WHEN: November 1-24
WHERE: Axelrod PAC is located at 100 Grant Ave., Deal Park, N.J., just five minutes from downtown Asbury Park, with plenty of free parking.
TICKETS: 32 to $65 and may be purchased at www.axelrodartscenter.com or by calling 732-531-9106, ext. 14.
The Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal Park presents an exciting new production of the classic musical Fiddler on the Roof, the 1964 winner of 9 Tony Awards. Based on Yiddish author Sholem Aleichem’s stories, with a book by Joseph Stein, Fiddler on the Roof boasts a celebrated score by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick.
Bruce Sabath, who portrayed Tevye in the acclaimed Off-Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof (in Yiddish), reprises the role at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal Park, N.J.
Originally produced on Broadway by Hal Prince, Fiddler
on the Roof has been revived on the Great White Way five times and, in
a tribute to its universal appeal, has been performed in no fewer than 16
languages. Set in a village in Ukraine in 1905 on the eve of the Russian
Revolution, Fiddler tells the story of Tevye, a poor Jewish milkman with five
daughters who struggles against poverty, anti-Semitism, Russian aggression and
sweeping change. This complex tale of tradition, family, migration and cultural
identity makes this musical both timeless and timely.
Sixty years since its Broadway debut, Fiddler
on the Roof remains a cherished musical for the entire family, a
celebration of resilience in the face of upheaval. Its memorable songs, “If
I Were a Rich Man,” “Matchmaker,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” and “Tradition,”
remind us of the joyful hope to be found even in the most uncertain times.
The Axelrod’s new production, directed by Daniel Kutner, a protégé
of Harold Prince and his longtime artistic associate, is Mr. Kutner’s first
time directing this classic musical.
“It’s hard to imagine Fiddler on the Roof not having a
special place in any theatre lovers’ heart, and I am no exception,” said
Kutner. “Having worked alongside Hal Prince for the better part of two
decades—the show’s original producer and (not-so) arguably the greatest mind in
the American musical theater—the show resonates with me even more than it did
during my tenure with him. And five years after his passing, we are now faced
with both political and religious oppression in Russia, Ukraine and the Middle
East.
“Hal used to tell me that whichever country Fiddler played, it
also seemed to transcend Jewish culture and became instantly universal,”
continues Kutner. “Who can’t relate to cultural and nationalistic oppression,
the values of tradition, and the tricky exercise of honoring the past while
embracing the future of new voices and a new generation? We’re ALL immigrants
here in the good ole US of A. If my grandparents didn’t have the courage to
risk everything and escape Czarist Russia, I might be speaking a different
language from my home in Moldova or Siberia. We have cast members and creative
team members who are Russian immigrants, Ukrainian immigrants, Jews and
Gentiles alike.”
Bruce Sabath leads the company as Tevye, a role he played many
times in the Yiddish production directed by Joel Grey. Sabath also appeared on
Broadway in the John Doyle revival of Company. Joy Hermalyn returns to
the Axelrod as Golde after her debut earlier this season in Sunday in the
Park with George; Hermalyn’s Broadway credits include recent revivals of Caroline,
or Change; Candide; and A Christmas Carol. Their five
daughters are portrayed by Mariia Ivaschenki, Ksana Sergienko, Sarah Coleman,
Victoria Bahary and Carly Dagilis. Their suitors, Perchik, Fyedka and Motel,
are played by James C. Harris, Henry Gardner and Sammy Pignalosa. Two stars of
the NY Yiddish theater scene, Yelena Shmulensen and Allen Louis Rickman, also
join the cast as Yente and Lazar Wolf, as does Rabbi Nathan Langer as the
rabbi.
The company also includes Michael Daly Jr., Markos Andrew Eugenis,
Evan Isabella, Benjamin Jessop, Ruth Levy, Michael Mossucco, Stanislav
Raskachaev, Kitani Samme Sultan, Luke Swaller and Valeriya Voranova.
Produced by Executive Artistic Director Andrew DePrisco, Fiddler
on the Roof is choreographed by Cindy Mora Reiser, conducted by music
director Dan Sander-Wells, with lighting design by Joel E. Silver, sound design
by Pat Alapa, scenic design by Zoe Hurwitz, costume design by David “DW”
Withrow, and prop design by Anna Dorodnykh. Suzanne Apicella and Jackie
Robinson serve as production stage managers. Casting by Michael Cassara.
The
cast and creative team includes both Russian and Ukrainian immigrants.
Introduce a new generation to the uplifting celebration that raises its cup to
joy! To love! To life!
ABOUT AXELROD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Axelrod Theater
The Axelrod Performing Arts Center (APAC) is a leading cultural institution on
the Jersey Shore, committed to producing and presenting a diverse range of
artistic performances. As a multi-disciplinary arts organization, APAC
collaborates with Broadway directors, choreographers and designers to produce
professionally staged musicals, ballets and cultural programs that enrich the
imaginative, intellectual and creative soul of our community. Our productions
showcase the talents of professional actors, dancers and singers, delivering
world-class entertainment to audiences.
Bell Theater
In
addition to our main venue, APAC proudly operates Bell Theater, a new cultural
hub located at the historic Bell Works in Holmdel, NJ. Opened in the spring of
2024, Bell Theater is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to providing
exceptional cultural programming to the community. Bell Theater offers a
platform for emerging artists while showcasing established acts, all within a
space designed to create an immersive and accessible experience for all guests.
Axelrod Performing Arts Academy
APAC
is also home to the Axelrod Performing Arts Academy (APAA), which offers unique
and comprehensive training in dance and theater arts. APAA emphasizes the
importance of performance as an essential part of education, ensuring that
students gain both practical experience and a deep understanding of the arts.
At APAA, we nurture the next generation of performers, providing them with the
skills and confidence to succeed on stage and beyond.
Photos by Jeremy Daniel from Off-Broadway's Fiddler on the Roof (in Yiddish)
