Filed under: featuredarticle, musicals, plays, The Arts
Harvey Fierstein in Fiddler on the Roof
Four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein is reprising his Broadway role as Tevye, the comic milkman in the Tony Award-winning Jerome Robbins-inspired musical, , at National Theatre in Washington, DC starting next month.
Set in Tsarist Russia in 1905, the story centers on the philosophical milkman Tevye, and his family who live in a small village. With five daughters to find husbands for, he hopes the village matchmaker will find appropriate husbands for each daughter, all that fit their Jewish religious traditions.
One daughter is already in love with the poor local tailor, her good friend since childhood. She hopes he will ask for her hand before a match can be found for her, but when the matchmaker recommends the wealthy butcher as a ideal mate for the girl, her father quickly seals the deal.
When told about her impending marriage, the daughter begs for her father to reconsider, putting him in an awkward position to break with tradition. He finally relents and must break the news to the butcher.
The story follows the struggles of Tevye as he tries to keep his family together as his daughters each find love on their own terms.
In the lead role, Harvey Fierstein is no stranger to the stage. He wrote and stared in the Tony Award winning Broadway production of Torch Song Trilogy in the 1980s as well as winning a 2003 Tony for his lead role in Hairspray. He is one of only two actors, to have won Tony Awards in four different categories. The other Broadway actor to share that distinction is Tommy Tune.
Fiddlers on the Roof first opened on Broadway in 1964, a time when American youth were in revolution and the generation “gap” was cavernous, which helped propel Fiddler to become the first musical in Broadway history to surpass the 3,000 performance mark. The story was also made into a 1971 movie, staring Topol in the lead role and won three Academy Awards, including one for Best Music.
The timeless story is filled with secret romances, youthful rebellion, as a father tries to maintain family and cultural traditions and keep his family happy.
With recognizable songs such as “If I Were a Rich Man?”, “Miracle of Miracles” and “Sunrise, Sunset”, Fiddler on the Roof is classic musical theatre, especially with Harvey Fierstein in the lead roll.
1321 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC ()
Dates & Times – Nightly, except Mondays, April 13 – May 9, 2010, with matinees on most Saturdays and Sundays.
Tickets - $51.50 and are available or by phone at 800-447-7400. The theater has a no child under 4 years of age policy.
Nearest Subway Station – Metro Center – Blue, Orange or Red lines, or Federal Triangle – Blue and Orange lines, then a 3-block walk, or use the bus.
Parking – Limited metered street parking and area paid garage parking is available.
Images – – ,
Tags: featuredarticle, musicals, plays, The Arts
