FIDDLER ON THE ROOF National Tour

[dmwnc1959]

Now that we’ve confirmed the tour is non-Equity...

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1109745#5049938

...the full cast has been announced...

http://www.playbill.com/article/yehezkel-lazarov-will-headline-fiddler-on-the-roof-national-tour

...and we’re about a month away from the preview shows...

http://fiddlermusical.com

...does anyone know much about the lead actor or cast? Heard any other news or have guesses about set designs? 

I’m seeing the show Thanksgiving weekend (73 days) up in Pittsburgh and very much looking forward to it. 

[zainmax]

"Israeli film and TV star."

[DAME]

Not a fan of the revival this tour is based on. But torn because I love this show. I hate that to many this will be their first experience with fiddler.

[adamgreer]

I’m so upset this show is part of our season. It’s never been my favorite show to begin with, and I really have no desire to sit through a non-Equity staging. Oh well.

[dmwnc1959]

Dame, this will be my first experience with Fiddler.

And zainmax, I got that from the article. The same might be said of Sasson Gabay from “The Band’s Visit” movie, but has anyone seen Yehezkel Lazarov’s works? 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

You can look up a lot of Yehezkel Lazarov's previous credits on IMDB.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0493787/

In any case, I think it's pretty cool that an actual Israeli actor will be leading the tour as Tevye. I was actually a huge fan of the most recent Broadway revival, and I'm looking forward to seeing this in Durham.

[zainmax]

No. But, I'm not Israeli, and I doubt that anyone in the audience will really recognize him.  The question is whether or not he can sing.

[RippedMan]

Without the ensemble coming from the rear of the stage for "Tradition" and the flying Fiddler, it's a pretty simple, straight-forward adaption, I thought. 

[dramamama611]

don't see why it's any cooler to see an Israeli play the role than anyone else.  Tevye wasn't Israeli.  I'm Jewish and I have no bloodline ties to Israel.  Russia?  Yes.  Israel?  Not at all.

 

After Joel Grey's production, I'm not sure how soon I could watch another.   It is seared in my mind as perfection.

[dmwnc1959]

Well, this has now wrapped up a short run in Syracuse. Anyone catch it while it was there?

Next stops are Philadelphia (10/23-28), Buffalo (10/30-11/4), Hartford (11/6-11), and Baltimore (11/13-18) before it hits Pittsburgh in less than a month (11/20-25).

I started looking for a recording to listen to, any recommendations? I found the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and the 1964 OBCR. Any other ideas?

[ClumsyDude15]

^I'm seeing the tour on Thursday night as part of my subscription here in Philly. I know non-equity tour[s] are a no-no and I've seen some great non-equity tours (Once) and some not so great non-equity tours (Kinky Boots) but I am excited to see Fiddler since it holds a special place in my heart as the first show I ever did. 

[dmwnc1959]

^ ^ ^ Very much looking forward to your assessment and review of the show! :)

[RippedMan]

From the pictures I've seen from friends in the show, it looks pretty much like the Broadway version, but minus the "cool" things that made it a unique production - the flying, the coming from the back of the stage, etc - so it's probably not a bad production, but it's also not a very interesting take, besides the framing device.

[dmwnc1959]

RippedMan said: "but minus the "cool" things that made it a unique production - the flying, the coming from the back of the stage, etc..."

 

I’ve read this referenced a couple of times before, but having never seen the movie or any other adaptation of the show, don’t quite grasp what this means, especially the latter. 

[VotePeron]

dmwnc1959 said: "RippedMan said: "but minus the "cool" things that made it a unique production - the flying, the coming from the back of the stage, etc..."



I’ve read this referenced a couple of times before, but havingnever seen the movie or any other adaptation of the show, don’t quite grasp what this means, especially the latter."

 

The stage on the Broadway production was extremely deep, and the back portion of it was cut out end to end with a hidden staircase leading up from the trap room to the stage level. The actors used this enterence a lot, as opposed to just entering from the wings. It gave a very unique dynamic to the production, especially at the beginning of “Tradition”, when we watched the entire ensemble slowly rise out of the back of the stage, climbing the stairs. 

The show also began with a gigantic painted house drop emerging from that space, and perched on top was the Fiddler, suspended on wires. They both rose up and into the flys. The flying Fiddler made a second return at the end of Tradition, with a very Peter Pan-esque swoop. 

I hope that helps! Gah, what a great production. I’m sure the tour will be very good since it has the additional framing device as well as the dancing, but these moments were indeed special. 

[dmwnc1959]

^ ^ ^ Thank you! It’s a shame that the tour can’t do everything the Broadway production did as far as special effects and rigging. But like you said, and with Bartlett Sher at the helm, hopefully it will still be very good. :)

[Sondheimite]

Really enjoyed the Broadway production.

On Christmas Day 2015, I was alone living in the city.  No real friends yet, no family... and it was lonely.

And about an hour before curtain... I went into the Fiddler box office to ask if they had any rush tickets left, knowing that they certainly did not.

And I'll never know if this is what happened...

but the woman working the box office took a long time on the computer "looking" and somehow produced a beautiful premium orchestra seat for me at a rush price. 

And I have a strong suspicion it's because I looked sad and alone on Christmas. 

And it's one of my favorite theatre memories because of that moment.   

[Mister Matt]

The stage on the Broadway production was extremely deep, and the back portion of it was cut out end to end with a hidden staircase leading up from the trap room to the stage level. The actors used this enterence a lot, as opposed to just entering from the wings. It gave a very unique dynamic to the production, especially at the beginning of “Tradition”, when we watched the entire ensemble slowly rise out of the back of the stage, climbing the stairs. 

The 2005 Delacorte production of the musical Two Gentlemen of Verona did the same!  One of the most interesting aspects of the production was being in Central Park, they removed the back wall, so the trees behind the theatre were visible and lit as if part of the set. Immediately after the prologue, when the trumpets played the opening notes to Summer Summer, the cast emerged up to the stage and it was a really cool effect.  You can get a bit of an idea of it from this rehearsal video:

Apologies for the threadjack. 

[ClumsyDude15]

I saw the tour tonight and it was wonderful. As I mentioned before Fiddler holds a special place in my heart as it was the first show I did.

The set was very nice - the biggest pieces being Tevye’s house that lowered in and out of scenes, Tevye’s barn in the second act, and the inn. The ensemble did a lot of moving of the set pieces and it felt very Bridges of Madison County in the way that it was done.

I had heard about the new opening scene set at the train station and I thought it was fine. The choreography was beautiful and very energetic (especially and most importantly To Life and Tradition). One moment I found very beautiful was during Chavaleh, Chava is behind a scrim dancing (I believe with Hodel and Tzeitel) as Tevye is struggling to understand why she would betray him and their family in the way she had.

The cast is very talented and Yehezkel Lazarov is a perfect Tevye. I was very impressed and I’m possibly going to try and go back once more before they leave on Sunday to see it again.

One odd thing I noticed is there is not a company board - I always take photos of them and when I went looking for it at intermission there was not one to be found. 
 

The show, the score, and the message remain very real and definitely stands the test of time.

[Ravenclaw]

Does anyone know if Bart Sher rehearsed this production himself or if it was staged by an associate? I loved this production in New York, but I have seen far too many sub-par non-equity tours. I know that often, tours are staged by the associate director of the original production, especially lower-tier and non-equity tours, but I wonder if that was still the case here, considering how many visual elements must have been rethought to make the production able to tour. Knowledge that the cast worked directly with Sher would make me more willing to see this production.

[Call_me_jorge]

^im pretty sure Bart was directly involved with the production. At least thats what I gather from this YouTube clip. https://youtu.be/iLgISCNgksc

It is interesting though the non-equity king and I tour will be directed by an associate, but I think that has more to do with his lack of availability. When that show starts rehearsals and performances so will TKAMB.

[dmwnc1959]

ClumsyDude15 said: "I saw the tour tonight and it was wonderful. As I mentioned before Fiddler holds a special place in my heart as it was the first show I did.

The cast is very talented and Yehezkel Lazarov is a perfect Tevye. I was very impressed and I’m possibly going to try and go back once more before they leave on Sunday to see it again.

The show, the score, and the message remain very real and definitely stands the test of time."

 

THANK YOU for the detailed review! It sounds like maybe I’m in for a wonderful “first experience” with “Fiddler on the Roof”. Very excited now to see it! :)

 

[ClumsyDude15]

dmwnc - You are so very welcome! It is truly a wonderful production and I hope you enjoy it when it heads to you in Pittsburgh. 

[dmwnc1959]

ClumsyDude15 said: "dmwnc - You are so very welcome! It is truly a wonderful production and I hope you enjoy it when it heads to you in Pittsburgh."

 

30 Days and counting! :) 

 

[dmwnc1959]

Somehow I missed reading this earlier BWW review...

https://www.broadwayworld.com/central-new-york/article/BWW-Review-FIDDLER-ON-THE-ROOF-National-Tour-Previews-at-The-Landmark-Theatre-20181018