THEATRICAL THROWBACK THURSDAY: To Life! 50 Years Of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

By: Sep. 25, 2014
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Today we celebrate one of the most beloved musicals of all time in honor of its 50th birthday this week, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.

To Life

September 22, 1964 to September 22, 2014. All the sunrises and sunsets of the last half-century cannot even begin to shed all the light on one of the most revered and oft-revived musicals in history - not to mention its cultural impact, both then and now. Originally produced on Broadway in 1964, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, forever remaining one of the most popular and celebrated musicals of the Golden Age. Featuring a score by the Golden Age dream team of Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, with a book by Joseph Stein, the musical was based on the short story collection TEVYE AND HIS DAUGHTERS by Sholem Aleichem. The musical was first produced on Broadway by the formidable showman Harold Prince, then at the start of what would be an incomparable career in the theatre, also featuring a passionate physical production directed and choreographed by iconic Golden Age master director Jerome Robbins. The original production of the show garnered 10 Tony Award nominations, taking home 9, including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Direction. A classic in its own time and certainly one today, the various charms and insinuating features of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF are copious and considerable.

Featuring an unforgettable central role seemingly tailor-made for comedically-inclined actor-singers, Tevye, the original star of the show was none other than Golden Age icon Zero Mostel, with subsequent famous essayers of the part including Herschel Bernardi - who led the first Broadway revival in 1976 - and Topol - who headlined the 1971 feature film adaptation, directed by Norman Jewison. Modern era Tevyes have included Alfred Molina in the recent 2004 David Leveaux-directed Broadway revival, as well as his replacement, multi-award-winning playwright, performer and activist Harvey Fierstein.

Besides Tevye and his iconic character number "If I Were A Rich Man", FIDDLER ON THE ROOF also boasts memorable musical moments for some of the female characters, as well - especially the timeless trio afforded to Tevye's daughters byway of instant earworm "Matchmaker, Matchmaker", along with the charming duet for Tevye and wife, "Do You Love Me?" - but the real showstoppers are the ensemble numbers, such as the unforgettable "Sunrise, Sunset" as well as "Tradition", "To Life" and "Anatevka".

Today's stupendous vintage clip showcases a particularly spectacular trio of up-and-coming ladies leading the jaunty tune on the 1968 Tony Awards in celebration of the show's hit status - highlighted by the appearance of not only Tanya Everett and Mimi Turque, but also soon-to-be superstar Bette Midler.

Additionally, the tradition of rising stars in the roles of Tevye's daughters continued on into the 21st century, given that SPRING AWAKENING star and GLEE headliner Lea Michele stepped into the role of Sprintze in the 2004 revival, as well.

View the 1968 Tony Awards performance of "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" featuring Bette Midler and more below.

Also, Zero Mostel recreates his showstopper, "If I Were A Rich Man".

As a special bonus, take in the performance by the FIDDLER ON THE ROOF revival cast on the 2004 Tony Awards.

So, what precisely is it about FIDDLER ON THE ROOF that makes it an enduring classic nearly as smart, fresh and touching as it was when it first premiered 50 years ago? Is it the vast collection of unforgettable songs? The delectable performance showcases? One thing is clear, now is a perfect time to celebrate one of the greatest musicals ever written - and, of course, tradition, too. L'chaim!


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