Fidler Afn Dakh

Fidler Afn Dakh (Fiddler on the Roof)
Playbill from the Original Off-Broadway Production
MusicJerry Bock
LyricsSheldon Harnick (English lyrics)
Shraga Friedman (Yiddish lyrics)
BookJoseph Stein (English book)
Shraga Friedman (Yiddish book)
BasisTevye and His Daughters
by Sholem Aleichem
PremiereJuly 15, 2018: National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene
Productions
Awards

Fidler Afn Dakh (פידלער אויפן דאך) is a Yiddish-language adaptation of the musical Fiddler on the Roof translated and adapted by Shraga Friedman. The adaptation revisits the 1894 collection of Yiddish short stories on which Fiddler on the Roof is based, about Tevye the Dairyman. Friedman created the translation for a 1965 Israeli production.[1][2] It was produced by the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene (NYTF) in New York City in 2018 and transferred off-Broadway to Stage 42 in 2019.

Productions

Original Production (Israel)

The first Yiddish-translated production opened on June 7, 1965 at the Alhambra Theatre in Tel Aviv.

The production was directed by Richard Altman and choreographed by Tom Abbott.

A cast recording, published by Columbia Records, was released the same year.[1]

North American Premiere

The first North American production was produced by the NYTF at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City, directed by Joel Grey, featuring musical staging and choreography by Staś Kmieć[3][4][5] in the style of the original.[6][7][8] Motl Didner and Sabina Brukner served as Yiddish coaches.[1]

The production was accompanied by English and Russian supertitles.[9][2][10]

The first preview was on July 4, 2018. Opening night was July 15, 2018. The show was scheduled to run for 6 weeks until August 26, 2018, but was extended three times, through the end of 2018, until it was transferred uptown to a commercial Off-Broadway theatre. (See below)

Off Broadway Commercial Premiere

After 4 successful extensions,[11] the Folksbiene's production was converted to a commercial run and transferred to Stage 42 by producers Hal Luftig and Jana Robbins in February 2019.[10] The production featured new musical staging and choreography by Staś Kmieć[12][13][14] set design by Beowulf Boritt, costumes by Ann Hould-Ward, sound by Dan Moses Schreier and lighting by Peter Kaczorowski. The production continued to be accompanied by English and Russian supertitles.[9][2][10]

A cast recording[15] was released digitally on August 9, 2019 and was released physically on August 23 that same year.[16] The production was announced to close January 5, 2020.[11]

Other Productions

In August 2019 it was announced that the production would have its Australian premiere, to be staged by Opera Australia and the Gordon Frost Organisation. The Australian production was scheduled to open at the Sydney Opera House in September 2020, followed by a run in Melbourne at the Comedy Theatre in November.[17] However, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of both openings.

Off-Broadway 2022 Revival

On July 25, 2022, the NYTF announced a revival of the production featuring Steven Skybell returning as Tevye and Joel Grey as director. It ran from November 13, 2022 through January 1, 2023 at New World Stages.[18]

Casts

Role Original Production (Israel, 1965) North American Premiere (National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene, 2018)[19] Off-Broadway (Stage 42, 2019)[20] Off-Broadway Revival (New World Stages, 2022)[21]
Tevye Shmuel Rodensky Steven Skybell
Golde Lya Dulitzkaya Jennifer Babiak
Tsaytl Rachel Zatcoff
Hodl Etty Grottes Stephanie Lynne Mason
Khava Tirza Arbel Rosie Jo Neddy
Yente Jackie Hoffman Lisa Fishman
Motl Kamzoyl Albert Cohen Ben Liebert
Pertshik Daniel Kahn Drew Seigla
Fyedka Cameron Johnson Michael Nigro
Lazar-Volf Chaim Polani Bruce Sabath
Bubbe Tsaytl Rosa Barenblatt Mary Illes Lisa Fishman
Fruma-Sore Jodi Snyder
Sheyndl Joanne Borts
Chaim Josh Dunn
Avram Kirk Geritano
Mordcha Michael Yashinsky Mikhl Yashinsky
Bielke Samantha Hahn
Sasha Evan Mayer Jonathan Cable
Shprintze Raquel Nobile
Yosl Nick Raynor
Der Rov Adam B. Shapiro
Mendl James Monroe Števko
Der Fidler Yaacov Maman Lauren Jeanne Thomas

Awards

Main article: List of awards and nominations for the musical Fiddler on the Roof § 2018 Yiddish production

The production won the 2019 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical,[22] the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical,[23] and the New York Critics Circle citation for Best Revival of a Musical.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b c Passy, Charles (2017-12-21). "N.Y. Theater Company Will Present an All-Yiddish 'Fiddler'". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  2. ^ a b c "A 'Fiddler' In Yiddish – The Way It Ought To Be". The Forward. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  3. ^ Jesse Green. "Review: A Yiddish 'Fiddler on the Roof'? Sounds Crazy, Nu?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  4. ^ Fierberg, Ruthie (2019-02-22). "What Did Critics Think of the Re-Mounted Off-Broadway Yiddish Fiddler on the Roof?". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  5. ^ "Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish - Featuring the Bottle Dance". New York 1 News. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  6. ^ "In revised 'Fiddler,' Tevya speaks Yiddish". Jewishjournal.org. 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  7. ^ Israel, Tifereth (2018-07-05). "A New Heft For 'Fiddler'". Jewishweek.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  8. ^ http://delcoculturevultures.com/2018/09/21/nytfs-production-of-fiddler-on-the-roof/ [dead link‍]
  9. ^ a b "Yiddish 'Fiddler' to Continue Its Run at Stage 42". Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  10. ^ a b c "Yiddish Fiddler on the Roof Will Transfer to Off-Broadway's Stage 42 | Playbill". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  11. ^ a b Clement, Olivia (October 22, 2019). "Yiddish Fiddler on the Roof to Wrap Up Off-Broadway Run in January". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-12-24.
  12. ^ Franklin, Marc J. (2019-01-14). "Yiddish Fiddler on the Roof Celebrates Its Move to Stage 42". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  13. ^ "FIDDLER ON THE ROOF IN YIDDISH Celebrates One Year Anniversary". Broadwayworld.com. 2019-07-16. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  14. ^ ""FIDDLER ON THE ROOF IN YIDDISH" RELEASES VIDEO AND PHOTOS FROM WORLD REFGUEE [sic] DAY EVENT AT STAGE 42". Omdkc.com. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  15. ^ "Yiddish-Language Fiddler on the Roof to Be Preserved on Cast Album". Broadway.com. Retrieved 2018-12-03.
  16. ^ Fierberg, Ruthie (August 6, 2019). "Inside the Making of Yiddish Fiddler on the Roof's Cast Album". Playbill. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  17. ^ "Opera Australia FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (A FIDLER AFN DAKH)". Opera Australia. August 24, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  18. ^ Gergely, Julia (July 25, 2022). "Yiddish 'Fiddler on the Roof' returns to New York this fall". Jewish Telegraph Agency. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  19. ^ "Casting Announced for Yiddish 'Fiddler!'". Jewcy. 2018-05-15. Archived from the original on 2020-04-04. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  20. ^ Fierberg, Ruthie (2019-02-21). "Yiddish Fiddler on the Roof Officially Opens Off-Broadway at Stage 42 February 21". Playbill. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  21. ^ "Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish Opens at New World Stages - TheaterMania.com". 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  22. ^ "Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish", Playbill, accessed July 20, 2019
  23. ^ "Outer Critics Circle Awards - AWARDS FOR 2018-2019". Archived from the original on 25 May 2020.
  24. ^ "2019-2020 Awards".