National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene’s
Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish
A Soraya Concert Production and
West Coast Premiere
With English Supertitles
Directed by Joel Grey
in Yiddish
A Soraya Concert Production and
West Coast Premiere
With English Supertitles
Directed by Joel Grey
Sat Sep 13 | 8PM
Sun Sep 14 | 3PM & 7PM
Event details
The original 1964 Fiddler on the Roof garnered nine Tony Awards. The popular show leaned on universal themes of changing times and a household torn by young love. But reality was not so simple. Behind the scenes, there were bitter disagreements between the lead actor, Zero Mostel, and director and choreographer Jerome Robbins, divided, in part, by their opposing views on the House Un-American Activities Committee. The production was also criticized for being whitewashed, too far a departure from the original short stories written by Sholem Aleichem about the persecution of Jews in Eastern Europe.
In 2018, New York-based National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene reclaimed Fiddler as a piece of Jewish culture, translating the script and lyrics into Yiddish, with English supertitles. They engaged a top-notch Broadway cast led by Steven Skybell as Tevye. The results were historic, praised as fresh, authentic, personal, and highly emotional. New York Times critic Jesse Green exclaimed, “Even the jokes were making me cry.”
The pandemic interrupted touring plans, but now The Soraya partners with the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene to bring it to the West Coast for the first time in a special concert version with Skybell reprising his leading role.
This production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF- YIDDISH was licensed by Music Theatre International.
Generously underwritten by
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation
Noah Marco, M.D. and Cornelia Kalt-Marco
Carol Shubin, Ph.D.
Faith and Jonathan Cookler
Ronald and Sandy Friedman
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Stage Manager | Beth Scorzato
Lighting Design | Dan Weingarten
Original New York Casting | Jamibeth Margolis, CSA
Los Angeles Casting | Michael Donovan
Rehearsal Pianist | Jonathan Quesenberry
Original Scenic Design Images Courtesy of Beowulf Boritt
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Price includes all fees.
Ticket prices
$59–$137
Director Selects
Cast
Steven Skybell
Steven Skybell (Tevye) is currently starring as Herr Schultz in the Broadway revival of Cabaret for which he received a 2024 Tony nomination. Skybell won the 2019 Lucille Lortel Award for best performance by an actor for his portrayal of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, directed by Joel Grey. Other Broadway credits include Wicked, Pal Joey, Fiddler on the Roof, The Full Monty, Love! Valour! Compassion! Café Crown, and Ah, Wilderness! Recent engagements: Carnegie Hall solo debut in an evening of Yiddish songs from the Holocaust (also seen at The Salt Shed, Chicago); and his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as Tevye in Barrie Kosky’s celebrated Fiddler from the Komische Oper Berlin.
Jennifer Babiak
Jennifer Babiak (Golde) is thrilled to return to Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish. Her credits include: Broadway: Fiddler on the Roof; off-Broadway: Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish (Golde), I Can Get it For You Wholesale (Classic Stage Company). Tours: West Side Story (Maria), Evita (Mistress), Grease (Sandy). Select regional: Into the Woods (Cinderella), My Fair Lady (Eliza), Jekyll & Hyde(Emma), The Pirates of Penzance (Mabel). Babiak is an NYU Steinhardt graduate. Thank you to Joel, Zalmen, Stas, Motl, Jamibeth, and all at National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene for the gift of a lifetime with this special show and company. Thanks always to family, friends, and husband Michael.
Rachel Zatcoff
Rachel Zatcoff’s (Tsaytl) credits include: Broadway: The Phantom of the Opera (Christine Daaé). International tour: West Side Story (Maria). Off-Broadway: Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish (Tsaytl), Winesday (Molly), The Golden Bride (Khanele). Regional: The Last Five Years (Cathy), The Secret Garden (Alice), A Little Night Music (Anne), The Most Happy Fella. New York City Opera: Candide directed by Hal Prince, Dear Erich (Lili), The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (Adriana). Favorite roles: Alfie’s mama and Seth’s wife. Zatcoff has a Bachelor of Music from Rutgers University, and a Master of Music from Temple University. She enjoys drinking red wine, talking to the moon, being a Libra, eating all of the cheese, performing, and celebrating life in NYC. Love and thanks to the entire mishpokhe for including me in this dream show from day 1 and continuing to — even 30 weeks pregnant. @rachelzatcoff rachelzatcoff.com
Yael Eden Chanukov (Hodl)
Yael Eden Chanukov’s (Hodl) credits include: off-Broadway: Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish and Amid Falling Walls (National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene). Regional: Fiddler on the Roof (Drury Lane Theatre), Wizard of Oz (Creede Repertory Theatre), Next to Normal (Sapphire Theatre). Readings: Alexsei’s Quest, Vilna: A Resistance Story. Television: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “For All Mankind.” She is represented by Powerline Entertainment and teaches voice at musicaltheatrecoach.com. @yaelchanukov
Rosie Jo Neddy
Rosie Jo Neddy (Khave) is a New York City-based theater artist. She grew up in Ohio and studied theater at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Neddy has been with this Fiddler since its beginning in 2018, playing Khave in every iteration of the production. Other credits include: Carousel at Lyric Opera Chicago, Gypsy at Music Theater Works. Neddy, a passionate director, choreographer, and teaching artist, has worked with The Shubert Organization/MTI Broadway Junior, LaGuardia High School, and Disney Theatrical Group. Thank you so much, Zalmen, Motl, Joel, and all Fiddler company members for your love and support these past seven years.
Kirk Geritano
Kirk Geritano (Motl) is an original cast member of Yiddish Fiddler, starting his journey at the show’s inception in NYC with the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene in 2018. Originally cast as Avrom and an understudy for Motl and others, Geritano continued in the role for several years as the show moved uptown to Stage 42 and then to New World Stages. After many understudy performances as Motl during the original run, Geritano is honored to be playing the role for the West Coast premiere of the show. Other credits include several national and regional educational tours for ArtsPower and George Street Playhouse, as well as countless readings, projects, and concerts with the Folksbiene. He is also an experienced youth acting teacher and director, currently working at Rockstar! Studios in Middlesex, New Jersey.
Drew Seigla
Drew Seigla (Pertshik), a native of Richmond, Virginia, made his off-Broadway debut as Matt in The Fantasticks at the Snapple Theater in Times Square for a two-year stint. Next, he was cast as a standby for three roles in the off-Broadway success Sweeney Todd at Barrow Street Theatre. Seigla is most known for playing Pertshik in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish at National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, Stage 42 and at New World Stages where he can be heard on the original cast album. He was honored to sing at Carnegie Hall in April as a vocalist in Bryan Perri’s Few Words: A Performance. Seigla recently took his final bow as Pierre in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 at Firehouse Theatre. He attended Elon University for music theatre and earned his degree from The Juilliard School in Music from the vocal arts division. Thanks to God, Mom, Dad, and my wife, Steph.
Griffith Frank
Griffith Frank (Fyedke/Ensemble) is an award-winning singer, performer, and multiplatinum RIAA songwriter hailing from Los Angeles. His critically acclaimed rendition of “Unusual Way” was featured in the credits and on the soundtrack of the 2009 movie musical Nine. Frank has written songs that have been streamed over a billion times. He has performed in shows and festivals globally, including as a featured singer at the renowned Java Jazz Festival. Frank is a graduate of the opera program at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and honored to be a part of the cast.
Samuel Druhora
Samuel Druhora (Leyzer Volf) has performed principal roles in some of musical theater’s most iconic productions — from Jean Valjean in Les Misérables to the depths of the Paris Opera House in Phantom, with standout turns as Juan Perón in Evita, and leading roles in Ragtimeand Sweeney Todd. His passion lies in crafting truthful, layered characters — whether it’s under the stage lights or in front of the camera. Druhora is thrilled to join the cast of Fiddler on the Roof in this special Yiddish-language production at The Soraya.
Lisa Fishman
Lisa Fishman (Yente/Bobe Tsaytl), singer, actress, songwriter, and voice-over actor, is thrilled to return to Fiddler in Yiddish after appearing in the off-Broadway productions from 2018 to 2020 and 2022. She has performed throughout the U.S. and Europe, starring in musical theater, performing original music, singing and recording with Klezmer bands (including Chicago’s Maxwell Street Klezmer Band), concertizing in Jewish music (Yiddish, Hebrew and Ladino), entertaining children on television, working in voice-over, and singing everything from jazz, folk and rock to light opera and heavy metal. Theater highlights: Fiddler on the Roof (Golde), Cabaret (Sally Bowles), Oliver! (Nancy), Tintypes (Fanny Brice/Emma Goldman). Other highlights: voicing Ms. Dogma on the animated series “God’s Gang,” providing the English dub for the leading role of Adina on the Netflix hit “Rough Diamonds,” and voicing the “My Yiddishe Bubbie” doll. Fishman performs her original, one-woman musical, Dating (and the Search for Love), around the country. LisaFishman.com
Bobby Underwood
Bobby Underwood (Constable) is excited to return to his Yiddish Fiddler mishpocheh, more than seven years after the beginning of its first run at the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. He also works as a comedian and, along with Fiddler’s music director Zalmen Mlotek, will perform the West Coast debut of their Tom Lehrer tribute show, “Thank You, Tom Lehrer,” at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura on Sept. 16. For Mom, Dad, and everyone who came before them. underwoodbobby.com
Carly Post
Carly Post (Shprintse/Ensemble) is beyond excited to join this mishpocheh. Other shtetls include two years on the Fiddler on the Roof national tour (Bielke). Other credits include: Rewind (Theater Row), Pride and Prejudice (SheArts), A Christmas Story, Anything Goes. Readings: Yidl With His Fiddle (Yidl). You can see Post on Amazon Prime’s “Étoile” and hear her on PBS Kids. Endless thanks to her family, Stephanie, friends, wonderful dog Rory, Nouveaux, the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene team, Joel, and her supportive friends. @carlypost1
Glenn Rosenblum
Glenn Rosenblum’s (Rabbi/Ensemble) credits include (New York): The Rise of David Levinsky. Los Angeles: Mack and Mabel, Man of La Mancha, Follies, Grey Gardens. Regionally: Fiddler on the Roof (Motel), Ballroom, Chess, Guys and Dolls. Cabaret and his cabaret show, Glenn Rosenblum Is the Musical Man. Rosenblum is also the creator of Broadway Showstoppers, a lecture/cabaret series performed most recently at the Coachella Valley Repertory and Crystal Cruises. Television: “Law And Order: SVU,” “Bones,” “Miami Vice.” He has a Bachelor of Arts in theater from UCLA.
Jodi Snyder
Jodi Snyder (Frume-Sore/Beylke) is a New York-based actor and is thrilled to be reunited with her Fiddler mishpocheh. She has been touring the U.S. with the Tony Award-winning revival Parade understudying the role of Lucille Frank among others. Other select credits include: Fiddler on the Roof (Drury Lane Theatre), Pete the Cat (Lucille Lortel Theatre). Snyder has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater from Syracuse University. A huge thank you to her entire family and the UIA Talent Agency. @jodez18
James Monroe Števko
James Monroe Števko (Mendl/Ensemble), a New York City-based actor and dancer, is an original cast member of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish. He is now a stager for the Jerome Robbins Trust, staging the choreography of Jerome Robbins nationally. Števko is also a dancer at the Metropolitan Opera. His other credits include: The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Muny, Milwaukee Ballet. Having started dance at the age of 18, Števko is inspired to teach and mentor upcoming artists as a master teacher. Features in: Denník N, Nový Čas, Dance Teacher magazine, Dance Informa, NY1, and more. @jmstevko, jmstevko.com jmstevko.com
Mikhl Yashinsky
Mikhl Yashinsky (Nokhem/Mordkhe/Ensemble) is an actor, playwright, translator, and teacher. Born in Detroit, he has a bachelor’s degree in history and literature from Harvard University. Yashinsky’s The Gospel According to Chaim (New Yiddish Rep, 2023–24) was hailed as a rare new Yiddish play, one that “jolted the repertoire with a work that is both traditional and delightfully subversive,” and his new musical Feast of the Seven Sinners was praised as “a saucy spectacle which sprouts excitingly unorthodox fruit” (Forward). With National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, Yashinsky performed in the original New York cast of the Yiddish Fiddler(Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Musical Revival), as well as Amid Falling Walls (Drama Desk, Outstanding Musical Revue), and The Sorceress (New York Times Critic’s Pick), in which he played the title role as a “keen, if malevolent, psychologist” (New York Times). His translations of The Mother of Yiddish Theatre: Memoirs of Ester-Rokhl Kaminska and Adventures of Max Spitzkopf: The Yiddish Sherlock Holmes are forthcoming from Bloomsbury and White Goat Press. @mikhldarling
John Reed
John Reed (Avrom/Ensemble) is honored to be a part of this company! Off-Broadway: Amid Falling Walls (NYTF). US regional theater: Guys and Dolls, Something Rotten, Fiddler On The Roof, A Chorus Line, Tootsie, and 42nd Street. Australian theater: Funny Girl, Merrily We Roll Along, Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear. Huge thanks to NYTF, Zalmen, Motl, Joel Grey and my family. For Papa and Eeya, Dad and Sluggo. L’Chaim!
Lauren Jeanne Thomas
Lauren Jeanne Thomas (Fiddler) is an actor, multi-instrumentalist, and one-woman band (Fiddler on the Loop) based in NYC. She has been Fiddler since the show’s Off-Broadway premiere in 2018, and is thrilled to rejoin her Fiddler family for this very special concert. Additional credits include: Beau (Off-Bway, OOTB); The Goree All-Girl String Band (Off-Bway, NYMF); Once (Bway Nat’l Tour); Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare Theater Company); Hester Street (Theater J, world premiere). Lauren’s part of an all-women multi-instrumentalist country/folk show called Americana Women (@americanawomenshow). Training: Boston University: BFA Acting; LAMDA. Endless love and gratitude to this company! Instagram: @taurenlhomas LaurenJThomas.com
Ensemble
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