Overview
Synopsis
Based on Sholom Aleichem’s Tevye and his Daughters, Fiddler on the Roof is the beloved story of the small, tradition-steeped town of Anatevka, Russia, where Jews and Russians live in delicate balance. During the course of the show, the time honored traditions of Anatevka are both embraced and challenged by Tevye and his colorful community, as they witness his daughters, Tzeitel, Hodel and Chava, grow up and fall in love in a time of extraordinary change. Fiddler on the Roof’s Broadway premier became the longest-running Broadway musical in history, a title it maintained for almost 10 years. It is a story that captures the essential human longings for love, community, success, freedom, family, and meaning. Fiddler features such iconic songs as the beautiful “Sunrise, Sunset,” the boisterous “If I Were a Rich Man”, and the classic “Matchmaker, Matchmaker.”
Show Information
- Book
- Joseph Stein
- Music
- Jerry Bock
- Lyrics
- Sheldon Harnick
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Tevye and His Daughters
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1964
- Genres
- Dark Comedy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- 1905, anatevka, russia
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Large Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Religious Groups, Star Vehicle Male, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Late Teen, Young Adult, Child, Early Teen Characters
Context
Fiddler on the Roof is a musical based on Yiddish author Sholom Aleichem’s book of short stories, entitled Tevye and His Daughters and Other Tales. The musical was originally called Tevye, but the title was changed to Fiddler on the Roof, inspired by Marc Chagall’s painting The Fiddler. Throughout, the play employs the metaphor of the joyous fiddler delicately balancing atop a treacherous roof.
When Stein, Harnick, and Bock began collaborating on this musical, it was important that
to read the context for Fiddler on the Roof and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
The play opens in Anatevka, Russia in 1905, and Tevye the dairyman gives us an introduction to the people in his town and how they survive. Tradition, he says, provides a delicate balance, like a fiddler on the roof (“Tradition”). Each mother, father, son and daughter has their own defined place in the community. Meanwhile, at Tevye’s home, everyone is busy getting ready for the Jewish sabbath. Tevye’s five daughters are busy about the house, managed by his commanding wife, Golde. Yente,
to read the plot for Fiddler on the Roof and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
|
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
|
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Silent |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act One
- *Prologue: Tradition – Tevye and the Company
- *Matchmaker, Matchmaker – Tzeitel, Hodel and Chava
- *If I Were a Rich Man – Tevye
- Sabbath Prayer – Tevye, Golde and the Company
- *To Life – Tevye, Lazar Wolf and the Company
- Tevye's Monologue – Tevye
- *Miracle of Miracles – Motel
- *Tevye's Dream – Tevye, Golde, Grandma Tzeitel, Fruma-Sarah
- and the Company
- *Sunrise, Sunset – Tevye, Golde, Perchik, Hodel and the Company
- *The Bottle Dance – Instrumental, *Ensemble
Act Two
- Entr'acte – Orchestra
- Now I Have Everything – Perchik and Hodel
- Tevye's Rebuttal – Tevye
- Do You Love Me? – Tevye and Golde
- The Rumor/I Just Heard – Yente and villagers
- Far From the Home I Love – Hodel
- Chavaleh (Little Bird) – Tevye, *Chava, *Tzeitel, *Hodel, *Motel, *Fyedka, *Perchik
- Anatevka – The Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A ballad is a song style that tells a story through simple, lyrical verses and a steady rhythm. In theatre, ballads are often slow and emotional, allowing characters to reveal deep feelings or reflect on personal journeys. They can be used to highlight romance, longing, or moments of dramatic intensity.
The art of designing and arranging movement sequences for theatrical dance and physical storytelling.
A group of performers who function as a unit in a production rather than as individuals with leading roles.
A period of artistic flourishing, often referring to 1940s-60s Broadway or English Renaissance theatre. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
The “Golden Age Musical” refers to Broadway shows written roughly between the 1940s and 1960s, a period known for integrating songs, story, and character development. These musicals often balanced romance, comedy, and social themes with memorable melodies and large ensembles. Classics from this era continue to shape the foundation of modern musical theatre.
An “I Want Song” is a number, usually placed early in a musical, where a main character expresses their deepest desire or ambition. This song sets the character’s journey in motion and gives the audience a clear emotional stake in the story. It has become one of the most recognizable and enduring conventions of musical theatre structur
A literary device comparing two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as,' used in theatre to add symbolic meaning. Metaphors enhance subtext and deepen character understanding.
A revival is a new production of a play or musical after its original run has ended, often reimagined for a new generation of audiences. Revivals may stay faithful to the original staging or update elements like design, casting, or interpretation. They are a cornerstone of theatre tradition, keeping classic works alive and relevant.
A political upheaval often explored in theatre to critique authoritarianism and celebrate radical change.
A production created to showcase the talents of a specific star performer, often tailored to their strengths.
A High German-derived language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews, used in a unique tradition of Jewish theatre.
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