Keith Rice Stars in Chanhassen Dinner Theatre's FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Beg. Tonight

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (CDT) has announced that FIDDLER ON THE ROOF will return to the Main Stage for the first time in 20 years. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF last graced the Main Stage in 1993 to mark Chanhassen's 25th anniversary. This time around, the theatres' most widely requested show will mark CDT's 45th anniversary. The production will run from tonight, September 27th, 2013 through January 25, 2014.

The cast features: Keith Rice as Tevye; Michelle Barber as Golde; Serena Brook as Tzeitel; Ruthanne Heyward as Hodel; Caroline Innerbichler as Chava; Nancy Marvy as Yente; David Anthony Brinkley as Lazar Wolf; Zachary Schaeffer as Motel; Jared Oxborough as Perchik; Tyler Michaels as Fyedka; and Molly Sue McDonald as the Fiddler.

Ensemble: Scott Blackburn, James Cada, Michael Gruber, Janet Hayes Trow, Emily King, Mark King, Adam Moen, Frank Moran, Tinia Moulder, Sean Nugent, Derek Prestly, Tommy Schumacher, Emily Rose Skinner, Jon Stiff, John Trow and Tony Vierling.

Directed by Michael Brindisi, the creative team also includes choreographer tamara Kangas Erickson and musical director Andrew Cooke.

The timeless production has captured the hearts of people around the world with its humor, warmth and honesty. Its universal themes of tradition and family cut across barriers of race, class, nationality and religion, leaving audiences incredibly moved by its powerful story and the music that helps to tell it. The musical's title stems from the painting "The Fiddler" by Marc Chagall, one of many surreal paintings he created of Eastern European Jewish life, often including a fiddler. The Fiddler is a metaphor for survival, through tradition and joyfulness, in a life of uncertainty and imbalance.

In the Little Village of Anatevka, Tevye, a poor milkman, is trying to keep his family's traditions in place. Yet, times are changing. And when Tevye's daughters want to make their own matches, he must choose between his own daughters' happiness and those beloved traditions that keep the outside world at bay. Yet it is Tevye's love of his family, pride and faith that help him face the dangerous forces in Anatevka which threaten to destroy the very life he and his fellow villagers are trying to preserve.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF has a rousing, heartwarming score, including: "Tradition," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "If I Were A Rich Man," "Far From the Home I Love," "Do You Love Me," "Sunrise, Sunset" and many more. No other musical has so magically woven music, dance, poignancy and laughter into such an electrifying, unforgettable experience.

The world-famous musical, and nine Tony Award-winner with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and book by Joseph Stein, will be performed eight times weekly, Tuesday through Sunday evenings, with matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Ticket prices for dinner and show: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings $71; Friday $82; Saturday evening $82; Wednesday matinee $62; Saturday matinee $66 and Sunday early evening $72. Show-only tickets are available no sooner than 10 days prior to the performance. Student Rush tickets may be purchased one hour prior to the performance with valid student ID, and are based on availability. Tickets for groups of 12 or more are now on sale for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF by calling Group Sales at 952-934-1547. Tickets for parties of fewer than 12 are only available at this time by calling the box office at 952-934-1525.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is the nation's largest professional dinner theatre company. It is also Minnesota's only year-round, fully-professional producing theatre company. With scenic and costume shops on site, all design elements are created and executed by CDT's resident artistic design and technical staff. The artistic program is led by President and Artistic Director, Michael Brindisi. Brindisi works with co-owners Tamara Kangas-Erickson, VP and Choreographer, and Steven L. Peters, to manage CDT. Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is committed to delighting its audiences and creating lifelong memories with a high-quality end-to-end theatre, dining, and service experience. To learn more, visit chanhassendt.com.