Photo Coverage: Kentwood Players' FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Celebrates Its Spectacular Opening Weekend!

Audiences and critics are raving about the Kentwood Players production of the Tony Award winning "Fiddler on the Roof" with book by Joseph Stein, lyrics by Jerry Bock, and music by Sheldon Harnick, presented at the Westchester Playhouse, 8301 Hindry Avenue, LA 90045. Kentwood Players is thrilled to present "Fiddler on the Roof" in 2014, the 50th anniversary of its Broadway debut and enjoyed packed houses during its opening weekend. So be sure to call (310) 645-5156 to get your tickets in advance for performances through April 19 to be sure you have a seat.

"Fiddler on the Roof" performances run March 14 to April 19 with 20 performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm, and Thursdays on April 3, 10, and 17 at 8pm. The production is produced by Rocky and Victoria Miller, directed by Harold Dershimer, with musical direction by Catherine Rahm, and choreography by Isabella Olivas, Set Design and Decoration by Scot Renfro, Lighting Design by Bruce Starrett, and Costume Design by Kathy Dershimer,.and is produced by special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

Featured in the cast, in alphabetical order, are Kayla Atkinson, Jason Bornstein, Paul Callender-Clewett, Ria Parody Erlich, Martin Feldman, Nathan Fleischer, Samuel Goldman, Barbara Haberman, Trevor Hart, Osi Holt, Spencer Johnson, Andy Kallok, Kirsten Krieg, Carly Linehan, Susie McCarthy, Bradley Miller, Patricia Miller, Kelsey Nisbett, Fiona Okida, Roy Okida, Gabrielle Olivas, Joseph Olivas, Jennifer Richardson, Judy Rosenfeld, John Russell, Michael Sandidge, Bruce Schroffel, Ethan Schyman, Hollister Starrett, Christopher Stefanic, Jessica D. Stone, Jennifer Sperry, and PJ Waggaman.

The heart-warming musical "Fiddler on the Roof" is based on tales by Sholom Aleichem, centering on the milkman Tevye and his family eking out a living in the Jewish community of Anatevka in 1905 Tsarist Russia. Tevye strives to keep up the traditions of his faith, race, and culture against the backdrop of discrimination and prejudice in addition to the love, conflict and humor of finding husbands for his three eldest daughters, especially when their choices of husbands moves him further away from the customs of his faith. 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; a metaphor for survival, through tradition and joyfulness, in a life of uncertainty and imbalance. One of the most successful and long-running musicals of all time, "Fiddler on the Roof" includes such favorites as "If I Were a Rich Man," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "Tradition" and "Sunrise Sunset." The original Broadway production opened in 1964 and held the record for the longest-running Broadway musical for almost 10 years, and still remains in the top 20 of all time. It was nominated for ten Tony Awards, winning nine, including Best Musical, score, book, direction and choreography. It spawned four Broadway revivals, a successful 1971 film adaptation, and continues to enjoy enduring international popularity.

Tickets are $23.00 with a $2.00 discount for seniors, students, servicemen, amd Metro riders. To purcahses tickets, please call (310) 645-5156 during box office hours, Wednesday through Saturday from 4-7pm. You may also purchase tickets online at www.kentwoodplayers.org. For group sales of 10 tickets or more, please call Lori Marple Pereslete at (310) 216-9094. For more information about Kentwood Players including our current productions, upcoming auditions, and our Kentwood Kids Children's Theatre classes and productions, please visit the Kentwood Players website at www.kentwoodplayers.org. You can also find Kentwood Players information on Facebook and Twitter.

To meet the "Fiddler on the Roof" production team and learn more about Kentwood Players and what goes on at the Westchester Playhouse, the public is invited to attend our general membership meetings, which are free and held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm at the Westchester Playhouse, located two blocks west of the San Diego Freeway and two blocks north of Manchester at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester, CA 90045.

Photos by Shari Barrett

Nathan Fleischer (Motel), Kelsey Nisbett (Tzeidel), Bradley Miller (Tevye)