FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Friday, October 03, 2008 12:58 PM
NEW LONDON -- Beginning August 12th, New London Barn Playhouse presents the Broadway classic Fiddler on the Roof. Originally directed and choreographed by the legendary Jerome Robbins, the story of poor but goodhearted Tevye and his strong-willed daughters claimed several Tony awards upon its debut, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. An accomplished ensemble of guest artists led by Tony Lawson (Northern Stage's Lend Me a Tenor and Beauty and the Beast) as Tevye and Barn veteran Marlena Schroeder as his wife Golde join the Barn's Intern Company for the last musical of this year's season, a heartwarming tale of family, tradition, and the triumph of hope over hardship.
The village of Anatevka, situated in turn-of-the-century Russia, is a place of strict order and custom, where the Jewish faith is law and marriages are arranged on the advice of a matchmaker. A poor milkman with five daughters, Tevye agrees to marry his eldest, Tzeitel, to a wealthy widower. But when Tzeitel reveals she is already in love with Motel, her friend since childhood, he weighs the breach of tradition against his daughter's happiness and convinces his wife to permit the marriage. As the next two daughters in turn desire increasingly unconventional marriages, however, he finds the conflict between his devotion to his faith and to his family almost too much to bear. Yet even in the face of pogroms and evictions by the czar's soldiers, Tevye's beliefs keep him balanced in a world growing unsteady as a fiddler on the roof.
After her delightful performance as Mrs. Meers in the Barn's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie this July, the talented Kathryn Markey takes the reins to direct Fiddler, eager to bring its powerful message to the Barn stage. "I believe the enduring popularity of Fiddler on the Roof comes from the fact that ultimately, no matter who we are or where we live, we are all looking for a community," says Markey. "Despite its Jewish themes, it is a universal story. Both joyous and heartbreaking, it celebrates the importance of family, of community, and above all, of love."
Fiddler on the Roof runs for a two-week engagement from Tuesday, August 12th through Sunday, August 17th and Tuesday, August 19th through Sunday, August 24th. Evening performances are at 8:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday and 5:00 PM Sunday, and Wednesday matinees are at 2:00 PM. Please call 603-526-4632/6710 or 800-633-BARN (2276) for tickets or more information.
Book by JOSEPH STEIN
Music by JERRY BOCK
Lyrics by SHELDON HARNICK
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