Chava (Natalie Powers). The three girls all dream of getting married and leaving home.
As if the challenge of having so many daughters, many of whom see the world with a more modern point-of-view than their father, isn’t enough, there’s a rumor that the Russians are forcing Jews to leave their homes. Through the challenges, Tevye is still able to celebrate life.
Amongst the classic songs found in Fiddler on the Roof are “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Far From the Home I Love” and “If I Were a Rich Man.”
Why does this show continue to resonate 55 years after its debut? It all comes down to one word: Tradition!
For tickets to Segerstrom Hall go here.
Main Photo: Yehezkel Lazarov, Jonathan von Mering and the company of “Fiddler on the Roof.” All photos by Joan Marcus. Courtesy of the Pantages Theatre
Update: This post has been change to correct the name of the book writer. It is Joseph Stein, not Joel. Cultural Attaché regrets the error.