Popular family musical Fiddler on the Roof is a hot ticket in Cambridge
November 10, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Drayton Entertainment’s production of the nine-time Tony® Award-winning musical masterpiece, Fiddler on the Roof, is set to take the stage as the final production of the 2023 Season. The iconic musical has captured hearts of audiences around the world for over 50 years and is a hot ticket in Cambridge as well, with a number of performances already sold out. Fiddler on the Roof will be on stage at the Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge from November 29 to December 24.
Fiddler on the Roof tells the story of Tevye, a humble milkman whose life has been governed by strict traditions that will never change…until he meets his daughters’ suitors and discovers that the younger generation will create traditions of their own. Featuring an unforgettable score of classic songs like “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” “If I Were A Rich Man,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” and “Tradition,” Fiddler on the Roof has a reputation as one of the most acclaimed musicals in North American theatre history.
“I highly encourage theatregoers to get their tickets early,” says Alex Mustakas, Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment. “Fiddler on the Roof is a time-honoured favourite that is near and dear to many people’s hearts. The run is already 80% sold out, with the majority of tickets available in the final week, so families will want to book now to avoid disappointment.”
Director and Choreographer Lisa Stevens is at the helm of this blockbuster musical. Stevens recently choreographed the Drayton Entertainment production of Rock of Ages this summer, and previously directed and choreographed the 2019 production of Grease. She has also choreographed West Side Story, Sister Act, Anne of Green Gables, and Monty Python’s Spamalot for Drayton Entertainment. Elsewhere, Stevens choreographed the West End production of Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5: The Musical and the national tours of 9 to 5: The Musical, Disney’s High School Musical, and Bombay Dreams.
Joining her is Music Director Konrad Pluta, Set Designer Douglas Paraschuk, Lighting Designer Kevin Fraser, Stage Manager Paul Pembleton, Assistant Stage Managers Stephanie Bignell and Frances Johnson, and Associate Director/Choreographer Matthew Rossoff.
It takes a village to bring a production to life, and an incredible cast has been assembled to do just that.
Alex Mustakas will take on the lead role of Tevye, the lovable, hard-working patriarch. As a performer, Mustakas has appeared as Don Quixote in The Man of La Mancha, The Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance, Franklin Hart Jr. in 9 To 5: The Musical, Captain Hook in Peter Pan: The Panto, Nick in Over The River and Through The Woods, and many more. Mustakas is the founding and current Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment and has directed over 100 productions for the award-winning organization and for other theatre companies across Canada, including Rock of Ages, Monty Python's Spamalot, Rocky: The Musical, and Les Misérables.
In an un-traditional twist, world-class fiddle player Jesse Grandmont will breathe life into the character of The Fiddler, playing the famous melodies live on stage. Grandmont recently appeared in Drayton Entertainment’s Fiddler on the Loose, where he anchored the production with his incredible fiddling and breezy banter. He has also appeared in Good Ol’ Country Gospel, Canada 151: Better Late Than Sorry, and Broadway Heroes. Jesse has been playing the violin and entertaining since the age of three and last year represented Canada for seven months at Expo Dubai.
Gabrielle Jones takes on the role of Golde, Tevye’s strong-willed wife. Jones has appeared in many Drayton Entertainment productions, most recently as Carole King’s mother in this season’s Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. She has also appeared in Elf: The Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Elsewhere, Jones has appeared at the Stratford and Shaw Festivals, and in the National Tours of Mirvish’s Les Misérables and Mamma Mia!.
Stepping onto the Drayton Entertainment stage for the first time is Theresa Tova as Yente, the town matchmaker…and nosy busybody. Tova has appeared as Emma Goldman in the Broadway Tour of RAGTIME, and as Yente in the Stratford Festival’s production of Fiddler on the Roof. Tova’s play, Still the Night, won several Dora Mavor Moore Awards and was a shortlisted finalist for the Governor General's Award for English-language drama in 1999.
Neil Barclay appears as Lazar Wolf, the brawny butcher and wealthiest citizen in the town. Barclay appeared in Drayton Entertainment’s 2019 production of Twelve Angry Men, and has been part of the Shaw Festival Ensemble for over 30 years, appearing in more than 70 productions including The Importance of Being Earnest, My Fair Lady, and Peter Pan. Additionally, he has appeared in productions at the National Arts Centre, Tarragon Theatre, Canadian Stage, and more.
Kristen Peace is Fruma-Sarah, the ghost of Lazar’s wife. Peace has performed in many roles with Drayton Entertainment, most recently as the Narrator in this summer’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She has also appeared in many other Drayton Entertainment productions, including Monty Python’s Spamalot, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and Thoroughly Modern Millie. She has appeared in the hit Canadian musical Come From Away for Mirvish Productions, as well as Les Misérables and The Producers.
Colleen Furlan is Tzeitel, Tevye’s eldest daughter, who challenges the town’s traditions. New to the Drayton Entertainment stage, Furlan has appeared in many productions with Rainbow Stage, including RENT, The Wizard of Oz, Little Shop of Horrors, and Mary Poppins, and in Soulpepper’s production of Alice in Wonderland, as well as Fiddler on the Roof at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. She was a top 4 finalist in the search for Dorothy in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Wizard of Oz on CBC’s “Over the Rainbow”.
Nico Solarte is Motel, a sensitive, meek tailor who falls in love with Tzeitel. Solarte has appeared in multiple Drayton Entertainment productions this season, taking on the role of Ché in Evita, Ja’Keith in Rock of Ages, and Ritchie Valens in Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story. Elsewhere, they have appeared as Willie Lopez in Ghost: The Musical with Starvox Entertainment, Bobby Dupree in the Australian premiere of Memphis The Musical, and in Parade at the Lincoln Center in New York City.
Hadley Mustakas appears as Hodel, the second oldest daughter of Tevye. Mustakas appeared as Kaylee in this season’s dazzling production of The Prom at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse. Previously, she has appeared as Ali in Mamma Mia!, as Wendy in Peter Pan, and Jane in Mary Poppins. Elsewhere, she has performed at the Thousand Islands Playhouse and the Victoria Playhouse Petrolia.
Seth Zosky takes on the role of the outspoken, rebellious Perchik. Making his Drayton Entertainment debut, Zosky appeared in One Hit Wonders with Stage West, The Last Five Years with Blue Bridge Theatre, and in multiple productions with the Stephenville Theatre Festival.
Berkley Silverman is Chava, Tevye’s middle daughter. Silverman recently appeared in Drayton Entertainment’s production of Evita, and as Shelby in this season’s The Prom. Elsewhere, she has appeared in Soulpepper’s Innocence Lost: The Story of Steven Truscott, and the World Premiere of The Hockey Sweater at the Segal Centre. Silverman also appeared in the role of Everest on Nickelodeon’s popular kids show, Paw Patrol.
Evan Taylor Benyacar is Fyedka, a strong, young Russian soldier who challenges Tevye. Benyacar recently appeared as one of Joseph’s brothers in this season’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and in the role of Rolf in last year’s production of The Sound of Music. Elsewhere, he appeared as Frankie Valli in Stage West’s production of Jersey Boys, and in three seasons with the Charlottetown Festival.
Appearing in rotating performances are Aurora Campbell and Tevya Kurczak as Shprintze, and Quinley Kurczak and Deana Scaesteanu as Bielke, the family’s two youngest daughters. All four appeared in the youth chorus for this season’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Brad Rudy is the Constable, a Russian military official stationed near Anatevka. Nicholas Rice is the Rabbi, the spiritual leader of the town, and Aaron Walpole appears as his son, Mendel. Duff MacDonald takes on two roles, appearing as Mordcha, the innkeeper, and Grandma Tzeitel, and Sandy Winsby is Avram, the bookseller.
A brilliant ensemble of performers will take on the many roles of villagers, Russians, and dancers, including Jordan Scott Goodridge, Timothy Harder, Dani Jazzar, Lyrie Murad, Annie Ramos, Shakeil Rollock, Éamon Stocks, and Léah Zack.
Fiddler on the Roof is based on a series of short stories written by the beloved Yiddish author, playwright, and humourist Sholem Aleichem. Premiering on Broadway in 1964 with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, Fiddler on the Roof was one of the first American depictions of the vanished shtetl culture, a traditional way of life in small Eastern European Jewish villages around the turn of the 20th century. The musical was an instant success, and held the record for the longest-running Broadway musical for almost 10 years. This powerful story about hope, love, acceptance, and the strength of the human spirit won nine Tony® Awards, was adapted to a film in 1971, and has returned to the Broadways stage five times.
Fiddler on the Roof is proudly sponsored by the Region of Waterloo International Airport and Graham Mathew Chartered Professional Accountants. The Design Sponsors are Domino’s and Ayr Coach Lines. The Media Sponsors are 2Day FM, Magic 106.1, 91.5 The Beat, and Country 106.7. The Season Media Sponsor is CTV.
Regular performance tickets are $55 for adults, $34 for youth under 20 years of age. Tickets for select Discount Dates and groups of 20 or more are $45, and small groups of 10-19 are $50. HST is applicable to all ticket prices. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 519-621-8000 or toll free at 1-855-drayton (372-9866), or online at http://www.draytonentertainment.com.
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For more information please contact:
Samareh Jones, Marketing & Development Associate
samareh@draytonentertainment.com
Phone: (519) 621-5511 ext. 256