L’Chaim! To Life! Tony Award Winner Shuler Hensley Directs Season Opener Fiddler on the Roof

Wednesday, September 20th, 2023

This October, City Springs Theatre Company kicks off its highly anticipated sixth season of shows at the Byers Theatre as its Artistic Director (and Tony Award®-winner) Shuler Hensley directs the Broadway classic, Fiddler on the Roof, presented by PNC Bank.  The original 1964 Broadway production broke box office records, earning nine Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, and in 1972 became the longest-running show in Broadway history.  City Springs Theatre Company’s production will be performed October 6-22, 2023, in the Byers Theatre at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center (1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs). Following each of Fiddler on the Roof’s Saturday matinees, select members of the cast and creative team will take part in audience talkbacks. The talkback is included in the ticket purchase. 

Fiddler on the Roof stars Broadway’s Jacob Fishel in the ground-breaking role of Tevye, the milkman. Fishel appeared with Harvey Fierstein in the 2004 Broadway revival of Fiddler. Broadway and Atlanta’s own Courtenay Collins will play Yente, the matchmaker, alongside Liza Jaine as Tevye’s wife Golde, Thomas J. Cannon as Lazar Wolf, Carly Ann Lovell as Tzeitel, Brian Wittenberg as Motel, Leigh Ellen Jones as Hodel, Haden Rider as Perchik, Aliya Kraar as Chava, Roberto Méndez as Fyedka, Mila Yehya as Shprintze, Kayla Furie as Bielke, Blake Fountain as The Constable, and Brian Kurlander as The Rabbi. Also featured are Zac W. Phelps as Mordcha, Brant Adams as Mendel, Evan Hussey as Avram, Meaghan Paetkau as Grandma Tzeitel/Shaindel, Galen Crawley as Fruma-Sarah, Rob Millerick as Nachum/Yussel, Zac Pritts as Sasha, and Cameron Scofield as Rivka. The Ensemble includes Erin Fallis, Daniel Fobes, Arielle Geller, Nick Walker Jones, Hamilton Moore, Hannah Morrison, Ben Ohnemus, and Zachary Shanks

Based on the book by Joseph Stein, with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, Fiddler on the Roof won nine Tony Awards when it debuted in 1964, and has touched audiences worldwide with its humor, warmth and honesty. Set in the remote village of Anatevka, the story centers on Tevye, a poor milkman, and his five daughters. With the help of a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, Tevye tries to protect his daughters and instill in them traditional values in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia. Teaming with beloved musical hits, including “Tradition,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “If I Were A Rich Man,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” and “To Life (L’Chaim!),” Fiddler on the Roof is the heartwarming tale of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and life, love and laughter that celebrates both tradition and adapting to a world filled with change. 

The City Springs Theatre Company production will be directed by its Artistic Director and Tony Award®- winner Shuler Hensley. Most recently, Hensley appeared in the acclaimed Broadway revival of The Music Man with Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster. This year is the 25th anniversary of the filmed version of his Olivier Award®-winning performance as Judd Fry in the West End revival of Oklahoma!, which also starred Jackman. Hensley appeared in the Broadway transfer, where his performance was awarded a Tony®.

“It’s exciting to be working with a company primarily comprised of amazing local talent to bring this music theatre classic to LIFE,” said Artistic Director Shuler Hensley. “Fiddler on the Roof is an amazing story of the strength and perseverance of a Jewish community, the power of the father/ daughter relationship, and the challenges of navigating through the differences between generations brought about by long standing tradition. While its Broadway debut was almost sixty years ago, Fiddler on the Roof’s story of the importance of family, adapting to a changing world, and the value of tradition resonates with today’s audiences.” 

City Springs Theatre Company’s production will rely heavily on an original conceptual design by theatre artist Jacob Olson, who regularly presents original 3-D rendered scenic ideas and concepts via his TikTok account. Olson’s scenic design will offer audiences a colorful, new visual interpretation of the world of Fiddler, and it will be the first set that is constructed at City Springs Theatre Company’s 10,000 square foot production shop in Marietta.

“We’re thrilled to have Shuler in the director’s chair once again, sharing his considerable talents with the cast and production staff,” said CSTC’s Executive Director Natalie DeLancey. “Fiddler on the Roof is tracking to be our fastest-selling show to date, and that excitement, coupled by the exciting visual concept for the show, are helping make this a memorable kick off to our sixth season of Broadway in Sandy Springs.”

 
The creative team behind the City Springs Theatre Company’s inaugural production of the 2023-2024 season includes Shuler Hensley (Director), Marla Phelan (Choreographer), Miles Plant (Music Director), Mike Wood (Lighting Designer), Anthony Narciso (Sound Designer), and Jacob Olson (Set Designer). This production is stage managed by Shay Holihan

All performances are held at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center’s Byers Theatre at 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs.

Fiddler on the Roof is included in current subscriber season packages. Individual tickets range from $37-$145 with discounts for seniors, students, groups, and active and retired military personnel, and are on sale now. Visit www.CitySpringsTheatre.com or call 404-477-4365 for more information. Subscription packages are now available for the 2023-2024 PNC Bank Season, which includes Fiddler on the Roof, White Christmas, Disney’s Beauty & the Beast and Legally Blonde The Musical, with Jersey Boys as an add-on to the season in July/August 2024. 
 

Fiddler on the Roof Performance Schedule

Friday, Oct. 6 | 8:00pm

Saturday, Oct. 7 | 2:00pm & 8:00pm

Sunday, Oct. 8 | 8:00pm

Thursday, Oct. 12| 8:00pm

Friday, Oct. 13 | 8:00pm

Saturday, Oct. 14 | 2:00pm & 8:00pm

Sunday, Oct. 15 | 2:00pm

Thursday, Oct. 19 | 8:00pm

Friday, Oct. 20 | 8:00pm

Saturday, Oct. 21 | 2:00pm & 8:00pm

Sunday, Oct. 22 | 2:00pm

 

There are also still tickets available for the student matinees, which take place at 10 a.m. on Oct. 11, 12, 18 and 19. Prices are $5 for public schools and $3 for Title I schools.