by Terrance McArthur
It all started with Solomon Naumovich Rabinowich (1859-1916), who wrote as Sholem Aleichem, a Yiddish phrase meaning “Peace be unto you.” He was known as “the Jewish Mark Twain,” but Mark Twain claimed to be “the American Sholem Aleichem.” Some of his stories were about a Russian Jewish milkman named Tevye, who had five daughters. In 1964, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick wrote songs for a script by Joseph Stein, and Fiddler on the Roof became a Broadway hit and a staple of community theatres. CenterStage Clovis Community Theatre presents it at the Mercedes Edwards Theater through July 22.
by Lorie Lewis Ham
This has been a slow month for Valley theatre. If you have already seen the shows at Roger Rocka’s and 2nd Space, there’s not much else to see in January. Well the Reedley River City Theatre Co. has a cure for that–a way to see pieces of a ton of different shows all at once–Legends: Lullaby of Broadway opened this past weekend!
by Terrance Mc Arthur
It stands as a massive monument of musical theatre: Fiddler on the Roof. At one time the longest-running Broadway show (over 3,000 performances), this adaptation of the stories of Sholem Aleichem transcends time and cultures to speak of change and family. The music by Jerry Bock, the lyrics of Sheldon Harnick, and Joseph Stein’s script have entertained audiences around the world for almost fifty years. Now, the Good Company Players at Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theatre have brought it back with Dan Pessano reprising the starring role of Tevye.
by Terrance V. Mc Arthur
It’s summer, and even little theatres trot out the big guns. Roger Rocka’s Good Company put The Sound of Music on its shoebox stage, and now Reedley’s River City Theatre Company manages to squeeze Fiddler on the Roof into the Opera House’s 14-foot proscenium. Does it fit? You betcha!
by Lorie Lewis Ham
July is overflowing with incredible theatre including many Valley premieres of Tony award winning shows, and while we will be reviewing many of them, here’s an overview of several of them up so you can plan ahead and get your tickets now!
by Claire Caviglia
“Tradee-tion! Tra-DEE-tion!” As the opening number of Fiddler on the Roof starts, I can’t help but smile. The League of Christian Actors in Visalia is once again putting on their annual musical. For their 8th show, they are doing Fiddler on the Roof
