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 narrative song or poem often used in musical theatre and opera to convey story and emotion through melody.
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.
Broadway musicals from the 1940s–60s, known for integrating plot and song, such as *Oklahoma!* and *The Sound of Music*.
A staple of musical theatre where the protagonist expresses a deep personal desire, setting the emotional tone for the narrative.
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 new production of a previously performed play or musical, often reinterpreting its themes or updating its design.
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.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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