Arena Stage Honors Sheldon Harnick and Sen. Tim Kaine at FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Opening Tonight

As part of the opening night celebration for Fiddler on the Roof, the iconic musical that has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide for the past 50 years, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will present the American Artist Award to lyricist Sheldon Harnick and the American Voice Award to Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) tonight, November 12, 2014. The evening will include a cocktail reception from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Bank of America Lower Lobby, dinner at 6:30 p.m. in the Molly Smith Study, the 8:00 p.m. opening night performance of Fiddler on the Roof in the Fichandler Stage and a post-show dessert reception in the Grand Lobby. The seated dinner will feature the presentation of the American Artist and American Voice Awards to Harnick and Senator Kaine, respectively.

The American Artist Award recognizes artists of the highest caliber, honoring their work and significant contributions to American theater. Past awardees include Kathleen Turner, Leslie Uggams, Edward Albee, James Earl Jones, Robert "Bob" Alexander, August Wilson and Arena Stage co-founder Zelda Fichandler.

The American Voice Award honors elected officials recognized for their extraordinary support of and advocacy for American arts and arts education. Past recipients include Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (D-Ohio), Senators Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Representative Norman D. Dicks (D-WA), former Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts Dana Gioia, Representative Bob Matsui (D-CA), Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and representatives Tom Davis (R-VA) and Jim Moran (D-VA).

Fiddler on the Roof is directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith and features choreography by Parker Esse and musical direction by Paul Sportelli. Tony Award nominee Jonathan Hadary makes his Arena Stage debut as Tevye in this celebration of family, community and life's unexpected miracles, large and small. The production runs October 31, 2014-January 4, 2015.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Producer Edgar Dobie, is a national center dedicated to American voices and artists. Arena Stage produces plays of all that is passionate, profound, deep and dangerous in the American spirit, and presents diverse and ground-breaking work from some of the best artists around the country. Arena Stage is committed to commissioning and developing new plays through the American Voices New Play Institute. Arena Stage impacts the lives of thousands of students annually through its work in community engagement. Now in its seventh decade, Arena Stage serves a diverse annual audience of more than 300,000. arenastage.org.

Photo Credit: Jessica Fallon Gordon