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NEWS RELEASES July '04
Fiddler on the Roof Opens at Theatre on the Bay
July 9, 2004
Theatre on the Bay continues its 38th summer season with one of Broadway’s most acclaimed musicals, Fiddler on the Roof by Joseph Stein, with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. Since its debut in 1964, Fiddler has lost none of its wonderfully touching appeal for audiences transported to Anatevka, a small Russian-Ukrainian village in 1905 whose inhabitants face life’s hardships with indomitable spirit.
Presented by Time Warner Cable and directed by Dr. Doug Larche, TOB’s Fiddler on the Roof will be presented July 16 - 18 and 23 - 26 at 7:30 pm. Jay Jensen is musical director, Susan Bunting choreographer, and the principal designers are Dennis Rabbie, Amanda Rhines, Susan Vairus, Scott Grenlund, Jim Pitroski and Larche.
For Larche, who spent last year in Ukraine as a Fulbright Scholar, Fiddler on the Roof is a tribute to the people he and his wife met there. “The play is based on the stories of Sholem Aleichem, who was born in Persyaslav, Ukraine, and who lived through pogroms in Kishniev and Kyiv,” said Larche. Many of the props used in the sets are gifts given to them by their Ukrainian friends.
The cast of 40 includes Jason Larche as Tevye, the bone-poor dairyman who holds salty debates with God whenever he thinks the Lord’s blessings are getting too hard to bear and Jackie Debriyn as his scolding wife Golde.
Debriyn carries on a TOB tradition in her role which was played by Jeannine LaFave in TOB’s previous Fiddlers in 1977 and 1988. “I used to babysit for Jeannie's son David,” said Debriyn. “Jeannie was the one who encouraged me to audition for Theatre on the Bay.”
Other members of the cast include Anne Garcia as Yente, the Matchmaker, whose aid in finding husbands is sought by Tevye’s three elder daughters, Tzeitle, Hodel and Chava played by Amanda Rhines, Jennifer Farley and Lisa Giebler. His two youngest daughters will be played by DeShea Morrow and Colleen Johnston.
The four eligible bachelors include Lazar the butcher (Brian Cashen), Motel the tailor (Ricky Berlin), Perchik, a student from Kyiv (Dave Rickaby), and Fyedka, a Russian soldier (T.J. Bertagnoli and Kyle Malke).
Fae Olson and Debra Quick have memorable cameos as Frumah-Sarah and Grandmother Tzeitel. Portraying other villagers will be John Berg, Bill Shepard, Arthur Baron, Earl Bauman, Michael P. Lyons, James A. Morrow, Steve Deusinger, Gifford Smith, Micha DeCleene, Vanessa Smith, Courney Monnette, Susan Heider, Julie Falk, Annalisa Mines, Tracia R. Koenigs, Molly McFarlane, Rianna DeCleene, Jenifer Lyons, Rachel Smith, Cassie Brenner, Anissa Champeau, Vanessa Swiatnicki, Paul Monnette and Jeffrey Lebick.
Tickets for Fiddler on the Roof are $10 and $12 and will be on sale at the box office beginning July 12. The box office is open daily from 4 - 6 and to curtain time on show days. Call 715-735-4313 for reservations.
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