L'CHAIM! TO LIFE! "FIDDLER ON THE ROOF" AT THE PALACE IN WATERBURY

Get ready to embrace tradition in the little village of Anatevka in Russia when the milkman Tevye and his wife Golde and their five daughters dance their way into the Palace Theater in Waterbury for a trio of performances on Saturday, April 15 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 16 at 1 p.m. This award-winning celebration of life, love, laughter, and, of course, tradition features the Broadway classics “Tradition,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and “To Life, ” in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Tony®-winning director Bartlett Sher brings a fresh and authentic vision to this beloved theatrical masterpiece from Tony-winner Joseph Stein and Pulitzer Prize winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. This new production, with stunning movement and dance from acclaimed Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter, is based on the original staging by Jerome Robbins. The cast features Jonathan Hashmonay as Tevye, Maite Uzal as Golde, Andrew Hendrick as Lazar Wolf, Mary Beth Webber as Yente, Randa Meierhenry as Tzeitel, GraceAnn Kontak as Hodel,Yardén Barr as Chava, Daniel Kushner as Motel, Austin J. Gresham as Perchik, Carson Robinette as Fyedka and Jason Thomas Sofge as Constable. The ensemble includes Morgan Cohen, Max Derderian, Gabriella Green, Christopher Hager, Ansley Grace Hamilton,James Jude Johnson, Emelie Latzer, Elliot Lazar, Tayler Mettra, Conor McGiffin, Ali Arian Molaei, Jacob Nahor, Emily Qualmann, Daniel Rabinowitz, Isabel Robin, Jacob Simon, Brayden Singley, Lauren Blair Smith, Lauren Steinert,Alex Stone, Rosie Webber, Scott Willits.The original Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof, opened in 1964. When Tevye the milkman married Golde, he met her for the first time under the chuppah, the wedding canopy. Their union was arranged by their parents, as was the custom in this tiny corner of the world, a shtetl in Russia called Anatevka. Marriages also could have been conducted by a yenta, a matchmaker, who made her living "matching" young people for the purpose of matrimony. Come meet Tevye and Golde, who have been blessed with a life of poverty. A fiddle player fiddler perches precariously on the roof symbolizing the uncertainly of life. Jonathan Hashmonay commands the role of Tevye with complete heart and spirit, at moments tender and compassionate, at others perplexed and concerned, questioning God and asking for His advice. Tevye is a good man, an honest man, a loving father, a patient husband, a hard worker who faithfully delivers milk and dairy products six days a week, even when his horse is lame. Tevye knows who he is and what his role in life is and he accepts them. While he acknowledges his village is inhabited by Cossack soldiers, he adopts a live and let live attitude of co-existence. When he sings "Tradition," he admits the major role his religion, Judaism, plays in his everyday existence. When Yenta the matchmaker, arrives at their tiny home, she informs Golde, a devoted wife and mother, that she has news, wonderful news, a match for their eldest daughter Tzeite, with Lazar Wolf , the prosperous but much older widower and butcher. Unbeknownst to Tevye and Golde, Tzeitel has plans of her own to wed Motel the poor tailor, an arrangement based on love, one that is unheard of and unacceptable. When Tevye learns of their outlandish ideas, he feels like a willow tree that has to bend. He relents and puts his daughter's happiness first, before traditions. How he convinces Golde to agree, especially after he had sealed his pledge with Lazar Wolf is at the heart of this poignant tale. Soon Tevye is tested again, when his daughter Hodel, wants to marry the radical student rebel Perchik and finally and irrevocably when daughter Chava, does the unthinkable and wants to cross the line of religious observance to marry the Russian soldier Fyedka . Will Tevye finally break under the burden of change? Tickets are available at https://www.palacetheaterct.org/shows-and-events/main-stage/fiddler-roof. Come help Tevye grapple with the immense questions of faith that swallow his small world as he bends and sways in the breezes of change. Raise a cup of wine to love and life. L’chaim!