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Community Corner

Avon High School Presents "Fiddler On The Roof"

The Avon High School theatre department is presenting "Fiddler on the Roof" on May 2nd and 3rd at 7:30pm and May 4th at 2pm in the Avon High School auditorium. The performances will feature a cast of 35 students, supported by a crew of 27 students, and an orchestra of 14 students. The production is being directed by Warner Theatre's Foster Evans Reese.

"Fiddler on the Roof" takes place in 1905 in Anatevka, a fictional Jewish village in an area of Tsarist Russia. Audiences are to imagine that Anatevka is near Kiev, which is in today's Ukraine. It is also where the author of this story, Sholem Aleichem, lived during his lifetime. The musical's main character, Tevye, played by AHS's Cole Petano, struggles on the slippery slope that can exist between tradition and change, much like the image of a fiddler struggling to play his instrument up on a high slanted rooftop. In this production, the iconic fiddler will be AHS's Eric Liu.

In the beginning of the play, we meet Tevye's wife, Golde, played by Kim Mecca. We also meet his daughters -- Tzeitel, played by Kylie Whalen; Hodel, played by Stephanie Evans; Chava, played by Sarah Walters; Shprintze, played by Hannah Davies; and Bielke, played by Angelica Moquete. The production is vocal music directed by AHS's drama teacher, Jill Paterson. The girls launch into the well-known song, "Matchmaker," as they wonder which suitors the village's matchmaker might find for them to marry. The matchmaker, Yente, is played by Caitlin Culligan.

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Tevye, who is a poor milkman, fantasizes of a more glamorous existence as he sings the famous song, "If I Were A Rich Man." As the play develops, there are twists and turns in the plot as suitors are introduced and either approved or disapproved by the girls and Tevye, who is traditionally supposed to be the one to choose a husband for each daughter. Motel, the tailor, is played by Corey Rieman, and sings the upbeat "Miracle of Miracles." Perchik, a forward-thinking student, is played by Tahari Gordon and sings the celebratory "Now I Have Everything." Lazar Wolf, the butcher, is played by David Hart, and Fyedka is played by Paul Ross.

Other characters are Mordcha, played by Alex Lin; the rabbi, played by Ryan Culligan; Mendel, played by Zack Herz; Avram, played by Devon McLane; Nachum, played by Bryce Neseralla; Grandma Tzeitel, played by Erin Rinehart; Fruma-Sarah, played by Molly Ford; the constable, played by Alex Polinsky; and Shaindel, played by Caitlyn Ponzani.

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This production is supported by an outstanding ensemble comprised of Emily Cunningham, Margot Cunningham, Mackenzie Harris, Ada Kamenetskiy, Nicholas Martin, Nicole Rynne, Martina Seminara, Parker Smith, Jack Sutter, and Tatiana Yevin.

Dancers in this production, dancing with bottles balanced on their heads, are Kate Casner, Stephanie Melnyk, Pratyusha Tadepalli, and Kelsey Tyler. The production is being choreographed by Terri Schulman. Other musical highlights in AHS's production of "Fiddler on the Roof" will be the beautiful "Sabbath Prayer," the rousing "To Life," the touching "Sunrise, Sunset," "Do You Love Me?" and "Far From the Home I Love."

Accompanying the singers will be a pit orchestra led by Avon High School's strings teacher, Refik Ismail. The orchestra includes students Bryce Bottomly on guitar, Minji Chung on violin, Taylor Edgar on violin, Zach Bortoff (violin), Dev Dabke on viola, Jeffrey Lyle on cello, Cayla Murphy on cello, Michael Fischler on oboe, Emily Guersch on clarinet, Courtney Mollo on clarinet, Emily Kane on bassoon, Leezy Lavrova on keyboard, Jamie Lepito on bass, and Jessica Wert on French horn.

Production designs for AHS's show are being provided by Doreen Cohn and Ken Jones, and sets are being constructed by Ralph Torone and the student technical crew. Led by stage manager Isabella Pellino and assistant stage manager Angela Marinello, the crew includes experienced student lighting designer Olivia Messina, sound board operator Jamie McNeill, running crew chief Lizzy Wozniak, props master Carly Regalatto, and hair/make-up supervisor, Ryan Pereslugoff. Other indispensable crew members are Ruby Holt, Mike Thramann, Jen Hudak, Emily Wert, Jessica Co, Erin McLaughlin, Kelly Horrigan, Kaitlyn Howe, Meredith Banks, Sarah Leonard, Rebecca Persaud, and Grace Soucier. Steven Malley is a new member to the crew, and previous onstage performers Abi Inglis and Elizabeth Tellerine are transitioning to backstage roles for "Fiddler on the Roof." Hair and make-up consultation will be provided by the Hair Loft, and costume designer Cindy Braunlich completes an amazing production team chosen to make this production a success.

The musical is based on the stories of Sholem Aleichem by special permission of Arnold Perl. The book (script) is by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Block, and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. This musical is presented at AHS through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI) in New York.

For tickets to "Fiddler on the Roof" at Avon High School, please go to www.avon.k12.ct.us/avonhigh/theatre or email nsoucier@avon.k12.ct.us. Tickets purchased in advance are $12 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens. At the door, tickets will be $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. There is a limited priority reserved seating section, for which tickets can be purchased in advance for $20 each.

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