Eddie Mekka Stars In FIDDLER ON THE ROOF At John W. Engeman 5/8 & 22, 6/5 &19

The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport is pleased to close out its Third Season with the Classic Musical FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. To Life! Set in Tsarist Russia in 1905, this nostalgic favorite and enormously beloved story centers on Tevye (played by Tony Award nominee Eddie Mekka, Carmine Ragusa from Laverne & Shirley), the father of five daughters and his attempts, in a life of uncertainty and imbalance, to maintain his family and religious traditions while outside influences encroach upon their lives.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF will play the following performance schedule: Thursdays at 8:00 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

IN ADDITION, there will be matinees on the following days: Saturdays May 8 & 22, and June 5 & 19 at 3:00 p.m.

ALSO there will performances on Sundays May 2, 16 & 30 and June 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are NOW ON SALE and are $60. Tickets may be purchased by calling (631) 261-2900, by visiting www.engemantheater.com , or at the Engeman Theater Box Office at 250 Main Street, Northport. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is produced for the John W. Engeman Theater by Richard T. Dolce, the theater's Producing Artistic Director. The director is BT McNicholl who is currently represented on Broadway with BILLY ELLIOT as the resident Director and returns to the John W. Engeman Theater after directing the hit comedy RUN FOR YOUR WIFE this past January. The Associate Director is Jen Werner. The Musical Director is Mike Pettry who is a New York based composer/lyricist and musician and who recently performed in ROOMS: A ROCK ROMANCE (off-Broadway run at New World Stages) and was the Musical Director for RENT at the John W. Engeman Theater. The Casting Director is Stephen DeAngelis who has been a member of the John W. Engeman Theater since its inception and has cast all of the main stage productions as well as the ongoing Broadway Concert Series. Stephen is on staff at Grey NYC having cast over 2,200 network television and radio commercials. The Production Manager is Michael Leslie.

The Design Team includes Court Watson (Set Designer) who returns to the John W. Engeman Theater after traveling to Germany to design JEKYLL & HYDE. Court also designed LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, LEND ME A TENOR, OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY, THE FOREIGNER, and RUN FOR YOUR WIFE for the theater. Tricia Barsamian (Costume Coordinator) recently designed costumes for YANK! A NEW MUSICAL at the Gallery Players and also designs for The Dalton School and St. Ann's School in Brooklyn where she is also a Costume Studies teacher. Craig Kaufman (Sound Designer) who recently designed Perez Hilton SAVES THE WORLD. Richard Latta (Lighting Designer) whose Regional credits include ALL SHOOK UP, LES MISERABLES, and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Mark Adam Rampmeyer (Hair and Wig Designer) returns to the John W. Engeman Theater after designing numerous shows in its first two seasons. He recently completed work on WEST SIDE STORY currently on Broadway and also recently worked with Cybill Shepherd on her one woman production of CURVY WIDOW for the Post Street Theatre in San Francisco. The Production Stage Manager is CJ LaRoche.

The cast of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF features Eddie Mekka (Tevye) who gained national fame as "Carmine (The Big Ragoo) Ragusa" on the TV classic LAVERNE & SHIRLEY. Mekka began his career in the Broadway Productions of JUMPERS, THE MAGIC SHOW, and THE LIEUTENANT, earning TONY and DRAMA DESK nominations for Best Actor. His national tours include FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, GREASE, and THE GOODBYE GIRL. Eddie will be starring in the National Tour of Grease as Vince Fontaine and Teen Angel this October.

The cast also features Megan Thomas (Golde) won Best Supporting Actress at the New Hampshire Theatre Awards ('08) as Frauline Schneider in CABARET and performed Off-Broadway in MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL; Barbara Tirrell (Yente) whose Broadway/National Tour credits include FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and ANNIE; Erick Devine(Lazar Wolf) who returns to the John W. Engeman Theater after performing as Padre in MAN OF LA MANCHA, and directing MIRACLE ON 34th STREET. His Broadway credits include RAGTIME, Sid Caesar & CO., CATS, and SEUSSICAL.

The cast also includes Jodie Langel (Tzeitel) who performed on Broadway in LES MISERABLES; Kraig Swartz (Motel) who has performed regionally in numerous shows including SO HELP ME GOD! and TARTUFFE; Allison Walla (Hodel) whose Broadway credits include FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, A TALE OF TWO CITIES, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, and INTO THE WOODS, Andy Kelso (Perchik) who played Sky in MAMMA MIA on Broadway, Lilly Tobin (Chava) who has performed regionally in A CHRISTMAS CAROL, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and PIRATES OF PENZANCE, and Ben Gunderson (Fyedka) whose credits include CABARET and WEST SIDE STORY regionally.

Also Chris Brady, Joel Briel, Cara Buschi, Stephen Cerf, Andrew Eckert, Danny Gorman, Gordon Gray, Holly Greenberg, Brody Hessin, Robert Kalman, Birdie Newman Katz, Matthew Naclerio, Bruce Rebold, Shoshanna Richman, Scott Saperstein, Mark J. Scherer, and Stephen Valenti.

Rounding out the cast are Ian Buchman, Salvatore Casto, Alyssa Cavallaro, Dylan Sage Perles, Zoe Kaya Perles, Austin Pogrob, Larry Saperstein, Carly Tamer.

The John W. Engeman Theater is Long Island's only year - round professional theater company, utilizing actors from the Broadway union - Actors' Equity Association. Shows are performed year round in the heart of Northport village amidst a scene of elegant restaurants and beautiful boutiques. The newly renovated Theater offers stadium-style seating, a full orchestra pit, state of the art lighting and sound, and a classic wood-paneled piano lounge with full bar.

For more information contact the theater directly at 631-261-2900, visit the box office at 250 Main Street, Northport or visit www.EngemanTheater.com .

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