Porthouse Theatre, Kent State University’s outdoor summer theater on the grounds of Blossom Music Center, will close its 2013 season with Fiddler on the Roof, running July 25 through Aug. 11.
Eric van Baars, assistant artistic director for Porthouse Theatre, will direct this production, and John Crawford, dean of the College of the Arts at Kent State, will provide the choreography. The show also features design work by two Kent State alumni – costume design by Sarah Russell, and set design by Nolan O’Dell. Musical direction is by Jennifer Korecki.
Fiddler on the Roof has touched audiences around the world with its humor, warmth and honesty. The universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of race, class, nationality and religion.
“This life-affirming musical will illuminate the powers of tradition, both in the theatrical sense of the rituals which draw us to musical theatre and the powers of communal values to support our tough decisions in life,” van Baars says.
Van Baars says this production of Fiddler on the Roof will respect the tradition of the show while also including some new creative interpretations.
“There is such value placed on the traditions of mounting a production of Fiddler on the Roof, from the use of the iconic Jerome Robbins choreography to the religious observations of the Hebrew faith. Just as Tevye is tested to accept change, our production will play with some of the traditional elements, promising to be not-your-Bubbe’s ‘Fiddler,’” van Baars says.
Fiddler on the Roof features five members of the Actor’s Equity Association among a cast of 32 actors.
George Roth will play patriarch Tevye, and Tracee Patterson will star opposite as Golde. As the three eldest daughters in the family, Danielle Dorfman will play Tzeitel, Maddi Drees will play Chava and Jessica Benson will play Hodel. Lissy Gulick will play Yente, and Greg Violand will play the Constable. Frank Jackman will play Lazar, and Larry Nehring will play Avrham.
Roth, Patterson, Violand, Jackman and Nehring are members of the Actors' Equity Association.
The show’s celebrated score by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick features songs loved the world over: "Sunrise, Sunset," "If I Were A Rich Man" and "Matchmaker," among many others.
Fiddler on the Roof will run July 25, 26, 27, 30, 31 at 8 p.m., Aug. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 at 8 p.m., and July 28 and Aug. 4, 10, 11 at 2 p.m. Porthouse Theatre is located on the grounds of Blossom Music Center at 1145 W. Steels Corners Rd. in Cuyahoga Falls.
In Porthouse tradition, the Green Show will be performed on the lawn before each production of Fiddler. The Green Show cast is made up of student members of the Porthouse Theatre Academy, who are soon-to-be college students entering the Kent State musical theatre program.
Single tickets are $32-38 for adults, $26-35 for seniors, and $17-21 for students. For more information and to purchase tickets, call 330-672-3884 or visit www.porthousetheatre.com.
Porthouse Theatre features free parking and allows patrons to bring in picnics (including alcohol) to its grounds to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which is located next to the theatre grounds. A covered picnic pavilion is available for reservation at $2 per person or free for subscribers and is based on availability. There also is a concession stand of light snacks and beverages. Many picnic tables are available for everyone’s enjoyment at no cost.