Joel Grey to Direct Jackie Hoffman in Yiddish Fiddler on the Roof
(© David Gordon)
Jackie Hoffman, Steven Skybell, and Jill Abramovitz will star in Joel Grey's upcoming Yiddish-language production of Fiddler on the Roof. The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene production will run July 4-August 26 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage's Edmond J. Safra Theatre.
Skybell will take on the role of Tevye, with Abramovitz as Golde and Hoffman as Yente. They will be joined by Rachel Zatcoff as Tzeitel, Stephanie Lynne Mason as Hodel, Rosie Jo Neddy as Chava, Ben Liebert as Motel, Cameron Johnson as Fyedka, Daniel Kahn as Perchik, Bruce Sabath as Lazar Wolf, Jodi Snyder as Fruma-Sarah, Kirk Geritano as Avram, Samantha Hahn as Bielke, Raquel Nobile as Shprintze, Lauren Jeanne Thomas as the Fiddler, Bobby Underwood as the Constable, Michael Yashinsky as Mordcha, Jennifer Babiak as Grandma Tzeitel, Joanne Borts as Sheyndl, Josh Dunn as Chaim, Michael Einav as ensemble, Evan Mayer as Sasha, Nick Raynor as Yussel, Kayleen Seidl as ensemble, Adam Shapiro as Rabbi, and James Monroe Stevko as Mendel.
The production will feature scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Ann Hould-Ward, choreography by Staś Kmieć, lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski, and musical direction and conducting by Zalmen Mlotek. The creative team also includes Merete Muenter (assistant choreographer) and Matthew (Motl) Didner (assistant director).
Sheldon Harnick, Fiddler on the Roof's lyricist, and Harold Prince, the musical's original director, will serve as consultants on the project.
Featuring a book by Joseph Stein and a score by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, Fiddler on the Roof is inspired by Sholem Alecheim's stories of the milkman Tevye, who tries to hold on to "tradition" as the world around him and his family in the little village of Anatevka changes. The Yiddish translation was crafted by Israeli actor-director Shraga Friedman in 1965 and made its world premiere in Israel more than 50 years ago.
