READY FOR THE REVIVAL 10 FROM LOGAN STREET TO LIBRARIES

PERFORMANCE PREVIEW

READY FOR THE REVIVAL

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF COMES TO LOUISVILLE

PERFORMANCE PREVIEW

October 18-23, 2022

Afiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no?

On October 18, 2022, the timeless production, Fiddler on the Roof makes its way to The Kentucky Center for eight performances of theatrical mastery. The 10-time Tony Award-winning musical runs for two hours and 55 minutes and includes one intermission. It’s recommended for audiences ages 8 and up.

The story follows the poor milkman, Tevye, and his blunt wife, Golde, who live in the village of Anatevka in Imperial Russia circa 1905. Despite the anti-semitic climate of the time, Tevye and his family remain firm in their Jewish faith and traditions. But when Tevye's daughters begin to challenge his authority by falling in love and seeking permission to marry men to whom they weren't matched, Tevye and Golde must decide whether to hold on to the past or open themselves up to a new (and imminent) future.

Featuring musical hits you know and love, such as "Tradition," "To Life (L'Chaim!)," and "If I Were A Rich Man," Fiddler on the Roof tells a heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and life, love, and laughter. The performance features a lavish live orchestra and mind-blowing new cast to delight new and seasoned theater-goers alike.

A CULTURAL PHENOMENON

In 1964, Fiddler on the Roof made its Broadway debut, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon. The brainchild of composer Jerry Bock, lyricist Sheldon Harnick, and book writer Joseph Stein, Fiddler on the Roof is based on stories by Yiddish writer Sholem Aleichem and set in the early 1900s in Tsarist Russia. Fiddler on the Roof was groundbreaking in its use of traditional Jewish music. It also dealt with taboo subjects for its time, such as arranged marriages, poverty, religious persecution, and cultural assimilation.

In fact, some original investors in the piece worried that Fiddler on the Roof might be too close to its Jewish roots to appeal to a mainstream audience. At the same time, others criticized the production as being too "culturally sanitized." Yet, as one of the first post-Holocaust productions of its time, the tale captures depictions of a time that came close to being eradicated by one of the darkest times in human history.

Despite its serious themes, Fiddler on the Roof is also a funny and heartwarming story about family, community, and the importance of tradition.

Kelly Gabrielle Murphy (Tzeitel) and Daniel Kushner (Motel) in the North American Tour of Fiddler on the Roof.

Award-winning director Bartlett Sher offers a fresh take on the original masterpiece by Joseph Stein, Jerry Bock, and Seldon Harnick in this 2022-23 tour of the United States and Canada. He brings along his team from the 2017 Tony-winning Best Play Oslo to produce a show worthy of audiences new and old.

Sher has been described by the New York Times as "one of the most original and exciting directors." With nine Tony Award nominations, a Tony for Best Direction of a Musical, and a Drama Desk Award for the direction of the Broadway revival of South Pacific, you won't want to miss the chance to see his work come to life before your eyes.

"One thing Bartlett Sher does with every piece he attacks, he tries to do it as though it's never been done before," says Maite Uzal, who stars as Tevye's sharp-tongued wife, Golde.

"When he digs into the primary sources for the show, you get a production like ours. It's more grounded and raw than other productions have been in the past — it's very earthy."

Keeping the story's original intent in mind, Sher strips the Pale of Settlement of all ornament, leaving only what's needed on stage to bring the world of Fiddler on the Roof to life. The resulting performance is authentically accurate and faithful to the original text and music — one that will leave a powerful impression on viewers. A TIMELESS TALE

It's no coincidence that Fiddler on the Roof holds a special Tony for being one of the longest-running Broadway musicals of all time — though the story may take place in Imperial Russia at the turn of the 20th century, it is one that tells of the timeless struggle between tradition, faith, and the inevitable ushering in of change.

"The text is so timeless, and the elements of conflict are so relevant,” says Uzal. “The story being told is relevant to anyone who goes to the theater. Who hasn't had a conflict in their family? We can all relate to older generations trying to preserve certain things while the newer generations try to change things.

"Whether we're talking about a person in the LGBTQ community coming out to their family, or someone grappling with their faith, or any refugee in the world — those elements are so powerful and will continue to exist in the narrative of humankind. They will always resonate if you let them resonate," Uzal adds.

With the help of renowned Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter, this Broadway revival also puts a new spin on the original choreography with stunning movement and dance.

Shechter, who is best known for being the artistic director of his self-named dance company, was Tony Award-nominated for Best Choreography for his work on Fiddler on the Roof. In addition, he's credited with significant works such as Untouchable, which was commissioned by The Royal Ballet, and Orphee et Eurydice, a Royal Opera House Production. He's also been named as one of The Stage's 100 Most Influential People in Theatre. "The choreography has been revisited," Uzal says. "The bones and original iconic moments are still there. However, Hofesh has reimagined it and brought back an element of raw folk, rooting it back in the tradition of the Jewish culture. The combination of what Bartlett Sher and Hofesh Shecter have done to ground the piece is really powerful."

OLD VS. NEW WORLD

As the headstrong wife of Tevye, Maite Uzal's character, Golde, is the rock that holds their family together through thick and thin.

"Golde is like any role in Fiddler — a true gift to an actor. I'm enamored with her. She goes through every single possible emotion that you can imagine. Her arc is quite compelling, and it's all driven by faith."

As a traditionalist, Golde is forever faced with the challenges of navigating the new world with old-world values.

"Golde always has a sense of humor, and I'm not even sure she's always aware of it,” Uzal says. “I think that's naturally who she is. She has no self-awareness; she just speaks up and says how she feels."

Uzal has found that Golde opened up new doors for her as an actress and has challenged her to understand the world in ways she's never never thought possible.

"I'm in awe of motherhood; I've understood so many more things about why mothers behave the way they do. It has cracked my brain open to a world that I have not experienced."

Uzal is no stranger to the stage, with credits ranging from Broadway productions like Hippolytus and Death of a Salesman to short films and bilingual children's TV shows like Trash Bash.

A STELLAR CAST

Starring alongside Uzal is Israeli-born actor Jonathan Hashmonay as Tevye, Golde's husband of 25 years. As a descendant of Holocaust survivors, Hashmonay describes Tevye as his "dream role." Hashmonay brings experience from productions such as Clybourne Park, Frog and Toad, and 110 in the Shade.

Tevye is the "everyman" of the story. The humble milkman hopes to marry off his five daughters (Tzeitel, Hodel, Chava, Shprintze, and Bielke) while keeping his traditions alive in a rapidly changing world. He's a man of faith who is put to the test time and time again, but he never wavers in his love for family, friends, and God.

The role of wealthy butcher Lazar Wolfe is brought to the stage by Andrew Hendrick, whose credits include Kinky Boots, Bullets Over Broadway, and Jekyll and Hyde. At 60 years old, Lazar asks for young Tzeitel's hand in marriage after seeing her in his shop every week — a testament to the outdated traditions of marriage that permeated cultural norms at the time. But things go awry after Tevye initially agrees to marry Tzeitel, only to be met with protest when Tzeitel insists on making her own match.

Mary Beth Webber plays Anatevka's traditional marriage matchmaker, Yente. A nosey gossip by nature, Yente spends her days meddling in other people's business. Webber brings experience from performances such as Steel Magnolias, The Sound of Music, and Children of Eden.

Randa Meierhenry is cast as Golde and Tevye's eldest daughter, Tzeitel, the center of much of the conflict of Fiddler on the Roof. Although betrothed to the wealthy butcher Lazar Wolfe, she is deeply in love with Motel (played by Daniel Kushner). Meierhenry has performed in productions such as Godspell, Smokey Joe's Cafe, and The Who's Tommy.

Tevye and Golde's second daughter, Hodel, played by Graceann Kontak, also stirs the proverbial pot when she gets engaged to Perchik (played by Austin J. Gresham). The two defy tradition by making their own match, especially since Perchik plans to leave to work for the revolution immediately following their engagement.

The 2022-23 Fiddler on the Roof tour also welcomes Yarden Barr as Chava, Gabriella Green as Bielke, and, making his national tour debut, Carson Robinette as Fyedka.

"Without tradition, our lives would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof," Tevye professes in the opening number — a sentiment to which we can all agree to some extent.

"I promise that watching Fiddler on the Roof will make you a better person to your community,” Uzal says of the production. “Danny Burstein, who originated this role in our production, said that the role made him a better father. Besides being blown away by the music and dance, the story calls for empathy and love. It will make anyone who watches walk out of the theater a better member of their community."

Don't miss your chance to see this classic musical come to life once again. Grab your tickets now while they last.

Fiddler on the Roof is at The Kentucky Center from October 18 to 23. Tickets start at $49 and are available at louisville.broadway.com.

FROM LOGAN STREET TO LIBRARIES

MUSIC WITHOUT BORDERS SERIES TAKES THE ORCHESTRA OUT OF THE CONCERT HALL

The more it happens, the more Louisville Orchestra concertmaster Gabe Lefkowitz appreciates the feedback he receives when the symphony gets out and about in the community. Transporting its symphonic sound from the formal stage of Whitney Hall to less assuming neighborhood venues and smaller concert halls gives audiences the chance to get up close to the musicians, and closer to the music. "The one thing I hear with great enthusiasm during the Music Without Borders concerts, is ‘Wow, I’ve never been that close to an orchestra and that close to the action — to see in detail what you are doing,’ ” says Lefkowitz. “It’s a feedback I am so grateful for. Something we don’t experience so much in a larger concert hall.” The Louisville Orchestra, and music director Teddy Abrams, have been shaping the Music Without Borders series in various ways, and in various places, for several years. Perfecting the format. This season it is combining all its away-from-Whitney concerts, including daytime concerts at Louisville libraries, and concerts across the state under one outreach umbrella. And it will all be free. “The direction of orchestras is something to watch,” says Lefkowitz, who is in his seventh year leading the orchestra from his first chair violinist seat. “Teddy Abrams has very strong ideas about what an orchestra can be, and how it can serve its city best. The role of an orchestra has evolved over the past 50 years, from its primary function to put on formal concerts in a concert hall — we’re still going to be doing that, of course — but also explore ways to get out into the community in various configurations. To serve the city that way.” Central to the season are the nine concerts in the Music Without Borders series, with three concerts each in three different parts of the city: • The California Community Center, in California Park, 1600 West St. Catherine Street • Logan Street Market, 1001 Logan Street, in Shelby Park • The Jeffersonian, 10617 Taylorsville Rd., in Jeffersontown Other sites may be selected in succeeding years to spread the music throughout the community. The series begins October 27, 28 and 29, at the three sites, with Abrams conducting the rousing “Finlandia,” by Jean Sibelius, “Symphony No. 9,” by Dmitri Shostakovich, and “Fictional Migrations,” by Lisa Bielawa, one of the orchestra’s new Creators Corps of composers. That line-up of compositions gives one an idea of the scope of Music Without Borders programming — from serious to popular, old to new. The second three-concert set comes in February, with Lefkowitz conducting. The third is in March, with Kelly Corcoran conducting. For a list of concert dates and programs please visit the orchestra’s website Louisvilleorchestra.org.

Louisville Orchestra's Concertmaster, Gabe Lefkowitz will conduct the Music Without Borders concert in February.