Fiddler on the Roof will open at the Westchester Broadway Theatre on Oct. 11 with Bill Nolte playing Tevye (the milkman) and Emily Zacharias appearing as his wife Golde.
The musical is based on Tevye and his Daughters and other stories written by Sholem Aleichem (the pen name of Solomon Naumovich Rabinovich) and published in Yiddish in 1894.
Set in Anatevka, a small Jewish village in Russia, the play revolves around dairyman Tevye who sees a lifetime of devotion to his cultural traditions threatened by a changing world. Tzeitel, his oldest daughter, is in love with a poor tailor but Tevye who has promised her to a middle-aged butcher must choose between his daughter's happiness and the traditions that rule his life.
Breast and ovarian cancer benefit performance on Oct. 18
Westchester Broadway Theatre will host a special performance on Thursday evening, Oct. 18 to raise funds for Support Connection. Thirteen dollars will be donated to Support Connection for regular full-price tickets sold for the evening performance of Fiddler On The Roof. Mention "Pink" when ordering tickets by phone or enter "Pink" on ticket option if ordering on line.
Support Connection offers emotional, social and educational services to women affected by breast and ovarian cancer. Its services include counseling, support groups, referral and information services, and a toll-free cancer information and support hotline (1-800-532-4290).
Fiddler on the Roof will run until Nov. 25, 2012 when Miracle on 34th Street and other special holiday programming temporarily replace it.
Songs include If “I Were a Rich Man,” "Matchmaker, Matchmaker", "Tradition" and "Sunrise Sunset."
Fiddler on the Roof returns on Jan. 3, 2013 and continues until Feb. 3 when it will be followed by In the Heights (a Feb. 7 to March 17 run) and Guys and Dolls (March 17 to May 26).
The original stage version of Fiddler on the Roof starred Zero Mostel as Tevye when it opened in September, 1964 at the Imperial Theatre and became Broadway’s longest-running musical with 3,242 performances. This record was eclipsed by Grease which closed in 1980 after giving its 3,388th performance.
A three-hour United Artists Hollywood version, produced and directed by Norman Jewison, came out in 1971. The film earned an Academy Award for composer/conductor John Williams and it received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for Topal who played Tevye.
Meet the cast and crew
In the Westchester Broadway Theatre production, Bill Nolte plays Tevye and Emily Zacharias appears as his wife Golde.
Their daughters are played by Rachel Prather (Tzeitel), Sarah Rolleston (Hodel), Dana Glaus (Chava), Gianna Florio and Julia Gold alternate as daughter Bielke, and Samantha Robins and Shannon Stout alternate as daughter Shprintze. Terry Palasz is the meddling matchmaker Yente. The suitors are Andrew Boza as Motel the tailor, Eric Johnson as wealthy butcher Lazar Wolfe, Joe Longthorne as the student revolutionary Perchik, and Chris Giordano as Fyedka, the Russian Cossack.
Other members of the cast include Michael J. Farina as Mordcha the innkeeper, Drew Martin as the rabbi, Benjamin Dean as Mendel, Stephen Tewksbury as the constable, Lucas Thompson as Nachum and Stephen Valenti as Avram.The ensemble includes Jeremy Bensussan, Mark Chandler, Jason Moody, Amanda Pulcini, Paul Sabela, Eadie Scott and Andrew Mayer as the Fiddler.
The production is directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford who also handled these chores for Can-Can (recently performed at WBT) and many other plays at this theater. Jesse Factor is the associate choreographer.
Key staff members include Musical Director Leo P. Carusone, Set Designer John Farrell, Technical Director Steve Loftus, Lighting Designer Andrew Gmoser, Sound Engineer Jonathan Hatton, and Costume Designers Michael Bottari and Ronald Case. The Production Stage Manager is Victor Lukas and the Assistant Stage Manager is Ron Rogell. Properties are provided by Grumpy’s Props. Lisa Tiso is the Associate Producer.
The curtain rises approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes after meal service begins. Performances are scheduled as follows:
- Wednesday and Thursday matinees. Lunch is at 11:30 a.m. and showtime is 1 p.m.
- Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. and show at 8 p.m.
- Sunday matinees. Lunch at noon and show at 1:30 p.m.
- Sunday evenings. Dinner at 5:30 p.m. and show at 7 p.m.
Dinner-including-show inclusive prices range from $52 to $80 plus tax and tip depending on the performance. Cocktail/wine cost is not included in the ticket price. Discounts are available for children, students, and senior citizens at selected performances. Group discounts are also offered; call 914-592-2225.
The theater can seat up to 500 people for a show (including luxury boxes which can accommodate six to 22 people).
Contact the theater at 914-592-8730 for luxury box service and cost information. For reservations, call 914-592-2222 or buy tickets online at www.BroadwayTheatre.com
Westchester Broadway Theatre, 1 Broadway Plaza (175 Clearbrook Road), Elmsford. Box office: (914) 592-2222.
Support Connection is located at 40 Triangle Center, suite 100, Yorktown Heights. 914-962-6402. All of its services are provided free of charge.
