BWW Previews: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at OFF-BEAT PLAYERS

From August 2nd through 5th the Off-Beat Players will be transporting audiences to Anatevka, Russia for their production of Fiddler on the Roof! The Off-Beat Players (OBP) is a Greenwich based non-profit musical theatre company. Every summer OBP puts on a full scale musical at Greenwich's Arch Street Teen Center. Unlike other summer theatre groups, OBP specializes in integrating performers of all capabilities. Each year, young adults with and without special needs come together to create a unique and incredibly sentimental production.

Every member of the cast gets their own moment in the spotlight. OBP makes sure to highlight everyone in the cast's personal talents. One of the most remarkable people in the cast of Fiddler on the Roof is David Tovar. Tovar is 15 years old, an outstanding pianist and singer, and has retinopathy, meaning that he is blind. Tovar lost his sight at the age of 4 as a result of being born prematurely. After sitting down with Tovar, I learned that he has been singing, practicing percussion, and playing the piano since he was very young. Additionally, he gets a lot of his inspiration from comedians such as Gabriel Iglesias and George Lopez, whom he referred to as "masters of the voices." Tovar said that he wants as many people as possible to come see the show, "It's going to be a great show, I hope as many people as possible can come, oh... and Mazel Tov!"

The production crew for Fiddler of the Roof is made up of dedicated volunteers. The director for this OBP show is Michael Busani, an 18-year-old recent Greenwich High School graduate that is heading to Boston University this fall. Fiddler on the Roof is the 3rd OBP production Busani has been involved in, and Fiddler will be the first that he is directing. Those involved with the production of OBP productions often enjoy getting involved in the on stage action. The program director, Tony Morello, has been involved with OBP for the past decade and will be performing as Tevye this year. There is much fluidity between the cast and crew, creating a very fun and relaxed environment for everyone involved.

Fiddler on the Roof will perform at the Arch Street Teen Center on August 2nd through 5th at 7:30pm. Tickets can be purchased through the Off-Beat Players website or at the door.

http://www.offbeatplayers.org/

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