Music by: Jerry Bock

History

"Fiddler on the Roof" opened on September 22, 1964 with Zero Mostel in the leading role. It ran for 3,242 performances at the Imperial Theatre.

The Story

The show is based on the short story "Tevye and His Daughters" by Sholom Aleichem.

 Set in 1905, Fiddler on the Roof takes place in Anatevka, a small Jewish village in Russia towards the end of the rule of the Tzars. The story revolves around the dairyman Tevye his 5 daughters and his attempts to preserve his family's traditions in the face of a changing world.

 Tevye is trying to marry off his eldest daughter, Tzeitel. The Matchmaker Yente has arranged for her marriage to the butcher Lazar Wolf an older man. Tzeitel begs Tevye to let her marry Motel a poor tailor instead. Tevye must choose between his daughter's happiness and his beloved traditions.

 In order to convince his wife, Golde, that the match with Motel was the right one, he creates an elaborate dream sequence that played on Golde's superstitious side.

Perchik a student comes to stay with Tevye trading lessons for his daughters for food and lodging, He and Hodel soon fall in love and they get engaged. They inform Tevye of this, and he gives them permission to be married. Soon after this, Perchik is arrested for demonstrating in Kiev, and is sent to a prison in Siberia. Hodel leaves to join him there.

Last, Chava and Fyedka a Russian fall in love. Chava tells Tevye, and he is outraged, because she wants to marry out of the Jewish faith.  She gets married anyway, and Tevye disowns her.

Soon the tide of revolt reaches Anatevka and all Jewish families are ordered to leave within three days. As exiles they are scattered to America, Poland and the Holy Land, On this sad note the story ends.

Music & Songs

Tradition (Chorus)
If I Were a Rich Man (Tevye)
Sabbath Prayer (Chorus)
To Life (Men)
Sunrise, Sunset (Chorus)
Do You Love Me (Tevye & Golde)
Far from the Home I Love (Hodel)
Anatevka (Chorus)