FIDDLER ON THE ROOF W/ Chaim Topol As Tevye Plays 2/24-3/1

Fiddler on the Roof, the poignant Tony Award-winning musical starring Chaim Topol as Tevye in his farewell performance of the role he made famous, will play Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre Tuesday through Sunday Feb. 24-March 1, 2009. In this new national tour, Twin Cities audiences will have a rare opportunity to see Jerome Robbins' original Broadway direction and choreography, complete with Topol, the star of the original West End production and 1971 film. Individual tickets are on sale now. Fiddler on the Roof is presented by Hennepin Theatre Trust as part of its 2008-09 M&I Bank Broadway Across America-Minneapolis season.

Visit www.HennepinTheatreDistrict.org or call 1-800-982-2787 to purchase tickets or for more information.

In 1965, Jerome Robbins won dual Tony Awards for his direction and choreography of Fiddler on the Roof. In this national tour, both are recreated by director Sammy Dallas Bayes, choreographer of the Broadway revival. The original Broadway production also won seven other Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Composer and Best Author. While enlisted in the Israeli Army, Topol, from Tel Aviv, won the 1972 Golden Globe for his performance in "Fiddler on the Roof." Topol and "Fiddler on the Roof" were also nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor and Best Picture respectively. In 1983, Topol reprised the role of Tevye in a London revival and in 1990 he again played the part in a Broadway revival, and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical.

A perennial hit since it opened in 1964, Fiddler on the Roof has enjoyed critical acclaim for bringing to the stage a moving story about the enduring bonds of family. Based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem, it tells the tale of Tevye, the father of five daughters, struggling in his attempts to maintain tradition while outside influences encroach upon their lives. Tevye's wrestling with the new customs of a younger generation is punctuated by an unforgettable score that weaves the haunting strains of "Sunrise, Sunset" and the rousing "If I Were A Rich Man" with the exuberant "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" and triumphant "Tradition."

When his daughters choose suitors who defy his idea of a proper match, Tevye comes to realize, through a series of incidents that are at once comic and bittersweet, that his children will begin traditions of their own. At the story's close, the villagers of Anatevka are forced to leave their homes and even the sturdy mores that have guided everyday life begin to crumble. Paradoxically, it is the enforced loss of the rigid traditions and home life that Tevye has tried so tenaciously to preserve that leads the family to reconcile and draw closer still.

Individual tickets for Fiddler on the Roof are on sale now and range in price from $26-76, subject to change. Tickets may be purchased in person at the State Theatre Box Office (805 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, 55402), online at HennepinTheatreDistrict.org or through Ticketmaster by calling 1-800-982-2787 or visiting a Ticketmaster Ticket Center. All prices include applicable facility fees and depend on performance time and seating preference. Additional charges may apply.
Performance dates for Fiddler on the Roof are Tuesday through Sunday Feb. 24-March 1, 2009 at the Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Mpls, 55403.
Show times are:

Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sunday, March 1 at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Groups of 15 or more are eligible for discounts and should call 612-373-5665 for information and reservations.

HENNEPIN THEATRE TRUST, owner of the historic State, Orpheum and Pantages Theatres, is a non-profit organization devoted to enriching the vibrant cultural atmosphere of the Twin Cities. The Trust's programs include Broadway touring productions, the National Geographic Live Speaker's Series, the Literary Legends Writer's Series, the SpotLight Musical Theatre Program for high schools, Critical View student reviewer program, the Ticket Access Program and Kids Night.

Broadway Across America Owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman), Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, family productions and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities. Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway, across America and throughout the world. Broadway Across America most recently produced Irving Berlin's White Christmas on Broadway, while current and upcoming productions include West Side Story, Blithe Spirit, Minsky's and the DeafWest production of Pippin. Broadway tours include Dora the Explorer, Frost/Nixon, Spamalot, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Fiddler on the Roof. For more information or to purchase tickets through an authorized agent go to BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.