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Fiddler on the Roof is a well-known Broadway musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and libretto by Joseph Stein that first opened on September 22, 1964. Fiddler was the first Broadway musical to surpass the 3,000 performance mark, running for 3,242 performances, and held the record for longest-running Broadway musical in history for almost 10 years until Grease pushed it down a rank. It earned $1,574 for every dollar invested in it.[1]
Originally entitled simply Tevye, the musical is based on Tevye and his Daughters, or Tevye the Milkman originally published by the Russian Jewish author ...Read More
Fiddler on the Roof is a well-known Broadway musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and libretto by Joseph Stein that first opened on September 22, 1964. Fiddler was the first Broadway musical to surpass the 3,000 performance mark, running for 3,242 performances, and held the record for longest-running Broadway musical in history for almost 10 years until Grease pushed it down a rank. It earned $1,574 for every dollar invested in it.[1]
Originally entitled simply Tevye, the musical is based on Tevye and his Daughters, or Tevye the Milkman originally published by the Russian Jewish author Sholom Aleichem in 1894. The story centers on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his family and religious traditions while the world and civilization around the shtetl change rapidly. These changes manifest themselves chiefly in the strong-willed actions of Tevye's eldest three daughters — each daughter's choice of husband moves progressively further and further away from established village custom.
Songs
Act I
Tradition — Tevye and the Company
Matchmaker, Matchmaker — Tzeitel, Hodel, and Chava (sometimes, Tevye's youngest two daughters are also included in the chorus of the number)
If I Were a Rich Man — Tevye
Sabbath Prayer — Tevye, Golde, and the Company
To Life — Tevye, Lazar Wolf, and the Company
Tevye's Monolgue — Tevye
Miracle of Miracles — Motel, Tzeitel
Tevye's Dream — Tevye, Golde, Grandma Tzeitel, Fruma Sarah, and the Company
Sunrise, Sunset — Tevye, Golde, Perchik, Hodel, and the Company
The Bottle Dance — Instrumental, but four (though the number can be up to seven) dancers will balance bottles on their head as they perform a balancing act and dance
Act II
Now I Have Everything — Perchik and Hodel
Tevye's Rebuttal — Tevye
Do You Love Me? — Tevye and Golde
The Rumor — Yente and Avram
Far From the Home I Love — Hodel
Yente — Yente and the Women
Little Chaveleh — Tevye, while Golde and the three daughters and their husbands traditionally dance in the background
Anatevka — The Company
The 2004 revival featured a song sung by Yente and some women of the village entitled "Topsy Turvy," discussing the disappearing role of the matchmaker in society.
[edit] Awards
The Broadway production won nine Tony Awards:
Best Musical
Composer and lyricist: Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick
Leading actor: Zero Mostel
Featured actress: Maria Karnilova
Author: Joseph Stein
Producer: Harold Prince
Director: Jerome Robbins
Choreographer: Jerome Robbins
Costume designer: Patricia Zipprodt
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