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Joel Grey's Yiddish FIDDLER ON THE ROOF To Get Cast Recording

By: Nov. 28, 2018
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The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene's Off-Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, directed by Academy and Tony Award winner Joel Grey, will be releasing a cast album. The cast recording, released by Time Life Music and distributed byWarner Music Group, will be available in 2019, with an official date to be announced before the show transfers to Off-Broadway's Stage 42 in February.

The Yiddish language Fiddler on the Roof has received unprecedented critical acclaim-including landing a place as a New York Times' Critic's Pick and earning rave reviews from The Wall Street Journal, Time Out New York, The New Yorker and New York Post-since it debuted this summer. The cast recording is being produced by seven-time Grammy Award-nominee Robert Sher, co-produced by Dan Moses Schreier, and Executive Produced byDavid Garfinkle and NYTF CEO Christopher Massimine, with orchestrations by Larry Blank.

"Fiddler on the Roof was the first Broadway production I saw as a child," says Robert Sher. "It is a great opportunity and honor for me to create a unique listening experience for audiences worldwide. I'm trying to create an album that stands out from all previous recordings."

"Having been a part of cast albums as an actor since 1966 (Cabaret, George M!, The Grand Tour, Goodtime Charley, Chicago, Wicked, Anything Goes), I've had the privilege of preserving these stories and it was never less than a memorable experience," Joel Grey says. "Fiddler, however, is my first cast album as the director. Needless to say, I'm a longtime fan of the original production and it was a joy to create this new version in Yiddish. With this superb company of actors, perhaps we might be creating an event for the ages."

The production has been extended four times to December 30 and will transfer uptown to Off-Broadway's Stage 42 (422 West 42nd Street); previews begin February 11 with the official opening on February 21.

Based on the Tevye the Dairyman vignettes by Sholem Aleichem, the Yiddish language Fiddler on the Roof was translated by Shraga Friedman. Theoriginal New York, Tony Award-winning stage production was directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, with book by Joseph Stein, music byJerry Bock and lyrics and Sheldon Harnick. Original producer Harold Prince and Harnick consulted on this production.

"Fiddler on the Roof is such an icon of American musical theater, and to bring it to life in Yiddish through this exceptional cast and creative team, and under Joel Grey's direction, has been a real joy," says Zalmen Mlotek, Artistic Director at NYTF and Music Director of Fiddler on the Roof. NYTF Chief Executive Officer Christopher Massimine adds, "The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene is committed to creating a living legacy through the arts. We can think of no better way to promote and bridge the universality of the Yiddish language than by recording this beautiful, authentic production."

The cast recording includes many of the original cast members and features bonus tracks cut from the 1964 production of Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway. In addition to Grey, Massimine, and Mlotek, Fiddler's creative team features choreography and musical staging by Sta? Kmie?, casting by Jamibeth Margolis, CSA, set design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Ann Hould-Ward, sound design by Dan Moses Schreier, lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski, wig and hair design by Tom Watson, and props by Addison Heeren.

Appearing on the recording, and playing the iconic roles of Yente, Tevye, and Golde are, respectively, comedian and Emmy Award nominee Jackie Hoffman (Charlie And the Chocolate Factory, The Addams Family, Hairspray, Xanadu), and Broadway veterans Steven Skybell (Fiddler on the Roof, Wicked, The Full Monty), and Jennifer Babiak (Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, Grease, Evita).

Current cast also on the recording are: Joanne Borts (Sheyndl); Doug Chitel (Ensemble); Michael Einav (Ensemble); Jessica Rose Futran (Ensemble); Kirk Geritano (Avrom); John Giesige (Ensemble); Lydia Gladstone (Ensemble); Abby Goldfarb (Ensemble); Stephanie Lynne Mason (Hodl); Maya Jacobson (Ensemble); Cameron Johnson (Fyedke); Josh Kohane (Ensemble); Ben Liebert (Motl); Moshe Lobel (Ensemble);Rosie Jo Neddy (Khave); Raquel Nobile (Shprintze); Jonathan Quigley (Ensemble); Nick Raynor (Ensemble); Bruce Sabath (Leyzer-Wolf); Drew Seigla (Pertshik); Adam B. Shapiro (Der Rov (Rabbi)); Jodi Snyder (Frume-Sore); James Monroe Števko (Mendl); Lauren Jeanne Thomas (Der Fiddler); Bobby Underwood (Der Gradavoy (Constable)); and, Rachel Zatcoff (Tzeitel). Previous cast participating are: Kayleen Seidl (Ensemble);Michael Yashinsky (Mordkhe/Nokhum); Evan Mayer (Sasha); Lisa Fishman (Bobe Tsaytl); Grant Richards (Ensemble); and, Samantha Hahn(Beylke).




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