Casting is complete and rehearsals are under way for the legendary Broadway musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” the next production of Aloha Performing Arts Co.
Casting is complete and rehearsals are under way for the legendary Broadway musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” the next production of Aloha Performing Arts Co.
Headlining the cast as Tevye the milkman is APAC newcomer James Hurd. Golde, his wife, is played by Pamela Wong, previously seen in the chorus of “The Wizard of Oz” and as Lady Thiang in “The King and I.” Their five daughters are played by Sarah Rouse (Tzeitel), Tiffany Kutsunai (Hodel), Tiger Hurd (Chava), Riley Newton (Shprintze), and Lauren Gabbe (Bielke).
Francine Alexander, who was Aunt Eller in APAC’s recent production of “Oklahoma!”, plays the role of Yente, the village matchmaker. The butcher Lazar Wolf is played by APAC board President Miguel Montez, a veteran of many Aloha Theatre productions. The suitors of Tevye’s three older daughters are Motel the tailor, played by Bryden Smith, Perchik the revolutionary student, played by Sage Hecht, and Fyedka, a Russian, played by Simon Ellis.
Joe Savarese is the Rabbi; his son Mendel is played by Will Wong; Matt Mohi is Mordcha, the innkeeper; Trina Yerlick is Grandma Tzeitel; Vickie Higginson is Fruma-Sarah; David Fero is Avram the bookseller; Vince Mott is Nachum, the beggar; and Joel Michaelson is the Russian Constable.
The title character of the Fiddler is played by first-timer Daudi Micu. In addition, an ensemble of performers will play various other characters. This group consists of Melissa Atwood, Kai Bram, Madison Bram, Kristen Cole, Sarah Crawford, Nora Frank, Pete Hoffman, John Hulen, Hanna Hurd, Logan Hurd, Hannah Kimmel, Mia Kriebl-Bruno, Anne-Marie Lambert, Barry Levine, Zea Levine, Miles Lugo, Victor Lugo, Veronica Marroquin, Mark Murdock, Renee Monell, James Resor, Marie-anne Rouse and Elizabeth Sharma.
“Fiddler on the Roof” was the smash Broadway hit of 1964. It is based on stories by Sholem Aleichem, “the Yiddish Mark Twain,” and takes place in Tsarist Russia in 1905. The show features book by Joseph Stein, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and music by Jerry Bock. The original New York stage production was produced by Harold Prince and directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins.
APAC’s revival is produced by Barry and Gloria Blum, and directed by Jerry Tracy, assisted by Tiffany Kutsunai. Joel Gimpel is music director, Marinella Savarese is vocal director, and Juanita Finkenberg is choreographer. Designers include Bob Gage, lighting; Gerald Lucena, sets; Anne Waugh, costumes; Peter Schonberg, sound; Michael and Monica Sanders, hair and makeup; Cathy Riehle, beards, and Samantha Cook, props.
Dance captain is Nora Frank, set dresser is David Fero, stage manager is Terry Ann Fujioka, and house manager is Cameron Bailey-Bram.
The show opens at the historic Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu on Valentine’s Day and plays through March 9, with Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $10, $20 and $25, and are available online at AlohaTheatre.com, by phone during weekday business hours at 322-9924, or at the box office beginning one hour prior to curtain time. Early ticket purchase is recommended for best seat selection. For more information, call the APAC office at 322-9924.