The creative team of Fiddler on the Room — including composer Jerry Bock, lyricist Sheldon Harnick, librettist Joseph Stein and director David Leveaux — will chat about the new production of the classic musical. Bock, Harnick and Stein will also discuss creating the original 1964 production with the late director/choreographer Jerome Robbins. Based on the stories by Sholom Aleichem, Fiddler on the Roof features a book by Joseph Stein with a score by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. The original production opened at Broadway's Imperial Theatre in September 1964. Starring Zero Mostel, Maria Karnilova and Bea Arthur, the show played 3,242 performances before closing July 2, 1972. That production won Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (Zero Mostel), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Maria Karnilova), Best Book (Author) of a Musical (Joseph Stein), Best Producer of a Musical (Harold Prince), Best Director of a Musical (Jerome Robbins), Best Composer and Lyricist (Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick), Best Costume Designer (Patricia Zipprodt) and Best Choreographer (Robbins).
Three revivals have since played the Great White Way, in 1976, 1981 and 1990. The latter played the Gershwin Theatre and starred Topol and Marcia Lewis as, respectively, Tevye and his wife Golde. The 1971 film, with direction by Norman Jewison, featured Topol and Norma Crane. The current production — at the Minskoff Theatre — stars Alfred Molina as Tevye and Tony Award winner Randy Graff as Golde.
Hosted by New York Post theatre columnist Michael Riedel and producer Susan Haskins, "Theatre Talk" airs late Friday nights at midnight on WNET/Thirteen.