‘Fiddler on the Roof’ opens tonight at high school

Sonoma Valley High School will be presenting one of the greatest musicals of all time, “Fiddler on the Roof,” at the Sonoma High School’s Little Theatre on March 20-22 and March 27-29.
“Fiddler on the Roof,” based on the book by Joseph Stein, with lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and music by Jerry Bock, centers on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his family and religious traditions while outside influences encroach upon their lives. He must cope with both the strong-willed actions of his three older daughters, as each daughter’s choice of husband moves progressively further away from established customs, and with the edict of the Tsar that evicts the Jews from their village.
The Sonoma Valley High School student actors have especially connected with the idea of how difficult it is for young people to honor their parents and still forge an adult life of their own.
The musical’s title stems from a painting by Marc Chagall, one of many surreal paintings he created of Eastern European Jewish life, often including a fiddler. The fiddler is a metaphor for survival, through tradition and joyfulness, in a life of uncertainty and imbalance. The original Broadway production of the show was highly acclaimed and nominated for ten Tony Awards, winning nine, including Best Musical, score, book, direction and choreography. Among the many well-known songs in the show are “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Tradition,” “Matchmaker” and “If I Were A Rich Man.”
The local cast is completely composed of Sonoma High School students, including Christian Weiss in the role of Tevye, the part made famous on Broadway by Zero Mostel and in the film by Topol. The show is directed by Jane Martin, with musical direction by Barbara McElroy and choreography by Tiona Gundy.
Friday and Saturday performances are at 7 p.m. and Sunday shows at 2 p.m. in the Little Theater on the campus of Sonoma Valley High School, at 20000 Broadway. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Readers’ Books, Pharmaca and Sonoma Valley Music, and may also be purchased at the Little Theater box office thirty minutes before curtain.