Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on February 21, 2022

The University of Michigans University Musical Society will present a world premiere this weekend with a concert performance of Fiddler on the Roof. It features John Williams orchestral arrangement of the 1971 film score, which is being done live for the first time.

Broadway performers Chuck Cooper and Loretta Ables Sayre star alongside U-M musical theaterstudents in the performance, and the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra will accompany the singers. Next month, the showwill travel to Philadelphia, where the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra will provide backing.

Jerry Bock and Joseph Stein wrote the music for "Fiddler," a1964 Broadway smash, andlegendary Star Wars composer Williams, who turned 90 this month, was hired to expand the musical arrangements from pit orchestra to full orchestra for the film version. However, many of the parts were lost after the film score was recorded, so Williams work never received a live performance. Hisscore was painstakingly replicated under his watch and advisement for the Ann Arbor show.

Sarna Lapine (who directed the 2017 Broadway revival of Sunday in the Park with George) serves as director for the U-M production with Alison Solomon choreographing. Music direction and conducting duties are being handled by Andy Einhorn.

The thing about 'Fiddler' when you think about it is it's a very universal story, said Einhorn. It really deals with a very, very simple theme, which is family and tradition. I think it's a truly exciting moment to be able to premiere the John Williams orchestrations. And I think that people are going to be in for a treat to hear a show that they think they know, but be asked to listen to it in a very different context. And having the orchestra onstage will allow an audience to really feel the thrum of the music.

Also, he said, we're featuring a cast that's incredibly racially diverse. And I think that's important also because the story is one of identity in one's homeland, and thats such a prescient topic right now for the world we're living in. It's happening right before our eyes, in terms of immigration, in terms of antisemitism. 'Fiddler on the Roof' could not be more timely. But it reminds us that even in times of hardship, there are small miracles.

U-M senior Ella Olesen, who plays eldest daughter Tzeitel, glowed with enthusiasm when she spoke about the production and its creative team.

Theyre brilliant, she said. I find myself writing down everything they say, every single night. Theyre fountains of wisdom, Sarna and Andy. And Chuck Cooper, who plays Tevye I was almost taken aback at how good he is at reacting to whatever Im doing. I dont have to trybecause hes giving me everything I need. Its a lot more professional than Im used to, and its wonderful. Its been a really great lesson.

Zeev Barmor, who plays Mendel, is one of three Jewish cast members in the show. Hefound a powerful connection to his spirituality during the production process.

We brought in rabbis and professors in Judaic studies to talk about American Judaism and Eastern European Judaism, as (the shows) community is situated in very specific circumstances, with very specific customs and cultures. And even though I'm Jewishand someone whose background is from this culture, it was still a learning environment where I was taking a lot away.

At first, he continued, I was nervous about it because I havent been able to share my Judaism in such a very explicit way before. Relearning and reconnecting with my own faith has been a very heartwarming and empowering experience.

Einhorn described the process of working with the cast as joyful.

For me, I love any circumstance where teaching is a part of what we do. I think as a conductor, were always teaching in some capacity because its naturally a leadership job. But theres something really spectacular about working with the students here at the University of Michigan, which is arguably one of the best musical theater programs in the country.

Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @DBFreePress.

Featuring the orchestrations of John Williams

8 p.m. Sat., 4 p.m. Sun.

Hill Auditorium, University of Michigan

825 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor

734-764-2538 or ums.org

$14 and up

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This weekend's U-M production of 'Fiddler on the Roof' will be like nothing heard before - Detroit Free Press

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