FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Kweskin Theatre

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One of the longest-running shows in Broadway history and one of the most-produced musicals in the world - FIDDLER ON THE ROOF - will close out the current season in The Kweskin Theatre, Stamford, beginning June 7. Curtain Call's production will run weekends through June 29 with evening performances at 8:00pm as well as Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00pm.

Since it premiered 60 years ago, millions have seen this musical based on the short stories of Sholem Aleichem. With a brilliant book by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF - set in the little village of Anatevka – is the story of Tevye, a poor dairyman, trying to instill in his five daughters the traditions of his tight-knit Jewish community in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia.

The universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of race, class, nationality and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of laughter, joy and sadness. The Tony-award winning musical features some of the best-loved Broadway songs of all time, including: "Sunrise, Sunset," "If I Were a Rich Man" and "Matchmaker." 

The production team includes Ridgefield residents Gordon and Karen Casagrande as director and choreographer, respectively. Music direction is by Peter Randazzo, set design is by Martin S. Marchitto, costumes by Megan Latte Morello, and lighting design by Scott Borowka. Marilyn Adelberg serves as assistant director. The stage management team is headed up by Jan Ursone with Neil Flores, Carol Foley, Laurie Logan and Lisa Strom.   

Director Casagrande said, “FIDDLER is one of my favorite musicals and one of the classics of American Musical Theatre.  It is a universal story, both serious and comic, and dealing with such themes as tradition versus change. bigotry and antisemitism, the relationship between a father and his daughters, and young people finding love and marrying very unexpected people.

Playing the role of Tevye is STAMFORD resident, Lou Ursone. "If, as they say, ‘the third time’s the charm’ I can’t wait to open this show again,” said Ursone who has played the role twice before; once in The Kweskin in 2013 and a second time at The Downtown Cabaret Theatre in Bridgeport, in 2015.

For more than 150 performances in the MULBERRY STREET series of plays, Ursone has played the patriarch of an Italian immigrant family with children questioning their heritage and traditions. “I have often referred to that character as an Italian Tevye, so I am thrilled to play this role again," Ursone added. 

Karen Casagrande said, “I have very fond memories, as a youngster, going to the original production of FIDDLER twice with my family.  Later revivals were also wonderful …it’s one of my top 5 shows.  This is my 4th time choreographing it and it is a real privilege being able to recreate Jerome Robbins original choreography.”

“We have very talented male dancers,” said Gordon Casagrande.  “When the audience sees the famous "Bottle Dance" in the wedding scene, they are witnessing an actual bottle dance, no tricks are used, the dancers are actually dancing while balancing real bottles on their heads.”

The large cast is a wonderful mix of performers I've worked with many, many times before and a great many people completely new to me. Just the kind of mix a director always hopes for, as you have people you know you can rely on and newcomers who bring new and different talents to the production,” said Gordon Casagrande. Joining Ursone are 38 other area performers including, Ella Agulay, Matthew Graham Brown, Randy Bucknoff,  Elena Capella, David Chuba, Clint Clifford, Liam Cosgrove, Lucas Cosgrove, Sabatino Cruz, Cheryl D’Onofrio, Martha Dombroski, Eileen Dulmaine, Penelope Dulmaine, Marc Fontaine, Donna Fox, Kaylee Haggerty, Eric Hu, Cara Kramer, Jerry Kranz, Olivia Lapine, John Lazzara, Zachary Louizos, Justin McArthur, Chris Nardi, Emilia Oliver, Joshua Pickel, Ellen Krinick Porto, Bob Praid, Janice Clark Rudolph, Kyle Runestad, Rachel Salem,  Emma Sawch, Maria Sharavarnyk, Poppy Sisko, Greg Suss, Will Trebing, Gail Yudain and Ted Yudain.

Ticket prices for all performances are $41 for adults, $31 for senior citizens and $23.00 for students/children. Discounted five, seven and ten-ticket Flex Passes are also available and offer significant savings. The Box Office phone is 203-461-6358. Tickets are also available online at www.curtaincallinc.com.

Curtain Call is the nonprofit, professionally-run, community-based theatre company in residence at The Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, 1349 Newfield Avenue in Stamford. Year-round productions and educational workshops are presented by and for area residents in The Kweskin Theatre and The Dressing Room Theatre.

     Curtain Call has been voted Fairfield County’s BEST LOCAL THEATRE GROUP 2005 through 2023 in the Annual Readers’ Poll of The Fairfield County Weekly as       well as BEST LOCAL THEATRE by StamfordPlus magazine for the past five years and as BEST VENUE by Stamford Magazine readers. Curtain Call also                     received  The Governor’s Award for Excellence in Culture and Tourism for 2011 and in a recent statewide Facebook poll, was noted as the most popular theatre in         Connecticut and second most favorite attraction in the state. 

Authors

• Jerry Bock
• Joseph Stein
• Sheldon Harnick
• Sholom Aleichem

Tony Awards and Nominations for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Josh Pickel as Motel and Lou Ursone as Tevye in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Curtain Call in Stamford.

Tevye''s five daughters: (L to R) Amelia Oliver, Poppy Sisko, Maria Sharavarnyk, Cara Kramer, Olivia Lapine.

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