Casting has been set for Year 2 of the North American tour of the Tony Award -nominated Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof coming to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County from October 29 to November 3, and The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts from November 12 – 17.
Fiddler on the Roof is the heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and life, love and laughter. This classic musical is rich with Broadway hits, including “To Life (L’Chaim!),” “If I Were A Rich Man,” “Sunrise Sunset,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” and “Tradition.”
Following a critically acclaimed first year on tour, Israeli theater, film and TV star, Yehezkel Lazarov, will continue his celebrated performance as Tevye in Year 2 of the Fiddler on the Roof North American tour.
Cast member and University of Miami alum, Kelly Gabrielle Murphy (Tzeitel), return to the Arsht Center. Murphy was last seen at the Center in Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George, which was co-presented by Zoetic Stage and the Arsht Center in 2017.
A beloved theatrical classic from Tony Award winner Joseph Stein and Pulitzer Prize winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, this Tony Award-nominated production is directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher (To Kill a Mockingbird, South Pacific, The King and I) and choreographed by the acclaimed Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter.
The cast will feature return performances from Maite Uzal as Golde, Jonathan von Mering as Lazar Wolf, Carol Beaugard as Yente, Ruthy Froch as Hodel and Danny Arnold as Tevye in select cities. Additional casting includes Kelly Gabrielle Murphy as Tzeitel, Noa Luz Barenblat as Chava, Emma Taylor Schwartz as Shprintze, Carly Post as Bielke, Nick Siccone as Motel, Nic Casaula as Perchik, Jack O’Brien as Fyedka and Andrew Hendrick as Constable. The ensemble includes Jessica Altchiler, Mateus Barbosa da Silva, Nicholas Berke, Andrea Marie Bush, Cam Cote, David Scott Curtis, David Ferguson, Kelly Glyptis, Michael Greenberg, Yochai Greenfeld, Sam McLellan, Randa Meierhenry, Carlye Messman, Ali Arian Molaei, Alynn Rinah Parola, Gray Randolph, Cassandra Surianello, Brooke Wetterhahn and Scott Willits. For detailed cast bios, please visit: Fiddlermusical.com/bios/.
The original Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof, which opened in 1964 and featured choreography by Jerome Robbins, was the first musical in history to surpass 3,000 performances. The show won the 1965 Tony Award for Best Musical in addition to eight other Tony Awards that year. This acclaimed revival proudly introduces a new generation to the iconic musical adored across the globe.
It was a pleasure to sit down with the star of Fiddler, Yehezkel Lazarov, for this exclusive Hotspots Interview:
At what age did you begin performing and how did it happen?
I think I was 8 and I was a tap dancer. After I started dancing, my teacher, was a big choreographer, and he took me right away to perform with a Military band. After that he took me to perform in an Israeli Musical, and I performed with them for 4 years. At the age of 14 I had a studio and became a dance teacher. I was one of 3 people who knew how to teach tap in Israel.
What was your first professional role?
When I was 17 I did a film and that was my first real professional role that I got paid for.
How did you get cast in this Broadway Across America’s production of Fiddler on the Roof?
Someone I knew saw me in a show in Israel and he told me they were looking for a Tevye, and asked me if I would be interested. However, I was booked up for many months. They still asked me to submit a video and they decided to hire me. I had to move things around to take the role, but it was worth it!
Knowing that this is such an iconic show and role, is there additional pressure on you to play Tevye?
The truth…not really. I was not familiar with this play or the film. I mean I have seen it and I know the songs and the story, but not very attached to it. I come from contemporary and classic theater. This show was not that popular when I got into theater. I am younger than most people who played this role, so I never really thought of playing this role, so I was thrown into it without even thinking of the pressure. Once I started rehearsal I realized how this show affects so many people for so many years and the pressure I should have had. I truly fell in love with this role, and understood how lucky I was to have it!
I found out you have 3 daughters with your beautiful wife and they all travel with you (note the irony). Do they like traveling?
They all love it, my wife is the perfect woman, in general, and especially for my career.
Other than this role, what has been your favorite to play?
It’s impossible for me to pick one, as I have been very fortunate to have many fantastic roles. Some of them have been: Dorian Gray in The Picture of Dorian Gray, Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro, and Mack the Knife in The Threepenny Opera. I’m sure as soon as this interview is over I will think of many more roles I loved!
What is your fantasy role?
I think it’s the role that I will eventually write for myself.
What should our readers expect from this production of Fiddler on the Roof?
I think that this show makes people think about being part of a society and a community. I would love if it makes people think about people who still don’t have a home to return to because of pogroms, wars, and narrow minded Politics. I also think this show works very strong on the heart. It such a warm, caring story. It’s all about love, balance and tradition, and of course you get a spectacular Broadway show. Beautiful music, dance and songs, as well as some hilarious jokes.
For more information on Yehezkel Lazarov, you can follow him on Instagram.com/Yehezkel Lazarov, and for more info on Fiddler on the Roof, go to: Fiddlermusical.com.
Tickets to Fiddler on the Roof in Miami are available online at Arshtcenter.org, by calling 305.949.6722 or through the Arsht Center Box Office in person at 1300 Biscayne Blvd. Miami, FL 33132. Ticket prices start at $35*. Tickets in West Palm, which start at $39 are available online at Kravis.org, in person at the Box Office, located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; or by phone at 561.832.7469.
