Virginian-Pilot Review: Traditional ‘Fiddler’ on the right roof: Virginia Stage Company nails season opener

By Page Laws

Note: This review was written and submitted before the start of the recent Israel-Hamas war.

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As Tevye the dairyman notes, it is really risky to play the fiddle while perched atop a roof. The title of the great American musical in which he’s the star alludes to Marc Chagall’s painting and the fact that Jews have long had to conduct their religious life and culture under conditions as precarious and nomadic as any people on Earth have had to bear.

So why play fiddle up there, in constant danger of a deadly fall?

Tevye — masterfully performed by John Payonk in Virginia Stage Company’s “Fiddler on the Roof” — answers that with the show’s rousing first number: “Tradition.”

Jewish life has long been balanced between millennia-old religious beliefs and customs that unite the people and the need to grow and change — accepting women, for instance, as fully formed human beings, capable of making their own decisions about, say, marriage partners. Sorry, Yente (the frustrated matchmaker, played by Jacqueline Jones)! Women have rights, too!

So, precarity/change is the theme, and this show’s Tevye is a dream.

Payonk has a booming baritone coupled with operatic finesse and resonance rich enough to raise the roof of Norfolk’s Wells Theatre, especially as stoked by the brand-new sound system (new seats, too). He also has the comic timing of his best Borscht Belt predecessors — a must for carrying on his soliloquies with God and impromptu mangled citations from “The Good Book.” He’s a man blessed and cursed in having five daughters (cursed in that he has no dowry funds to marry them off). But more on his family and supporting cast later.

The pandemic has made times precarious for theater, but it’s not that risky for the VSC to have chosen what some may consider a chestnut of theater repertory. Especially with the show being generously backed by the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and the Simon Family Jewish Community Center. This first-time producing partnership has also provided top-notch, pre-show lectures by Rabbi Michael Panitz of Temple Israel along with a showing of the film “Fiddler: Miracles of Miracles,” which documents the show’s provenance and even features an interview with this production’s director, Gary John La Rosa — a friend of “Fiddler” lyricist Sheldon Harnick, who died in June. Here La Rosa duplicates the original choreography of Jerome Robbins, with some success. (He has even directed Chaim Topol — the famous Tevye of Norman Jewison’s 1971 film and many subsequent stage incarnations — in a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Broadway version.)

The original source of “Fiddler” is a considerably darker collection of short stories, written about 1894 and later, about Tevye the milkman by Yiddish writer Sholem Aleichem. They’re set around 1905 during pogroms in czarist Russia. In 1906 he fled Ukraine — then a region of Russia called the Pale of Settlement, in which Jews were allowed to live — and eventually settled in New York. (As for his name, it’s a pen name, the greeting “Peace be with you”; he was born Solomon Naumovich Rabinovich.)

Some, including Panitz, have called the musical ”Sholem Aleichem Lite,” referring to its assimilationism and relatively benign conclusion: quiet reconciliation between Tevye and his daughter Chava (Amelia Burkley) who has married outside the faith. This is prompted, of course, by the forced scattering of the entire community of the shtetl Anatevka. Panitz’s overall evaluation of the show is, however, far more measured, especially in his scholarly article “Fiddler on a New Roof,” inspired in part by the 2018 Yiddish-language staging with Joel Grey: “Fidler afn Dakh,” which Panitz calls “more frankly ‘Jewish’” in tone.

Most critics agree that “Fiddler” is a canonical, great American musical that belongs in the worldwide repertory. So it’s really a matter of how good a Tevye and supporting cast can be assembled.

In this case, Payonk nails Tevye, and his supporting cast supports him, using the mix upon which many regional theaters rely — namely, imported Actors Equity members (five here), most often for the leads, and more local community actors for the ranks. Tevye’s special imaginary friend, the Fiddler, is played, for example, by Velkassem Agguini, a violinist at the Governor’s School for the Arts, who does some of his own fiddling for the whirling, cavorting, nonspeaking role. Golde, Tevye’s not-so-long-suffering wife, is Eva DeVirgilis. She maintains her kosher home with panache, modeling the proper wife and mother for all she’s worth. Tzeitel (Ally Dods), the eldest daughter, has inherited her mother’s gumption and her father’s almost Socratic nature.

Tzeitel rejects the matchmaker’s choice of Lazar Wolf (Scott Wichmann), the wealthy (by village standards) butcher who’s none too pleased by it. Tzeitel chooses, instead, Motel the tailor (Greg Dragas), dirt poor but rock solid in a crisis. Daughter No. 2, Hodel (Mia Bergstrom), is the family intellectual who chooses another thinker to wed. He’s Perchik, the student revolutionary, well rendered by Nathan Matthew Jacques. It is he who helps the hidebound citizens of Anatevka begin to see that change is coming, and fast. The third daughter, Chava (Burkley), breaks even more definitively with her family and people when she chooses to love a Russian gentile named Fyedka (Timothy Wright).

Other familiar local actors — Matt Friedman as Mordcha the innkeeper, John K. Cauthen as the rabbi, Scott Rollins as the constable — plus a lively handful of child actors (Gavin and Jasper Gayer, Ellie Madelyn Ruffing and Stormie Treviño) round out some of the large cast.

The set and costumes, while solid, look very much like the dozens of touring versions constantly moving across stages worldwide. There are wigs and male facial hair galore, most seemingly in accordance with Jewish custom of the time but some that looked (intentionally?) comical.

Though not directly emphasized in this production, it pays to remember that real Anatevkas in Ukraine may be suffering bombardment as we watch this show or read this newspaper account. Awareness of “Fiddler’s” relevance to the war in Ukraine seems to have somewhat diminished since the last touring production I saw, at the Ferguson in Newport News in March 2022; the cast dedicated it to the people of Ukraine.

But this should not detract from the accomplishment of the two Jewish organizations and Virginia Stage Company in putting on a fine “Fiddler,” starring an admirable Tevye. For that accomplishment in still-precarious times, they deserve a heartfelt ”Mazel tov!”

Fiddler on the Roof | Cast & Creatives

Produced in partnership with The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and Simon Family JCC

VELKASSEM AGGUINI

(THE FIDDLER) is a violinist currently living in Norfolk, Virginia. He is Kabyle Algerian and will be attending his senior year at the Governor’s School for the Arts this fall.

MIA BERGSTROM

(HODEL) is thrilled and grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to the tradition of this rich and beautiful show and community. Regional: Escape to Margaritaville (Ogunquit Playhouse), Sister Act (Sister Mary Robert, John W. Engeman Theatre & Virginia Musical Theatre), Legally Blonde (Vivienne, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina), The Music Man (Marian, Woodstock Playhouse), James Joyce’s The Dead (Gretta, Hangar Theatre). BFA from New York University Tisch School of the Arts New Studio on Broadway. Many thanks to her friends, family, and Henry for their endless support. @miagbergstrom 

AMELIA BURKLEY

(CHAVA) is thrilled to be performing as Chava in Virginia Stage Company’s Fiddler on the Roof! As an avid bookworm and self-proclaimed musical theater nerd, this has always been a dream role for her and she is so excited to bring this wonderfully nerdy and rebellious character to life on stage. This is Amelia’s third time performing with Virginia Stage Company, having previously performed in The Secret Garden (chorus) and The Tempest (Magical Creature). She graduated from Christopher Newport University with a BA in Theater (concentrating in Music/Dance), where she performed in Die Fledermaus (maid), Gianni Schicchi (Lauretta), The Pirates of Penzance (Isabel and understudy for Mabel), and The 25h Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre). Most recently, she performed as Mary/understudy for Crissy in Hair! with the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival, for which she was awarded the Broadway World Regional Award for Best Ensemble alongside her fellow cast members, and as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors. She hopes you may fall in love with this beautiful, classic musical and little Chavaleh just as she did!

JOHN K. CAUTHEN JR. 

(THE RABBI) is honored to return to VSC for Fiddler on the Roof.  Previous VSC appearances include: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, A Murder at Fernly Hall (online), The Great Christmas Carol Escape (online), Our Town, Pride and Prejudice, The Parchman Hour: Songs and Stories of the ‘61 Freedom Riders, All My Sons, and a Moon for the Misbegotten.  Now a Williamsburg resident, John taught high school English for 18 years in Virginia Beach.

CLARA COLEMAN

(BLUMA) is a junior at Cox High School and training at The Governor’s School for the Arts: Theatre and Film department. This is her Virginia Stage Company debut! Recent stage credits include Les Miserables (Cosette), The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberly (Lydia Wickham), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Mote), and The 39 Steps. Recent film credits include several student films. Endless gratitude to my family, my friends, and my parents for their constant support and encouragement.

EVA DEVIRGILIS*

(GOLDE) Is ecstatic to be making her Virginia Stage Company debut alongside such an extraordinary cast, director and crew. Credits Include: The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, Fiddler on the Roof (with Eddie Mekka) , Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding (Philadelphia Cast) , Tartuffe, Last of the Red Hot Lovers (Virginia Repertory Theatre) Urinetown, Footloose, Big, Rocky Horror, George M! (Bucks County Playhouse) and the world premieres of Sam & Carol, The End of War, and Hypocrites & Strippers (Richmond Triangle Players) Her one-woman-show In My Chair (VAREP/Cadence Theater) was named as “BroadwayWorlds Best.” The show has been featured on PBS and was awarded the RTTC award Best Original Work. She continues to perform the show throughout the country. An advocate for women and girls globally her TEDx talk on self-acceptance, In My Chair: A Makeup Artist’s Perspective on Beauty was featured on Upworthy and is one of the most watched talks in TEDxRVA history. TV/film credits include: Law & Order; Criminal Intent, Turn:Washington’s Spies and you can currently catch her in commercials for Audi & Mastercard. Named a 2023 Pipeline Fellow Eva is currently writing her next show under the mentorship of Pulitzer-Prize & Tony award-winning playwright, David Lindsay-Abaire (Kimberly Akimbo[3] ) She is a proud military spouse and serves as the Ombudsman for the Navy Reserve Forces Command. To learn all about Eva visit: evadevirgilis.com or follow her on all platforms @evadevirgilis

GIOVANNI DIGABRIELE*

(HERSHEL/SASHA/ASST. CHOREOGRAPHER) NYC: Broadway Bares. Broadway National Tour: Cats (Skimbleshanks), A Bronx Tale (Handsome Nick), A Chorus Line (Al), R+H’s Cinderella. Regional: Goodspeed Opera House, WST, MSMT, Fulton. Endless gratitude to his family, friends, Gary John, and his mentors.

GAVIN GAYER

(CHEDER BOY #1) is a 3rd grader at Academy for Discovery at Lakewood in Norfolk, and this is his first appearance on stage at VSC. When he is not collecting and trading all things Pokemon, you can find him on the soccer field with the YMCA. He loves singing, drumming, listening to 1980's metal bands, swimming, sushi, and cuddling his pomeranian puppy Flynn. He'd like to thank his mom, dad, and family for all their love and support!

JASPER GAYER

(CHEDER BOY #2) is a 6th grader at Academy for Discovery at Lakewood in Norfolk, and this is his second time on stage at VSC. The first, as a grasshopper at 2019 VSC Summer Theatre Camp. He also performed with the 5th grade Chorus at W.H. Taylor Elementary and at Push Comedy Theater. Jasper loves technology, videography, and photography. In his spare time he enjoys putting together Legos, playing the piano, electric scooter rides, scuba diving, sushi, traveling, and cuddling his pomeranian puppy Flynn. He'd like to thank his mom, dad, and family for all their love and support!
 

ALLY DODS, Pronouns: she/her/hers

(TZEITEL) (she/her) is honored to be making her Virginia Stage Company debut in one of her all time favorite shows. Some previous credits include: Riverside Center: Meet Me In St. Louis (Esther), Joseph and the… Dreamcoat, Camelot, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?; Virginia Repertory Theatre: Fiddler on the Roof  (Chava); American Pops Orchestra: APO Jukebox, NextGen- Finding the Voices of Tomorrow (Finalist); and numerous productions at theme parks including Kings Dominion and Idlewild with RWS Entertainment Group. She is a Richmond, VA based actor and a proud graduate of James Madison University where she received her degree in Musical Theatre. She is thankful for the love and support of her family and John! Allydods.com

GREG DRAGAS

(MOTEL) is pleased to be working with Virginia Stage Company as part of the team bringing this production to the stage. Born in Norfolk, VA, Greg has spent most of his professional career as an educator in Virginia Beach. He has been active on local stages for many years and holds degrees from The College of William & Mary and Wake Forest University. Greg is currently part of VSC's touring production of Every Brilliant Thing , performing at a number of venues around Hampton Roads and beyond. Other recent credits include The Tempest  (Sebastian) with Tidewater Community College’s Shakespeare in the Grove, Ken Ludwig’s Baskerville (Sherlock Holmes) with The Little Theatre of Virginia Beach, and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow with CORE Theatre Ensemble.

MATT FRIEDMAN

(MORDCHA) has directed several plays including Hand to God, Enron, and Endpapers, co-written the Z Fringe Fest play Her Horror, and played roles ranging from John Adams to Mercutio to Seymour Krelbourn. He was most recently seen locally as Ed Boone in Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. He is a filmmaker, screenwriter, and composer, and in 2012 helped launch the film program next door at Governor's School for the Arts, where he still teaches. He also teaches screenwriting at Muse Writer's Center, cooks a lot, and is the proud parent of a traveling French piggy named Jam-Jam (follow him @filmtraveler #piggyjamjam), a sick but happy dog, and two cuddly cats. He briefly tasted notoriety as a co-creator of the "Man's Best Friend" Superbowl commercial in 2012, and today spends much of his spare time volunteering as a victim's advocate for YWCA, helping domestic violence & sexual assault survivors. While you're supporting VSC's important artistic mission, also consider supporting YW's mission of eliminating racism & empowering women. He performs tonight in memory of the funniest Jewish gentleman he's ever known, his dear departed uncle Archie.

ALEC GILLAM

(NACHUM, A BEGGAR) This is Alec's first production with the VSC, and he's thrilled to be making his Wells Theatre debut. Blink and you might miss him, but that's not important. Originally from New York, Alec has lived in Virginia Beach since 2004, except from 2019-2020 when he lived in Los Angeles. While there he received critical acclaim as an extra doing a lot of walking on camera for 12 hours a day. Anyway, enough about him. When's this show gonna start?

NATHAN MATTHEW JACQUES

(PERCHIK) is honored to make his debut at Virginia Stage Company with Fiddler on the Roof. Nathan is a Norfolk native with a degree in Communications from ODU. His recent regional theatre credits include the Storyteller in The Wreck of the Dictator  through GVI Productions and Roger Strong in Catch Me If You Can with Virginia Musical Theatre. Other credits include School of Rock at VMT (Ned Schneebly), The Full Monty at VMT (Dave Bukatinsky), and numerous appearances as a featured vocalist in offerings at the Zeider’s American Dream Theater (Grotesquerie Lake, Green Fields of Americay, Freedom Song). Nathan would like to thank his family, friends, girlfriend, and pets for their never-ending love and support.

JACQUELINE JONES, PRONOUS: SHE/HER/HERS

(YENTE), specializes in solo portrayals like Ann Richards (Ann, Firehouse Theatre), Golda Meir (Golda's Balcony, TheatreLAB; Jewish Family Theatre), Jocelyn (Sedaris's Season's Greetings, Richmond Triangle Players), Barbara Ellen ("Crafty"/The New Century, RTP), Mrs. Sorken (Durang’s Mrs. Sorken, K Dance), and the Spirit of Madame Blavatskaya (Hotel Greene, RVA). Last year, Jackie appeared as Jeannette (The Full Monty, Virginia Musical Theatre, VAB), Clara (Miracle On South Division Street, Swift Creek Mill Theatre, Colonial Heights, VA), Death (Everybody, Cadence Theatre, RVA), Clairee (Steel Magnolias, Emerald Coast Theatre Company, Destin, FL), Jeri Neal (Sweet Delilah Swim Club, SCMT), and Pig (Little Red Hen, SCMT, oink!). Pet projects include originating roles in Hugs and Kisses (VA Rep), helping prevent child sexual abuse, Songs From Bedlam (VA Rep), giving voice to the mentally ill, and Birth (FT), painting a portrait of childbirth in the USA. Jackie sparkled as Maylene (opposite Rainn Wilson, Permanent), the "sockdologizing old man-trap" (The Day Lincoln Was Shot, TNT), artist Helen Frankenthaler (Virginia Museum of Fine Arts), and Confederate Jewish spy, Eugenia Phillips (Smithsonian Institute). She broke hearts as a woman with dementia (Hello, Mother; Hello, Daughter) and hawked Virginia Lottery wares as spokesperson, Marge Cranberry. Inspired by Covid-19 lockdowns, a video series of Virginia Repertory Theatre Bedtime Stories, adapted and performed by Jackie, have been a hit with young and old. The award-winning actor mentors (Richmond Jewish Coalition for Literacy), role-plays (Virginia Department of Criminal Justice; Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine; Justice 3D; Federal Crisis/Hostage Negotiation), and volunteers (all over). Jacquelinejones.net

LAUREN KENT

(FRUMA-SARA/RIVKA/”RUMOR SOLOIST”) is delighted to revisit Anatevka and this beautiful story for the third time! Previous credits include A Christmas Story (National Tour and Regional Productions) Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde (Mason Street Warehouse), Into the Woords, Rent, The Wild Party, and The Addams Family. BFA Otterbein University. Thank you to the incredible cast, crew, and creative team. For my family, always. @laurentakenta9 www.laurenkent.net

MARYANNE KILEY

(GRANDMA TZEITEL/ANYA) fell in love with musical theater at the Tidewater Dinner Theatre’s 1987 production of Fiddler on the Roof. Now, she is a therapist and executive coach by day, and a theater geek by night, with recent performances as Bert in Mary Poppins (Cape Charles), Cabaret (Virginia Wesleyan), Pippin (Little Theater of Norfolk) and The Music Man (Cape Charles). Maryanne will direct Paula Vogel’s Pulizer-winning play Indecent at the Generic Theatre in May 2024. She would like to thank her partner Mel for their unwavering support. She dedicates this performance to the memory of her great grandparents and all those around the world who had to leave their Anatevkas behind.

MITCHELL MAGUIRE

(CHAIM/YURI) a recent Musical Theatre graduate of Coastal Carolina University and a Chesapeake local is extremely excited to return to VSC for their production of Fiddler on The Roof. The last time he performed at the Well’s Theatre he portrayed Sergei, the intimidating Russian mob boss, as well as was a member of the ensemble in VSC’s production of Matilda. Mitchell is also a soloist for the Ardent Dance Company based in Chicago. Mitchell would like to thank Gary John, the creative team, and VSC for giving him the opportunity to help tell this cherished and important story.

TARA R. MOSCOPULOS

(SHAINDEL)  is a Norfolk native making her professional theatre debut here with Virginia Stage.  Recent local appearances include Chess; The Musical (Svetlana), Macbeth (Lady Macbeth), and Blood Brothers (The Narrator) at Generic Theater and Holidivas at Zeider's American Dream Theater. In addition to her creative work, Tara also serves proudly as VSC's Finance Manager. SHe would like to extend her deepest gratitude to the cast and creatives, the staff at VSC, and her beautiful family.

EVAN NORRIS

(AVRAM) a 27-year-old Air Force Veteran, is a senior in Music Performance at Regent University. His past performance experience is with Suffolk Players Community Theatre and Tidewater Opera Initiative. He’s excited to start his first season with VSC.

JOHN PAYONK*

(TEVYE) Critically acclaimed baritone and actor John Payonk has appeared in over 100 roles in opera, operetta, musical theater and theater throughout the U.S and abroad during his four decades on the stage. John has sung such varied roles as Germont in La Traviata, Scarpia in Tosca, Tonio & Canio in I Pagliacci, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, Bartolo in The Barber of Seville, Frank in Die Fledermaus, Tevye & Lazar Wolf in Fiddler on The Roof, Tony in The Most Happy Fella, Mayor Dobbs in Bright Star, Old  Deuteronomy in Cats, Captain E.J. Smith in Titanic, Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, Carriere in Phantom, Kris Kringle in Miracle On 34 th Street, Mr Potter in It’s A Wonderful Life, Maurice in Beauty & The Beast and the title roles in Rigoletto, Don Pasquale, Gianni Schicci and Falstaff. John’s performances have been enjoyed from the stages of The Goodspeed Opera House, The Hall of Composers in St. Petersburg, Russia with the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Light Opera Works, Chicago Opera Theater, Pamiro Opera, Fargo-Morehead Civic Opera, L’Opera Piccola, Chamber Opera Chicago, Lyric Opera Cleveland, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Great Lakes Theater Festival, Virginia Musical Theater, Cincinnati’s Playhouse in the Park, Circa ’21 Dinne Playhouse, Theater at The Center, Derby Dinner Playhouse, Carousel Dinner Theater and many others.

NICK RICHARDSON

(MENDEL) is happy to make his VSC debut! A Virginia Beach native, Nick has performed with multiple companies in Hampton Roads, including Virginia Opera, Virginia Arts Festival, Virginia Musical Theatre, Zeiders American Dream Theater, and Little Theatre of Virginia Beach. He will join Virginia Opera again next year in the choruses of Sanctuary Road and Madama Butterfly. When not working in a theater, Nick is a substitute teacher in Virginia Beach City Public Schools. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theatre, both from Florida State University. He thanks his family, friends, and teachers for their support and patience. www.RichardsonNick.com

SCOTT ROLLINS

(THE CONSTABLE) is marking a theatrical milestone with his appearance in VSC's Fiddler - this is his 150th stage production since he first played Jonathan Harker in his high school's take on Count Dracula way back in 1981. Fiddler  also represents another career highlight for Scott - it's his 10th show with Virginia Stage Company, having previously appeared in A Streetcar Named Desire, The Elephant Man, Hamlet, A Line in the Sand, and A Christmas Carol, among others. Other Regional Theater: Tidewater Stage (Dial M for Murder), VMT (Grease, Annie, Kiss Me Kate, Nice Work If You Can Get It, How to Succeed...), Colonial Theatre, R.I. (Biloxi Blues). Other local credits include playing the title role in ODU's Dracula and portraying Capt. John Smith in the final 3 seasons of Virginia Beach's outdoor drama 1607: First Landing. Scott would like to give a special thanks to his talented & comely wife Lynn for all her love and support.

ELLIE MADELYN RUFFING 

(SHPRINTZE) is excited to be making her VSC debut with Fiddler on the Roof. As a student at TADA School of Performing Arts, some of Ellie's favorite shows have included Frozen Jr. (Olaf), The Lion King Jr. (Timon), and Seussical Jr. (Jojo).  For the past two years,  Ellie has also had the privilege of performing at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Scrooge No More (Tiny Tim). Ellie would like to thank VSC for this amazing opportunity and her friends, family, and teachers for always encouraging her to follow her dreams.

ANTHONY SILVIS

(YUSSEL) is a senior in the Dance Department of the Governor’s School for the Arts, and is thrilled to make his musical debut in VSC’s Fiddler on the Roof! Anthony has been dancing for almost 8 years and has preformed for Rhythm Live, Dean College, Nutmeg University, and many others. He would like to thank Mrs Jackie and his family for securing his spot and confidence for Fiddler on the Roof.

AVA DENAE STEVENSON

(MIRALA) is incredibly excited to be a part of her first Virginia Stage Company production! She is a senior at Old Dominion University studying Vocal Performance. Her most recent credits include Cinderella (Ella) with Old Dominion University and Hairspray (Ensemble) with The Little Theatre of Virginia Beach. You may also have seen her singing around Hampton Roads with The Doorway Singers. She is a 2023 national finalist of the National Student Auditions with the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS). She was also given the Outstanding Student Opera award at Old Dominion University for 2022/2023. She would like to thank her teachers at ODU and her parents for their unending support.

STORMIE TREVIÑO

(BIELKE) is so excited for Fiddler on the Roof to be her first production with Virginia Stage Company.  At 7 years old and a second grader in Chesapeake, this is Stormie’s second professional theater role. She performed as Gretl in the Virginia Arts Festival and Virginia Opera’s production of The Sound of Music and several productions with The Hurrah Players.  She is an enthusiastic and disciplined student and would like to thank everyone at Hurrah, Ms. Dianna, Ms. Candice, her NYC coaches, dance instructors, family, and her older sister, who is currently in a Broadway National Tour, for showing her what life in musical theater is all about. @stormietrev

MORGAN WHITE*

(SCHLOIME/BORIS) is over the moon to be making his VSC debut! Previous credits include Signature Theatre (West Side Story), Olney Theatre Center (Carousel), Maine State Music Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, Bay Street Theatre, Flat Rock Playhouse, Riverside Theatre, among others, and happily dancing with TRDance. Proud AEA member. "To see us dance is to hear our hearts sing."

SCOTT WICHMANN*

(LAZAR WOLF) Is proud to make his Virginia Stage Company debut. Credits include A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder, 1776, Shakespeare in Love, Peter and the Starcatcher, The Producers, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Say Goodnight Gracie, Fully Committed, Scapino!, and the world premieres The End of War, River Ditty and Ella and Her Fella, Frank at Virginia Repertory Theatre; I Am My Own Wife at Firehouse Theatre Project; Brimstone at Berkshire Theatre Festival; The Life of Galileo at Studio Theatre (DC), and ‘Old Tom’ in The Lost Colony in Manteo, NC. Film/TV: Loving, Lincoln, Lake Effects, Shooting the Prodigal, Legends & Lies: The Patriots, TURN: Washington’s Spies, True Terror with Robert Englund and The Good Lord Bird with Ethan Hawke. Recent host of The Richmond Forum with John Lithgow. Scott is a graduate of Wagner College, (Staten Island, N.Y.) and proudly serves as a chief petty officer in the United States Navy Reserve.

TIMOTHY WRIGHT

(FYEDKA) is making a childhood dream come true by having his VSC debut! Timothy, a graduate from AMDA NYC, is an actor/singer/dancer originally from Norfolk, VA but now lives in NYC with his partner Emma and their dog Ogie. Some credits include: Theatre: Shrek the Musical (Shrek), Little Women (Laurie) and Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere) Film/TV: Law & Order: SVU (NBC), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon) and Mr. Harrigan’s Phone (Netflix). @timdwright

Creative Team

GARY JOHN LA ROSA†

(Director/Choreographer) has staged well over 250 productions including the national tour of Footloose; the World Premiere of Michael Ching’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Opera Memphis; recording: Albany Records); Marry Me a Little (starring Brent Barrett & Sally Mayes); The Sound of Music at Ogunquit Playhouse (starring Rex Smith); Les Misérables, The Light in the Piazza and Next to Normal (Ostrander Award – Direction of a Musical) at Playhouse on the Square; Candide at Cabrillo Stage, Buddy – the Buddy Holly Story at Long Island’s Argyle Theatre; Fiddler on the Roof (starring Brad Oscar) at Barrington Stage Company (2 BroadwayWorld Awards) and at the St Louis MUNY (Judy Award) / Starlight Theatre in Kansas City (among others); Always...Patsy Cline (starring Sally Struthers) and Sister Act at Virginia Musical Theatre; The Full Monty at Phoenix Theatre; La Cage aux Folles at Downtown Cabaret (Connecticut Critic’s Award: Outstanding Direction); Die Fledermaus at Finger Lakes Opera and numerous productions at Broadway Sacramento, WV Public, Maine State Music Theatre; RI’s Theatre by the Sea and the Fulton Theatre in PA. Gary John has been a Guest Director at nearly two dozen universities, has staged over 100 corporate theatre shows and is a mentor at the Drama League. A UCLA graduate, he appeared on Broadway and in National/International tours including Fiddler on the Roof and conceived and directed the 50th Anniversary Broadway celebration of the musical (starring Topol and a cast of 90). He appears in the documentary “Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles” and dedicates this production to his late friend, lyricist Sheldon Harnick. www.garyjohnlarosa.com

BILL CLARKE§

(Scenic Designer) previously designed K2, ELEPHANT MAN, INTIMATE APPAREL, TASTE TEST, MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN, TOP GIRLS, ARMS AND THE MAN, SPEED-THE-PLOW, FAIRY TALES OF NEW YORK and others at VSC. He designed A WALK IN THE WOODS and ABBY’S SONG on Broadway; off-Broadway credits include THE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW (Mint Theater; NYTimes 10 Best List in 2003 and revival at City Center in 2022), SO HELP ME GOD! (Lortel), MISALLIANCE (Pearl), LEMON SKY (Keen Co), ECCENTRICITIES OF A NIGHTINGALE (TACT), SECRET ORDER (59E59), JUNE MOON (Drama Dep’t), Ann Magnuson’s YOU COULD BE HOME NOW (NYSF), Keith Reddin’s THE INNOCENTS’ CRUSADE (MTC), Alan Havis’ MOROCCO (WPA), and THE CHERRY ORCHARD (Juilliard). Regional credits include Seattle Rep, Old Globe, Milwaukee Rep, Alley, Denver Center, A.R.T., Huntington, Portland Center Stage, Indiana Rep, Pittsburg Public, Rep Theater of St Louis, Wilma, Alliance, McCarter, Cleveland Playhouse, Cincinnati Playhouse, Berkshire Theater Group, Barrington Stage, Coconut Grove, PlayMakers Rep. Film: production design for the 2013 indie short THE MASTER CLEANSE. MFA, Yale School of Drama. Recipient: Hollywood Drama-Logue Award, San Diego Theater Critics’ Circle Award and an IRNE (New England) Award.

MICHAEL BOTTARI & RONALD CASE

(Costume Designe) created original designs for the South African Hairspray, were nominated for the 2008 Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, & American Theatre Wing Awards, and won the 2008 Lucille Lortel Award for Costume design for Die Mommie Die. In 2006 they were nominated for the Drama Desk Award and won best Set and Costume design (Dean’s List) for Fanny Hill. They won the 2003 Lucille Lortel Award, and were nominated for the Drama Desk that year for their costumes for Shanghai Moon. They have been a design team for over 50 years, having designed both sets and costumes for Baordway: Rodger’s & Hammerstein’s much loved State Fair (Producer David Merrick’s last Broadway show), Prince of Central Park, and Mark Shaiman’s Prop 8, The Musical on Broadway. Off-Broadway: Road to Qatar, After The Affair, Night of the Hunter, Little Me, Carnival!, Opal, Man Who Shot Lincoln etc. National Tours: I Do! I Do! (Lucie Arnaz), Camelot (Richard Harris), Man of La Mancha (John Raitt, Jack Jones) the World tour of My Fair Lady (Noel Harrison), the 25th Anniversary Tour of The King and I (Yul Brynner), Al Jolson, Tonight (Larry Kert), Funny Thing…Forum (Mickey Rooney), Showboat (Shirley Jones) to mention just a few. They have designed the last three national tours of Fiddler on the Roof with Theo Bikel.

JASON AMATO§

(Lighting Designer) has designed over 600 shows, across 30 years, including thought provoking plays by Suzan-Lori Parks, George Brant and Anna Deavere Smith and iconic musicals such as Chicago, Ragtime, Tommy, Next to Normal and Hairspray. Off-Broadway: Austin Shakespeare’s Anthem. Regional: Virginia Stage Company's Native Gardens, Grounded, The Tempest and Crowns. VSC/Norfolk State University’s production of Dreamgirls, The Earth Remembers and The Wiz. Virginia Musical Theatre's Jekyll and Hyde, Mamma Mia and many others. International touring dance at: Jacob’s Pillow, Lincoln Center, the Smithsonian and the National Theatre in Taiwan. Jason has received 40 regional awards for his lighting in shows, including BroadwayWorld’s 2019 Central Virginia, Best Lighting Design for VMT’s La Cage Aux Folles. www.jasonamato.com

STEVEN ALLEGRETTO

(Sound Design) is an accomplished sound designer with a passion for creating immersive experiences for live theatre. A graduate of Full Sail University’s prestigious Recording Arts program, Steven has honed his skills through years of hard work and dedication to his craft. In addition to his work as a sound designer, Steven is also a committed educator. He has served as an Adjunct Professor of Theatre Sound Design at the College of William & Mary, as well as a part-time instructor for the Governor’s School for the Arts. He also teaches privately, helping aspiring sound designers develop their skills and reach their full potential. Steven has had the honor of designing past VSC shows including Every Brilliant Thing, Dreamgirls, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Hobbit, A Merry Little Christmas Carol, and more. His ability to create complex sonic landscapes that transport audiences to other worlds has made him a sought-after collaborator in the Hampton Roads theatre community. Steven is thrilled to be back at the Virginia Stage Company, where he looks forward to sharing his vision for Henry V with audiences. With his expert ear and tireless dedication to his craft, Steven is sure to deliver a truly unforgettable sonic experience.

BART KUEBLER

(Music Director) Bart Kuebler’s artistic work includes music & lyrics for the Off-Broadway premiere of John Cariani’s LOVE/SICK; and book, music, and lyrics for Moonshiner, a Musical Fabulism, produced as part of the 2019 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival. Music directing credits include the world premieres of Second to Nun/Marguerite, Frog Kiss, and Love, Always; developmental workshops of more than a dozen new musicals; a slew of work at regional theaters; and years of worldwide touring accompanying artists diverse as Bernadette Peters and Piolo Pascual. Bart holds a degree in Philosophy & Ethics from Harvard University, and lives in Norfolk with Amanda, Bijou, and an infallible Magic Eight Ball. He invites you to join him in eschewing social media.

REFIYE TAPPAN

(Associate Music Director) returns to VSC after working on A Merry Little Christmas Carol in 2021 and 2022. Refiye is currently based in Virginia Beach and works in the Hampton Roads and D.C. areas. She is a collaborative pianist at The Governor’s School of the Arts in the Vocal and Music Theatre Departments, and with Norfolk Public Schools. Credits: D.C. Area: Constellation Theatre Company: Once On This Island (Music Director/Keys 1/Conductor. Helen Hayes 2023 nomination - Outstanding Music Direction). Mosaic Theater Company: Max & Willy’s Last Laugh (Associate MD). Creative Cauldron - On Air (MD. Helen Hayes 2020 nomination- Outstanding Music Direction); Always...Patsy Cline 2021 and 2022 Remount (MD); Audrey - A New Musical (MD); and multiple cabarets as MD and arranger. Synetic Theater: Gala 2020. Regional: Virginia Musical Theatre: Mamma Mia. Virginia Opera-VA Arts Fest: The Sound of Music. Virginia Stage Company: Under the Big Top Gala (MD/arranger); Zeider’s Theater: Fountain of You (Associate MD). Education: Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, UK; University of Reading, UK. Refiye would like to thank TQ and all at VSC for their wonderful collaboration, and husband Philip for supporting her creative endeavours. refiyemusic.com

EMEL ERTURGUL

(Casting Director) officially joined the Virginia Stage Company team in 2017 but worked on various projects with the company well before.  Her first casting adventure was the beautiful production Pride and Prejudice for Season 39.  Since then it has been a goal to strengthen and cultivate VSC's relationship with professional local and out of town artists.  Each season has provided new challenges and each production a new opportunity to find the perfect showcase of talent. Emel has most recently been seen performing in The Twelve Dates of Christmas on the Wells Stage and currently serves as the Operations Manager for VSC and the Producing Artistic Director for Core Theatre Ensemble.

KYRA BUTTON*

(Stage Manager) is excited to be returning to Virginia Stage Company for her third production. She previously worked on Dreamgirls and Henry V at The Wells. Her previous credits also include ABCD (Barrington Stage Company), Antigone, Where Did We Sit On The Bus?, Tiny Houses, Into The Breeches, and Pipeline (Cleveland Play House), Hurricane Diane (Dobama Theatre), Baby Camp (Leviathan Labs), Resistance (Semicolon Theatre), The Heart’s Impatience (Shufflefoot Theatre Company), A Streetcar Named Desire (St. Ann’s Warehouse), Medea and Dreamgirls (Red House Arts Center), This Day Forward (The Vineyard Theatre), and The Intergenerational Project (Rose Bruford, London). Kyra is proud to hold a BFA in Stage Management from Syracuse University’s Department of Drama and would like to wish her husband a happy one-year anniversary. Thank you, Austin, for your unending love and support, even when we are far apart.

Kim Fuller*

(Assistant Stage Manager) is excited to be back at Virginia Stage Company for their second season, and happy to join the stage management team this year. Kim has been a part of various productions across Hampton roads ever since graduating from Boston College with a B.A.,with a focus on stage management, in 2014. Past production positions include Production Stage Manager for Sound of Music at the harrison opera house, and various shows at Zeider's American Dream Theater. Kim is excited to make her equity debut with Fiddler, and thanks the cast and crew for all the hard work. 

JOSEPH STEIN

(Author) was a prolific American playwright and librettist, best known for his work on the beloved musicals Fiddler on the Roof and Zorba. Born on May 30, 1912, in New York City, Stein grew up in the Bronx and attended City College of New York. After graduating, he worked as a social worker and then as a writer for the Army Air Force during World War II. Stein began his career in theater as a writer for radio and television in the 1940s and 1950s, but it was his work on Broadway that earned him the most acclaim. His first Broadway credit was as a co-writer on the musical Plain and Fancy in 1955, but it was his collaboration with composer Jerry Bock and lyricist Sheldon Harnick on Fiddler on the Roof that established him as a major force in the theater world. Fiddler on the Roof, which opened on Broadway in 1964, tells the story of Tevye, a Jewish milkman in early 20th-century Russia, and his struggles to maintain his traditions in the face of changing times. The show was a critical and commercial success, running for over 3,000 performances and winning nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Stein's book for the show, which was based on the stories of Sholem Aleichem, is widely regarded as one of the greatest in the history of musical theater. Stein went on to collaborate with Bock and Harnick on several more musicals, including The Apple Tree and She Loves Me. He also wrote the book for Zorba, a musical adaptation of the novel Zorba the Greek, which opened on Broadway in 1968 and starred Anthony Quinn. Although Zorba was not as successful as Fiddler, it received positive reviews and has since become a cult favorite among musical theater enthusiasts. In addition to his work on Broadway, Stein wrote for television and film. He wrote the screenplay for the 1971 film adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof, which was directed by Norman Jewison and starred Topol as Tevye. He also wrote for the television series Mister Peepers and The Phil Silvers Show. Stein continued to work in the theater throughout his life, writing plays and musicals up until his death in 2010 at the age of 98. His other notable works include Enter Laughing, a play based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Carl Reiner, and Rags, a musical about Jewish immigrants on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Stein was known for his wit and his ability to capture the human experience in his writing. In a 2001 interview with The New York Times, he said, "I think the theater is a way of expressing what's going on in the world and what's going on in people's hearts. It's a way of communicating on a very deep level, and that's what I've always tried to do with my work." Stein's contributions to the world of musical theater have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1994, and in 2008, the Tony Awards honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. His legacy lives on through his timeless works, which continue to be performed and beloved by audiences around the world.

JERRY BOCK

(Composer) Born into a Jewish family in New Haven, Connecticut, and raised in Flushing, Queens, New York, Bock studied the piano as a child. While a student at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, he wrote the musical Big As Life, which toured the state and enjoyed a run in Chicago. After graduation, he spent three summers at the Tamiment Playhouse in the Poconos and wrote for early television revues with lyricist Larry Holofcener. One of their songs, the three-part "The Story of Alice," was performed by the Chad Mitchell Trio on their Blowin' in the Wind album of 1962.

SHELDON HARNICK

(Lyricist) was born in Chicago in 1924. Following his service in World War II, he earned a Bachelor of Music Degree at Northwestern University, majoring in violin. After working as a professional musician in and around Chicago, he moved to New York in 1950 to pursue a career in the musical theater. Harnick’s first song for a Broadway show was the hilarious “Boston Beguine” for New Faces of 1952. He then contributed songs to the revues Two’s Company (starring Bette Davis), John Murray Anderson’s Almanac and The Littlest Revue. His collaboration with composer Jerry Bock produced such Broadway classics as Fiorello! (1959): Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award; Tenderloin (1960); She Loves Me (1963): Grammy Award; Fiddler on the Roof (1964) Tony Award; The Apple Tree (1966) and The Rothschilds (1970). Other collaborations include A Christmas Carol with Michel Legrand (1981); Rex with Richard Rodgers (1976); A Wonderful Life with Joe Raposo (1986) and The Phantom Tollbooth with Arnold Black (1995). For Dragons and Malpractice Makes Perfect, he provided book lyrics and music. He has written songs for the films The Heartbreak Kid (1972) and Blame It On Rio (1984), both with music by Cy Coleman; and Aaron’s Magic Village (1995) with Michel Legrand.

JEROME ROBBINS

(Original Choreographer) Born on October 11, 1918 in New York, New York, Jerome Robbins went on to become a dancer and celebrated choreographer, earning raves for his ballet debut piece “Fancy Free.” He eventually served as director and/or choreographer on a number of musicals destined to become classics, including The King and I, West Side Story, Gypsy and Fiddler on the Roof. Robbins won an Oscar for his directorial efforts on the film version of West Side Story, and later focused on creating ballets for the stage. He died on July 29, 1998.

Music Theatre International (MTI)

is one of the world's leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 100,000 professional, community and school theatres in the US and in over 150 countries worldwide. MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theatre, and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broadway Junior™ shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students.

TOM QUAINTANCE

(Producing Artistic Director) is in his eighth season with Virginia Stage Company. At the Wells, Tom has directed Henry V, A Merry Little Christmas Carol, Pride and Prejudice, The Santaland Diaries, Matilda The Musical and Every Brilliant Thing. He also directed the tour of Every Brilliant Thing, which continues across Virginia. Regionally Tom directed Twelfth Night at the Guthrie Theater, and as an Associate Artist at PlayMakers Repertory Company he directed An Enemy of the People, Shipwrecked! An Entertainment, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, and The Little Prince. As Artistic Director of Cape Fear Regional Theatre (CFRT), Tom produced over 35 plays and directed many others, including the World Premiere of Downrange: Voices from the Homefront, a play based on interviews with military spouses from Fort Bragg. As the founder of FreightTrain Shakespeare in Los Angeles, he earned a Drama-Logue Award for his direction of Pericles. Other Los Angeles credits range from King Lear to The Devil With Boobs. A member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Tom is a graduate of Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT) with a B.A. in Theatre and Economics, and the University of California, San Diego MFA directing program, where he was the assistant director on the original production of The Who’s Tommy. Tom and his wife Wallis are the proud parents of Mireille Julia and Annika Christine.

JEFF RYDER

(Managing Director)  has been the Managing Director of Virginia Stage Company since March 2022. Prior to coming to VSC, Jeff served in several roles at Cleveland Play House from 2013 to 2022. Jeff holds a Master of Public Administration Degree from the Levin College at Cleveland State University and a Bachelor’s Degree from Tufts University. At Levin, Jeff was inducted into Nu Lambda Mu, the international honor society for the study of nonprofit management and philanthropy. Jeff also holds a certificate in Diversity and Inclusion for HR Professionals from Cornell University. He is the president of the board of Hampton Roads Pride and is the community service director for the Rotary Club of Norfolk. He has previously served on the boards of the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank, Theatre Forward, the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Cleveland, and the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club. In Cleveland, Jeff was honored to be a part of the Cleveland Leadership Center’s Advanced Leadership Institute and the Cleveland Foundation’s Foundations for Philanthropy Program. Jeff has also been a stage manager at several theatres including Talespinner Children’s Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and Berkshire Theatre Festival.