FIDDLER ON THE ROOF's Sheldon Harnick Appears on THIRTEEN's 'MetroFocus' Tonight

The award-winning series MetroFocus premieres new episodes in the New York and tri-state region weeknights at 5 p.m. on WLIW21, 5:30 p.m. on NJTV and 6 p.m. on THIRTEEN. All episodes are available at metrofocus.org following the broadcast.

On tonight's (December 4th) episode airing at 5 p.m. on WLIW21, 5:30 on NJTV and 6 p.m. on THIRTEEN, 50 years after its premiere, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF returns to Broadway for its fifth revival. MetroFocus talks to the original lyricist Sheldon Harnick about the show's lasting impact.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, the celebrated musical, is currently in previews and will open on Sunday, December 20, 2015, at The Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway).

The cast features five-time Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk & Outer Critics Circle Award winner Danny Burstein (Cabaret, Golden Boy, Follies, South Pacific) who will step into the iconic role of Tevye, Tony nomineeJessica Hecht (A View From the Bridge, "Breaking Bad," The Last Night of Ballyhoo) as Golde, Jenny Rose Baker(Annie Get Your Gun) as Shprintze, Michael C. Bernardi as Mordcha, Adam Dannheisser (Rock of Ages, The Coast of Utopia) as Lazar Wolf, Hayley Feinstein (Shrek The Musical, National Tour) as Bielke, Mitch Greenberg (It Shoulda Been You) as Yussel and the Beggar, Adam Grupper (The Addams Family) as the Rabbi, Adam Kantor (The Last Five Years, Next to Normal, Rent) as Motel, Karl Kenzler (You Can't Take It With You, Mary Poppins) as the Constable, Alix Korey (All Shook Up, Chicago) as Yente, Jesse Kovarsky as The Fiddler, Samantha Massell (La Boheme) as Hodel, Melanie Moore (Finding Neverland, "So You Think You Can Dance") as Chava, George Psomas(South Pacific) as Avram, Ben Rappaport ("Mr. Robot," Picnic) as Perchik, Nick Rehberger (The Glass Menagerie) as Fyedka, Jeffrey Schecter (A Chorus Line, Nice Work if You Can Get It) as Mendel, Alexandra Silber (Master Class) as Tzeitel, Jessica Vosk (The Bridges of Madison County) as Fruma-Sarah, Lori Wilner (The Assembled Parties) as Grandma Tzeitel, Aaron Young as Sasha, and Jennifer Zetlan (Metropolitan Opera) as Shaindel. The ensemble features Julie Benko, Eric Bourne, Stephen Carrasco (Kinky Boots), Eric Chambliss, Austin Goodwin, Jacob Guzman(Newsies), Reed Luplau, Brandt Martinez (Aladdin), Matt Moisey, Sarah Parker, Marla Phelan (Sleep No More), Tess Primack, Silvia Vrskova, and Jonathan Royse Windham.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher, who most recently helmed the 2015 Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of The King and I. Sher has directed Burstein on Broadway in the revivals of GOLDEN BOY and South Pacific, as well as in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. It is choreographed by Hofesh Shechter, inspired by the original choreography of Jerome Robbins, and the music director is Ted Sperling (The King and I, South Pacific). FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is produced by Jeffrey Richards, Jam Theatricals, Louise Gund andJerry Frankel.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF has book by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. The original Broadway production of the show, which opened in 1964, was the first musical in history to surpass 3,000 performances. The show won the 1965 Tony Award for Best Musical in addition to eight other TONY AWARDS that year.

The design team includes scenic design by Michael Yeargan (Tony Award nominee, The King and I), costume design by Catherine Zuber (Tony Award winner, The King and I), and lighting design by Donald Holder (Tony Award nominee, The King and I). Fiddler on the Roof will be their 5th Broadway production working with Sher, after South Pacific, Golden Boy, The Bridges of Madison County, and The King and I. Sound design is by Scott Lehrer (A Delicate Balance, South Pacific). Casting is by Telsey + Co./Abbie Brady Dalton.

Rediscover the joy as a Broadway tradition returns: Fiddler on the Roof. Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher and the team behind South Pacific and The King and I bring a fresh and authentic vision to this beloved theatrical masterpiece from Tony winner Joseph Stein and Pulitzer Prize winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. The original production won ten TONY AWARDS including a special Tony for becoming the longest-running Broadway musical of all time -- and now you can be there when the sun rises on this new production starring Tony nominees Danny Burstein and Jessica Hecht with stunning movement and dance from acclaimed Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter based on the original staging by Jerome Robbins. A wonderful cast and a lavish orchestra tell this heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and the timeless traditions that define faith and family. Featuring the Broadway classics "To Life (L'Chaim!)," "If I Were A Rich Man," "Sunrise Sunset," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," and "Tradition,"Fiddler on the Roof will introduce a new generation to this uplifting celebration that raises its cup to joy! To love! To life!

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos

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