Concurrent with the 50th anniversary of the “Fiddler on the Roof” history-making Broadway debut, Studio Tenn Theatre Company pays tribute with its own fresh take on one of musical theatre’s most enduring traditions. The production runs September 4-21 in Jamison Hall at The Factory at Franklin. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at StudioTenn or by calling #888-664-6362.
Based on a collection of stories by Yiddish author Sholem Aleichem adapted by Joseph Stein, “Fiddler on the Roof” tells of Tevye, a poor but devout Jewish milkman living in 1905 Imperial Russia. As his five daughters grow up and seek husbands, Tevye and his family struggle to uphold their religious convictions, traditions and relationships. The show features music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick.
“’Fiddler on the Roof’ has captivated audiences all around the world for half a century,” said Managing Director Jake Speck. “We feel the timing couldn’t be more perfect to bring this blockbuster masterpiece to Franklin.”
Studio Tenn’s production will again combine big-time talent from New York and Nashville: lead “Tevye” will be played by Peter Kevoian, whose credits include the original Broadway cast of “Phantom of the Opera,” the “Zorba” Broadway revival, the Chicago productions of “Wicked” and “Ragtime,” and the Original Canadian Cast of “Sunset Boulevard.” Kevoian also appeared in the role of “Herod” in the national tour revival of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” in the Los Angeles production of “Les Miserables” and the Los Angeles production and First National tour of “Cats.” Studio Tenn company member and recurring critics’ favorite Nan Gurley will co-star as Tevye’s wife, “Golde.” Full casting will be announced soon.
In addition to the telling of Tevye’s plight, Artistic Director Matt Logan said there’s an important substory in the costumes. “All the characters’ lives center on their positions in society, dictated largely by their vocations as tradesmen, such as shoemakers, milkmen, tailors, and butchers,” Logan shares. “Their daily activity shows in how their clothes are tattered and worn. That element of distress is a central part of my design for this show.
“In this era, clothing was only made with natural fabrics, such as linen and wool,” Logan added. “The balance of all these crude textiles creates a rich tapestry that tells the story of hardworking people who dress more for function than form.”
The set, constructed of juxtaposed wood and metal, will be primitive and rustic. While Logan tends to favor abstract, interpretive sets over literal ones, he said, “I hope to evoke realistic emotions brought on by the basic elements of daily life on a farm in Russia.” Props such as a cast iron stove, butter churn, horse saddles, rusted milk cans, knotted rope, window panes, and wagon wheel chandeliers will populate Logan’s portrayal of early century 20th peasantry.
