Fiddler on the Roof - Huron Country Playhouse 2024

Based on Sholem Aleichem stories by special permission of Arnold Perl

Book by Joseph Stein

Music by Jerry Bock

Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick

Produced on the New York Stage by Harold Prince

Original New York Stage Production Directed and Choreographed

by Jerome Robbins Director & Choreographer Lisa Stevens Music Director Konrad Pluta Set Designer Douglas Paraschuk

Lighting Designer Kevin Fraser

Sound Designer Allan McMillan

Costume Coordinator Jenine Kroeplin Stage Manager Laurel Oneil

Assistant Stage Manager Frances Johnson

Assistant Stage Manager Ashley Rees

The Company (in alphabetical order)

Neil Barclay George Burden-Cheresna Benjamin Doncom Timothy Harder Colleen Furlan Jesse Grandmont Dani Jazzar Bryce Johnson Gabrielle Jones

McKinley Knuckle Quinley Kurczak Tevya Kurczak Amanda Leigh Duff MacDonald Lyrie Murad Alex Mustakas Hadley Mustakas Annie Ramos

Nicholas Rice Annick Robledo Brad Rudy Nico Solarte Éamon Stocks Theresa Tova Sandy Winsby Léah Zack Seth Zosky

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com ANY VIDEO AND/OR AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS PRODUCTION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

musical numbers Act One Prologue: Tradition........................................................................... Tevye, The Fiddler, and Company Matchmaker, Matchmaker............................................................................ Tzeitel, Hodel and Chava If I Were a Rich Man.................................................................................................................... Tevye Sabbath Prayer................................................................................................ Tevye, Golde, Company To Life............................................................................... Tevye, Lazar Wolf, Russian soloist and Men Tevye’s Monologue...................................................................................................................... Tevye Miracle of Miracles......................................................................................................................Motel Tevye’s Dream............................. Tevye, Golde, Grandma Tzeitel, Rabbi, Fruma-Sarah and Company Sunrise, Sunset................................................................. Tevye, Golde, Perchik, Hodel and Company The Bottle Dance..............................................................................................................Instrumental

Act Two

Entr’acte...................................................................................................... The Fiddler and Orchestra Tevye’s Rebuttal........................................................................................................................... Tevye Do You Love Me?........................................................................................................ Tevye and Golde The Rumor/I Just Heard..........................................................................................Yente and Villagers Far From the Home I Love........................................................................................................... Hodel Chavaleh (Little Bird)................................................................................................................... Tevye Anatevka......................................................................................................................... The Company

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Bottle Dance Choreography based on Jerome Robbins’ Original Choreography reproduced in part by Lisa Stevens

A Note From the Director It was with a resounding “yes” that I accepted the role of Director and Choreographer for Fiddler on the Roof. The themes have been woven through my life since I was a child, having watched the movie several times as a youngster, performing the role of Chava in high school, and then choreographing it twice for different theatre companies. Each experience brought me closer to these characters, and this story, and as a result, I’m more aware of the lens through which I observe my surroundings and the people evolving through it. Art imitates life.

The significance of Fiddler On The Roof is two-fold. The first relating to our leading man. Tevye is the father of five daughters, three of whom are at a marriageable age. He is a man of strong beliefs and tradition, and it is very hard for him to accept his children moving away from his values. He eventually bends, and does accept their “new ways” but at a cost. Many parents can relate to Tevye’s struggle, as anyone with children hopes that they will grow up observing their values. To love is to let go, with the conundrum being, to let go is to risk.

The wider scope of this story relates to the Jewish community living in the village of Anatevka - the aspect of a minority culture trying to cope within a majority culture in which it lives. (The village is a fictitious one but in today’s world would fall just outside of Kyiv, Ukraine.) The Jewish people of Anatevka, like other suppressed minorities, were subject to abuse, subject to persecution, and subject to exile. This is something that is happening today to other minorities around the world where persecution endures.

If this story were a fabric, I would hope that you, our audience, could find one common thread that, when woven together, would create a tapestry of compassion, empathy and kindness.

Enjoy the show!

Lisa Stevens

Director & Choreographer

the company

(in alphabetical order) Neil Barclay (Lazar Wolf) Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler on the Roof (2023), Twelve Angry Men. Other Theatre: Shaw Festival Ensemble since 1990, more than 70 productions including The Apple Cart, The Shadow of a Doubt, The Importance of Being Earnest, Too True To Be Good, Trouble in Mind, Charley’s Aunt, The Orchard (After Chekhov), Stage Kiss, Androcles and the Lion, Me and My Girl, Uncle Vanya, My Fair Lady, Maria Severa, After the Dance, Detective Story, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Peter Pan, Village Wooing, You Can’t Take It With You, Lulu, Ubu Rex, Misalliance, Fonda DeBehrs in The Gig (Theatre Aquarius) and productions with Persephone, Capitol, Grand, TNW, Geva Theatre Centre, ATP, Tarragon, Canadian Stage, NAC, TPM and TFT among others.

George Burden-Cheresna (Reuben/Sasha/Ensemble) Drayton Entertainment: Disney’s Newsies. Other Theatre: Christmas Wonderland (Fallsview Casino). TV/Film: Spin (On the Brink Productions); Recurring dancer on The Next Step (Temple Street Productions).

He is delighted to have this opportunity to perform with Drayton Entertainment once again in Fiddler on the Roof. George would like to give a special thanks to his friends and family for all the love and support as he works on his art career. You can find him on Instagram @GeorgeBurdenn.

Benjamin Doncom (Mendel/Russian Singer) Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other Theatre: Mr. Krabs in Spongebob (Mansfield Entertainment); Warren in Ordinary Days, Riff Raff in Rocky Horror (Kordazone Theatre); Lionel in All Night Long! (Oh Canada Eh); The Matron in B!tch Island (Hamilton Fringe). Benjamin is a proud Graduate of Sheridan College. Thank you to my friends and family for their love and support! @benjaminjosephdoncom on all socials.

Timothy Harder (Fyedka) Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler on the Roof (2023). Other Theatre: Let’s Dance! (Terra Bruce Productions); Mary Poppins, Enchanting! (Theatre Sheridan); The Roaring Twenties (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia); Ghost: The Musical (Starvox). Training: Honours Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance (Sheridan College). Timothy is so grateful to be returning to help tell this beautiful story alongside so many lovely folks. Many thanks to Lisa, Alex, and the entire Drayton and Fiddler teams. Much love to his parents and his partner Jordan for all the support.

Colleen Furlan (Tzeitel) Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler on the Roof (2023). Other Theatre: In Real Life (MSC/CanStage); Alice In Wonderland (Bad Hats/Soulpepper/ MTYP); RENT, The Wizard of Oz, The Hockey Sweater, Cinderella, Little Shop of Horrors, Shrek, Sister Act, Les Misérables, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins (Rainbow Stage); Shopkins Live - North American Tour (KOBA); American Idiot (WST); Jazz Soloist (WJO/WSO); Fiddler on the Roof (RMTC). Film/TV: Time Cut, Wintertide, Harland Manor, Seance, Top 4 on Over the Rainbow (CBC). Colleen holds a Dean’s Honour Roll Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the Desautels Faculty of Music. Special thanks to 10 Talent and my loved ones!

Instagram: @colleenosaurus

Jesse Grandmont (The Fiddler) Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler On The Loose, Good Ol’ Country Gospel, Canada 151: Better Late Than Sorry, Broadway Heroes. Jesse started playing the violin at the age of three and has been fiddling around ever since. His love of performing has taken him across the world as a fiddler, singer, musical director and arranger and Jesse is so excited to finish the 2023 season up on the Roof. Jesse thanks Lisa, Konrad, Alex and the entire Drayton team for this opportunity as well as his parents, Leah, and Maddy for their love and support. Keep fiddlin’ and enjoy the show! @jaizeviolinist

Dani Jazzar (Ezra/Ensemble)* Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler on the Roof (2023), Evita, Pirates of Penzance, Man of La Mancha, Rocky: The Musical, 9 to 5 The Musical.

Other Theatre (selected): Bernardo in West Side Story (Edm Citadel, Theatre Calgary, Van Opera, Drayton); Spamalot, Legally Blonde (Drayton/Aquarius); Bend it Like Beckham (Starvox); Rock Of Ages (Mayfield/Drayton); Monsoon Wedding (Berkley); Cabaret (Aquarius); several seasons with Ross Petty Prod. Film/TV includes: Queen Tut, The Boys, Private Eyes, Star Trek, Handmaid’s Tale, Taken, The Strain, Nikita, American Gods, What We Do in the Shadows, Designated Survivor, Traitor, and more. Dani is a trained intimacy professional. Love to Chris, Eddie & Leo. @danijazzar *Dance Captain

Bryce Johnson (Nahum/Vladmir/Ensemble) Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other Theatre: Seas the Adventure (Disney Cruise Line); Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (TYT Theatre); Fame (RCPA); White Christmas (SaskExpress). Bryce is a graduate from Randolph College for the Performing Arts and hails from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He’d like to thank Darla, Anita, Stella, Bob, Danny, and all the teachers and supporters that help him to continue performing onstage. You can find him on Instagram @brycecgjohnson

Gabrielle Jones (Golde) Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler on the Roof (2023), Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Elf: The Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Miracle Worker, Priscilla Queen of the Desert (2019), The Birds & the Bees, The Drowsy Chaperone, Harvest, The Ladies Foursome, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Sexy Laundry, The Crazy Time. Other Theatre: The Shaw Festival (14 seasons), The Stratford Festival (7 seasons), The Foster Festival, Theatre Calgary, Theatre Aquarius, Stage West, Capitol Theatre, Vancouver Playhouse. For Mirvish Productions: The Audience, Les Misérables (Toronto & 2nd National Tour); Mamma Mia! (Toronto & 1st. National U.S. Tour).

McKinley Knuckle (Chaim/Ensemble) Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other Theatre: Monty Python’s Spamalot, Frankenstein Revived (Stratford Festival); Acrobat in Miss Saigon (North American tour); Stage Dancer/Arielist in Art On Ice (European tour); Swing/Dance Captain in Beauty and the Beast (Disney Cruise Lines); Ensemble in King Arthur: The Panto (Port Hope Festival Theatre); Dancer in The Nutcracker (Toronto International Ballet Theatre). TV/Film: Recurring dancer on The Next Step (Disney Channel).

Training: Lisa Naves Dance Company, Salzburg Ballet. Awards: Teen Male Dancer of the Year (American Dance Awards). Online: Insta @mckinleyknuckle, Knuckletwins.com/mckinley

Quinley Kurczak (Bielke) Drayton Entertainment: Bielke in Fiddler on the Roof (2023), Marta in The Sound of Music; Chorus in Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. Other Theatre: Dancer (Dance Adventure). Thank you, Alex, Lisa, and the Drayton family for believing in me and for giving me this chance to be on stage again. I can’t wait to perform alongside my sister. Thank you, Tevya, Dad and my whole family for your support and love. This show is for my mom, who showed me what it means to truly sparkle on stage – I love you. I miss you. @quinley.dancer

Tevya Kurczak (Shprintze) Drayton Entertainment: Shprintze in Fiddler on the Roof (2023), Brigitta in The Sound of Music, Chorus in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Littlest Orphan in Annie. Other Theatre: Wilbur in Charlotte’s Web (Agnew/KWMP); Dancer (Dance Adventure). Thank you to Alex, Lisa, and the entire Drayton community for this opportunity.

I’m thrilled to share the stage with this amazing cast and crew. Thank you, Dad, Quinley and my entire family for the love, support and encouragement to follow my dreams. Mom, I love you and miss you – this show is dedicated to you. @tevya.dancer

Amanda Leigh (Frumah Sarah/Shaindel) Drayton Entertainment: It Runs in the Family, Beauty and the Beast, Man of La Mancha, Out of Order, One For the Pot, Sister Act, Anne of Green Gables, Oliver!, Blood Brothers, Evita, A Flea in Her Ear. Other Theatre (UK): Cosette in Les Misérables, Rapunzel in Into the Woods, Doris in Gay Divorce, Beyond the Barricade. Amanda received her BFA in Music Theatre from the University of Windsor. She is thrilled to be joining the company of Fiddler on the Roof. Thanks to TR, my family, and planner gals for their endless love and support.

Duff MacDonald (Mordcha/Grandma Tzeitel) Drayton Entertainment: Legends, My Fair Lady, Twist & Shout, Canadian Legends, Sorry I’m Canadian, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Aladdin, Guys & Dolls. Other Theatre: Billy Elliot (Neptune); Once (RMTC/Grand Theatre); A Christmas Story (Arts Club); Drowsy Chaperone (Globe); Little Shop of Horrors (STC); Forever Plaid, Godspell, Les Misérables (Original Canadian Cast/Mirvish). Film/TV: The Duff Show (YouTube); Locke & Key (Netflix); Carter (CTV); Good Witch, Titans, Music Man (Disney). Look for Duff in the lead role of the new feature film Old Guys in Bed. Visit www.duffmacdonald.com.

Lyrie Murad (Rifka/Ensemble) Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler on the Roof (2023). Other Theatre: Alice in Wonderland (Bad Hats/Theatre Sheridan); Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (TUTS Vancouver); A Christmas Carol, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Diocesan Arts Movement). Stage Management: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Drayton Entertainment). Lyrie is so excited to be returning to this incredible production and to work once again with the talented and supportive cast and crew of Fiddler on the Roof. A big thank you to her family and friends for their constant love and support. Enjoy the show! @lyriemurad

Alex Mustakas (Tevye) Drayton Entertainment: Performer (selected): Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (2023), Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha, The Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance, Franklin Hart Jr. in 9 to 5: The Musical, Captain Hook in Peter Pan: The Panto, Nick in Over The River and Through The Woods, and many more. Alex has directed over 100 productions for Drayton Entertainment and other theatre companies across Canada, including Rock of Ages, Rocky: The Musical, Million Dollar Quartet, Monty Python’s Spamalot, Les Misérables, and more. Alex holds a Master’s Degree in Arts Administration from City University in London, England, and an Honorary Doctorate from Wilfrid Laurier University. He is the recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Media & Entertainment, the Queen’s Diamond & Platinum Jubilee Medals, the Maggie Bassett Award from Theatre Ontario, and the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal.

Hadley Mustakas (Hodel) Drayton Entertainment: Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof (2023), Kaylee in The Prom, Ali in Mamma Mia!, Jane in Mary Poppins, Wendy in Peter Pan. Other Theatre: Simone, Half and Half (Carousel Players); The Sound of Music (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Mamma Mia! (Tweed & Company); The Roaring Twenties (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia). Thank you to my family for their love and support, to my mom who’s taught me the value of kindness, and to my friends Lyrie and Timothy who encourage me to be the best version of myself and make it easy to live every day with a smile.

Annie Ramos (Mirala/Ensemble) Drayton Entertainment (selected): Fiddler on the Roof (2023), Sister Berthe in The Sound of Music. Other Theatre (selected): Mabel in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance, Maria in West Side Story, Princess Tuptim in The King and I (Stratford Festival); Goddess Diana in Shakespeare’s Pericles; award-winning Sanctuary Song (National Arts Centre); Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music (Vancouver Arts Club), DORA Winner, R.U.R. A Torrent of Light (Tapestry Opera); Cosette in Les Misérables, Sister Berthe/Elsa Schraeder in The Sound of Music (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Rosencrantz and Player Queen in Hamlet (The Shakespeare Company). Upcoming: The Sound of Music (The Grand).

Nicholas Rice (Rabbi) Drayton Entertainment (selected): Little Shop of Horrors, It Runs In the Family, Twelve Angry Men, See How They Run, One For the Pot. Other Theatre: Caroline, Or Change (Musical Stage); The Tempest, Two Gentlemen of Verona (St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival); Indecent (Studio 180 / Mirvish); The Riot at Christie Pits (Hogtown); Angels In America, Bar Mitzvah Boy (Winnipeg Jewish Theatre); It’s a Wonderful Life (Theatre Aquarius and Sudbury Theatre Centre). Most Recent: Nicholas’s own highly successful one-man show, A Side of Rice, at Fringes in Ottawa, Saskatoon, and Halifax. Love always to Beth Anne and Neta. Dedicated to the memory of David Brummel and Doreen Brownstone.

Annick Robledo (Chava) Drayton Entertainment: Debut. Other Theatre: GoldiRocks (Goldie); Spongebob The Musical (Mansfield Cabaret); Soupy Sue in Urinetown, Jeanine in In Studio with Britta Johnson (Theatre Sheridan), Ensemble in ‘Till Then (Eclipse Theatre Company); Demeter in Cats (Cibao Grand Theatre, DR); Alice in Alice in Wonderland (Cibao Grand Theatre, DR).

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Annick is a classical ballerina, musical theatre actress, and singer who is a recent graduate of Sheridan College’s Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance program.

Thank you to my family and friends for their support and love throughout my artistic journey. @Annickrobledo

Brad Rudy (Constable/Yussel)* Drayton Entertainment: The Sound of Music, Walter Hobbs in ELF, Juror #10 in Twelve Angry Men, Bob in Priscilla, West Side Story, Whose Under Where? Other Theatre: Ted Narracott in WarHorse (Mirvish/ Toronto); Padre in A Pack of Thieves, Ray in Sugar Road, Frank in Educating Rita (Lighthouse Festival); Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, Pierre in The Father, Gabe in Dinner With Friends (Theatre Aquarius); over 60 productions/ 26 seasons (Stratford Festival) including Bill Sikes in Oliver!, Title role in The Count of Monte Cristo, The Common Man in A Man for All Seasons. Founding member of Alternative Theatre Works in Stratford. “Looking for a sunrise leading to a sunset.” *Fight Captain

Nico Solarte (Motel) Drayton Entertainment: Ché in Evita, Motel in Fiddler on the Roof (2023), Ja’Keith in Rock of Ages, Ritchie Valens in Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story. Other Theatre: Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar (Western Canada Theatre); Willie Lopez in GHOST (Starvox); Bobby Dupree in the Australian premiere of Memphis The Musical (StageArt); Centéno in Cacao: A Venezuelan Lament (Victoria Mata Productions/Aluna Theatre); Angel cover in Rent (Chapel off Chapel); Parade (Lincoln Centre/ Manhattan Concert Productions). Nico is a Colombian-Canadian multidisciplinary artist and the founder of Existt SoulCare, an inclusive artist-driven creative wellness collective. IG: @nico.sol.arte

Éamon Stocks (Moishe/Boris/Ensemble) Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler on the Roof (2023), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Prom, Disney’s Newsies. Other Theatre: Billy Elliot The Musical (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre); The Nutcracker (National Ballet of Canada). Film/TV: Gen V (Amazon); The Umbrella Academy (Netflix); The Next Step (Family). Éamon is a proud graduate of Sheridan College’s Honours Bachelor of Music Theatre Program.

Special thanks to Léah and my parents, as well as the good folx at The Talent House, for their support!

Theresa Tova (Yente) Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler on the Roof (2023). Other Theatre: Emma Goldman in Ragtime (Broadway Tour); Yenta in Fiddler on the Roof, Lady Jane in Patience (Stratford Festival). Recognized by NOW Magazine as one the Top Ten Toronto theatre artists of 2017 for “two unforgettable mothers” in Tough Jews (Storefront) and The Jazz Singer (Harold Green).

Mrs Van Daan in The Diary of Anne Frank (YPT) and Big Bryna in Still the Night (tour); Bella: The Colour of Love in Philadelphia, Warsaw, Belgium, Halifax, Toronto and New York. A Gemini and 2022 CSA nominated actor for her film and TV roles. A long serving ACTRA leader, Tova is a child advocate and effective spokesperson helping to build AACE, an association of respect based Acting coaches and Educators.

Sandy Winsby (Avram/Ensemble) Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler on the Roof (2023), Kinky Boots, Disney’s Newsies, I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Carousel, Annie Get Your Gun, Pirates of Penzance, The Music Man. Other Theatre (selected): 45 years in “Show Biz,” performing across Canada, the US and in Germany; Jesus Christ Superstar, Ragtime (Broadway); Kinky Boots, Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables, CATS (original Canadian productions), seasons at the Stratford, Shaw, and Charlottetown Festivals. Proud father and grandfather. Very happy to be “back on the boards.” Thank you Alex and Lisa, and thank you audience for supporting live theatre!

Léah Zack (Léah/Ensemble) Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler on the Roof (2023). Other Theatre: Miss Andrew in Mary Poppins (Theatre Sheridan). Film: Frogs (Shears Production Inc. & OPC.TV Inc.). Léah, pronounced like the princess from Star Wars, is a Jewish actor from Vancouver Island. She just finished her final year at Sheridan College’s Honours Bachelor of Musical Theatre Performance program. Léah would like to thank her family and friends, her mentors, Joanne Hounsell and Rebecca Poff, and the wonderful team at AMI for their love and support. She would also like to dedicate this show to her Zaidie, who she misses dearly. Instagram: @leah_zack.

Seth Zosky (Perchik) Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler On The Roof (2023). Other Theatre (selected): Pain To Power (Winnipeg Jewish Theatre); Oil Rush (Petrolia Playhouse); The Last Five Years (Blue Bridge Theatre); One Hit Wonders (Stage West); BLOCKED (TheatreWorksUSA); The Last Five Years, A Night On Jewish Broadway (Olive Branch); American Idiot (Stephenville TF). Seth is a Jewish-Canadian artist from Toronto. He is a graduate of Sheridan College. His Pop/RnB singing trio, CZN, was chosen by Simon Cowell as the winners of Canadian Family’s Got Talent. Seth is also a Junonominated songwriter/producer at 254sound. Thank you to Lisa, Alex & everyone at Drayton. Love to my parents, family & the TH team! @sethzosky

the creative team Lisa Stevens (Director & Choreographer) Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler on the Roof (2023), West Side Story, Grease, Sister Act, Monty Python’s Spamalot. Other Theatre: Broadway/ West End: Dolly Parton presents 9 to 5: The Musical; Off-West End: Anyone Can Whistle. Off-Broadway: Bingo! The Musical. Regional: Who Do You Love (Edinburgh Festival); Escape To Margaritaville (Walnut St. Theatre); 9 to 5 (US/UK Tours, Australian, Korean companies); Disney’s High School Musical (US/UK Tours, Australian, Japan, Spain companies); High School Musical 2 (US/UK Tours); Bombay Dreams (National Tour); Guys and Dolls, Grease (Axelrod Theatre); Broadway Bares “Parcheesi”, The Witches Of Eastwick (Ogunquit Theatre); The Little Prince, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Theatre Calgary). Film: Fear Street “Prom Queen” (Netflix); Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas (International Emmy Award Nomination), Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2, The Swinging Nutcracker.

Follow me! @lisa_l_stevens

Konrad Pluta (Music Director) Drayton Entertainment: Man of La Mancha, Million Dollar Quartet, Rock of Ages. Other Theatre: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Mamma Mia!, Spamalot, Avenue Q, Fiddler on the Roof, Young Frankenstein (Stage West Calgary), Napoleon, Moving Day (TIFT), A Matter of Heart (Charlottetown Festival), Death The Musical, Animal Farm (Neptune), Princess and Carnival Cruises. Recipient of the 2017 Greg Bond Memorial Award. Armed with a Masters in Classical Performance from the Cincinnati Conservatory, Konrad has also arranged and produced for artists such as Tina Hartt, Ian Sherwood, Grant Tilly, J. Sean Elliott, Lee Siegel. Love to Tina, the boys and Liv.

Douglas Paraschuk (Set Designer)* Drayton Entertainment (selected): Jersey Boys, American Son, The Music Man, South Pacific, Dial M for Murder. Over 30 productions for the Stratford Festival. Director of Design and Associate Director for the UAE Golden Jubilee Celebration (2021) Expo, Dubai. Designer for Stephen Fry’s Mythos (Shaw Festival, Edinburgh Festival, English National Tour). Director of Design for the Calgary Stampede Grandstand show (2014-23). Director of Design for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics opening, medals, and closing ceremonies. Director of Design for the opening and closing ceremonies for the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.

For over 35 years, Doug has designed for television, theatre, film, opera, ballet, and touring productions and has created hundreds of productions in Canada, the United States, Asia, and Europe. *Indicated designers on this production are represented by the Associated Designers of Canada, IATSE Local ADC659.

Kevin Fraser (Lighting Designer)* Drayton Entertainment: Jersey Boys, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Few Good Men, The Sound of Music, On Golden Pond, ELF: The Musical, The Miracle Worker, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Man of La Mancha, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Death of a Salesman, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Sister Act, Little Shop of Horrors, Les Misérables, and many more. Other Theatre: Gypsy (Shaw Festival); Cirque Ambiente (Canada’s Wonderland), The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, Shakespeare In Love, Carousel (Stratford Festival).

Kevin is a member of Associated Designers of Canada, and a graduate of Ryerson Theatre School. Web: kevinfraserlighting.com

Allan McMillan (Sound Designer) Drayton Entertainment: Jersey Boys, Evita, Man of La Mancha, Fiddler on the Roof, Twist and Shout, Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Drowsy Chaperone, and Rock of Ages. For over 35 years Allan has been “rattling” about in theatres in Ontario in various technical positions, from Technical Direction, Production Management, Lighting Design, Carpentry, and of course, Audio. Allan came to Drayton Entertainment in 2013 from Stage West Mississauga. Allan looks forward to having another go at some of the above and to the new challenges each season brings.

Jenine Kroeplin (Costume Coordinator) Drayton Entertainment (selected): A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, Marathon of Hope: The Musical, Legends ... of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, Sleuth, 9 to 5: The Musical, Robin Hood, Country Legends. Jenine is delighted to be back for her 15th season with Drayton Entertainment and her 14th season as the Head of Wardrobe. Jenine is a graduate of York University’s Technical Theatre Program where she specialized in costume and set design. She would like to acknowledge her family and friends for their constant support.

Laurel Oneil (Stage Manager) Drayton Entertainment: A Few Good Men, Buying the Farm, Annie, Fiddler on the Loose. Other Theatre: BOOM (Theatre Calgary, Thousand Island Playhouse and Off-Broadway); BOOMX (Theatre Calgary and Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre); BOOMYZ, The Importance of Being Earnest, Escape to Margaritaville (Theatre Calgary); Jesus Christ Superstar, Wizard of Oz, Sound of Music (Western Canada Theatre); The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Extractionist, Murder in the Studio (Vertigo); 60+ productions at Stage West, including: Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde, Rock of Ages, Avenue Q. Laurel would like to dedicate her work to the loving memory of her mom, who helped her find her love of theatre at young age. She would also like to thank her family, friends & RP for their love & support. *Indicated designers on this production are represented by the Associated Designers of Canada, IATSE Local ADC659.

Frances Johnson (Assistant Stage Manager) Drayton Entertainment: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, It Runs in the Family. Other Theatre: Buying the Farm (Upper Canada Playhouse); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Mirvish); They’re Found in Trees (Theatre Orangeville); 1812 (Foster Festival); Seagulls (Shaw Festival).

Ashley Rees (Assistant Stage Manager) Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler on the Loose. Other Theatre: The Ballad of Georges Boivin, Countries Shaped Like Stars (Lunchbox Theatre); The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Murder on the Orient Express, The Extractionist (Vertigo Theatre); The House of Bernarda Alba (Sage Theatre); Noises Off, A Christmas Carol (Theatre Calgary); Mamma Mia!, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Stage West). Special thanks to my family for their unending love and support.

the band Konrad Pluta (Music Director/Piano) Drayton Entertainment: Man of La Mancha, Million Dollar Quartet, Rock of Ages. Other Theatre: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Mamma Mia!, Spamalot, Avenue Q, Fiddler on the Roof, Young Frankenstein (Stage West Calgary), Napoleon, Moving Day (TIFT), A Matter of Heart (Charlottetown Festival), Death The Musical, Animal Farm (Neptune), Princess and Carnival Cruises. Recipient of the 2017 Greg Bond Memorial Award. Armed with a Masters in Classical Performance from the Cincinnati Conservatory, Konrad has also arranged and produced for artists such as Tina Hartt, Ian Sherwood, Grant Tilly, J. Sean Elliott, Lee Siegel. Love to Tina, the boys and Liv.

Jesse Grandmont (The Fiddler) Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler On The Loose, Good Ol’ Country Gospel, Canada 151: Better Late Than Sorry, Broadway Heroes. Jesse started playing the violin at the age of three and has been fiddling around ever since. His love of performing has taken him across the world as a fiddler, singer, musical director and arranger and Jesse is so excited to finish the 2023 season up on the Roof. Jesse thanks Lisa, Konrad, Alex and the entire Drayton team for this opportunity as well as his parents, Leah, and Maddy for their love and support. Keep fiddlin’ and enjoy the show! @jaizeviolinist

Peter Hysen (Trombone) Drayton Entertainment: Holiday Inn, West Side Story, The Drowsy Chaperone, Anything Goes, The Music Man, Chicago, Big Band Legends, How to Succeed…. Peter Hysen is a freelance musician and arranger.

He leads many of his own ensembles and has performed and recorded with numerous top musicians in the jazz and commercial fields. He has been commissioned to write arrangements by various artists across Canada. He recently played bass trombone and tuba on the “Cuphead” video game soundtrack and also played bass trombone on the Juno Award-winning album “Cry Me A River” with The Hilario Duran Big Band.

Erik Larson (Bass) Drayton Entertainment: Fiddler On The Loose, Good Ol’ Country Gospel, The Music Man, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. Other Theatre: Million Dollar Quartet (Grand Theatre); UnCovered: Fleetwood Mac & The Eagles, Kelly v. Kelly (Musical Stage Company); Forever Plaid (Starvox Entertainment); Mary Poppins (Young People’s Theatre); Kitchen Party Leftovers, The Roaring Twenties, Hogan’s Hoedown, Rocky Mountain High (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia). Recently, Erik was a sub for Mirvish Productions’ smash hit musical Come From Away, and worked alongside Canadian Music Hall of Famer Steven Page on the workshop of his new musical Here’s What It Takes at the Stratford Festival. @ErikSonOfLars

Don McDougall (Percussion) Drayton Entertainment: Cinderella: The Panto, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Sound of Music. Other Theatre (selected): Fiddler on the Roof (2015), Blood Brothers, Nunsense, Seussical the Musical, Mamma Mia!, Sweeney Todd, Matilda The Musical, Cabaret, Cinderella (Royal City Musical Productions); Shrek The Musical, Titanic The Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Addams Family, Guys & Dolls (Kitchener-Waterloo Musical Productions). Don has performed and/or recorded with Pat LaBarbera, Peter Appleyard, Jane Bunnett, Duncan Hopkins, Nancy Walker, Keiran Overs, and Mel Brown.

He has taught percussion for over 40 years, including out of his own studio, KW Drum Lab.

Paul Mitchell (Trumpet) Drayton Entertainment: Jersey Boys, Fiddler on the Roof (2023), Evita, Holiday Inn, Elf: The Musical, Drowsy Chaperone, Little Mermaid, Anything Goes. Other Theatre: Many venues across the northern U.S. and Ontario including tribute shows, such as The Rat Pack, Elton John Meets Billy Joel, Blues Brothers, Steely Dan. He has played with pop R&B groups Kool and the Gang, The O’Jays, Frankie Valli, Glass Tiger and Dean Brody.

Film/TV: Hemingway vs. Callaghan (CBC/Shaftsbury). Paul is featured regularly at The Jazz Room in Uptown Waterloo, and performs with many of the top R&B and wedding bands in the GTA. He considers himself to be fortunate to be surrounded by many of Canada’s most talented musicians.

Paul Pacanowski (Clarinet) Drayton Entertainment: Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Les Misérables, Big Band Legends, Annie, Blood Brothers, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Evita, Camelot, Oliver!, Fiddler on the Roof, Chicago. Other Theatre: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Oklahoma! (Theatre Aquarius); The Wild Party (Canadian Stage); Chicago (Mirvish Productions). As both a classical and jazz musician, Paul has appeared with symphonies and chamber music ensembles. His jazz groups have performed his own compositions in a number of music festivals in Canada and abroad.

Many of his compositions can be found on YouTube. Paul is happy to be spending another season with Drayton Entertainment. www.paulpacanowski.com

the authors Joseph Stein (Book) Joseph Stein won the Tony Award and Drama Critics Circle Award for Fiddler on the Roof. His other musicals include Zorba (Tony nomination, Drama Critics Circle Award); Rags (Tony nomination); The Baker’s Wife (Olivier Award nomination, London); Take Me Along (Tony nomination); Juno; Irene (starring Debbie Reynolds); The King of Hearts; All About Us; and Enter Laughing: The Musical (Lucille Lortel nomination, outstanding revival). He also co-authored, with Alan Jay Lerner, Carmelina; and with Will Glickman, Mr. Wonderful (starring Sammy Davis, Jr.), The Body Beautiful, and Plain and Fancy. His plays are Enter Laughing, Before the Dawn, and Mrs. Gibbons’ Boys. Stein grew up in the Bronx and first became a social worker while pursuing writing on the side. He began his career in TV and radio, writing for “The Sid Caesar Show,” “Your Show of Shows,” “Henry Morgan Show,” and many others, and for personalities including Tallulah Bankhead, Phil Silvers, Jackie Gleason and Zero Mostel. On Broadway he made his debut contributing to the theatrical revues Lend an Ear (featuring Carol Channing) and Alive and Kicking. He wrote the screenplays of Enter Laughing and Fiddler on the Roof, for which he won the Screen Writers Guild Award. In 2008, he was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame.

Jerry Bock (Music) Jerry Bock was born in New Haven, Connecticut on November 23rd, 1928. That was his first out-of-town tryout. Thirty years later, he and Sheldon Harnick gave birth to The Body Beautiful in Philadelphia. That was his fourth out-of-town tryout. In between was Catch a Star, a fleeting revue that, according to critic Walter Kerr, posed the question; “What do you call something between a flop and a smash?” Kerr’s answer? “A flash”. Next, Jule Styne and Tommy Valano midwifed Bock, Larry Holofcener and George Weiss into birthing Mr. Wonderful starring Sammy Davis Jr. The title song and “Too Close For Comfort” are still active off springs. Bock and Harnick’s celebrated collaboration yielded five scores in seven years. The Body Beautiful, Fiorello! (winner of Broadway’s triple crown: The Tony Award, The New York Critics’ Circle Award and The Pulitzer Prize in drama, the fourth musical to do so). Tenderloin, She Loves Me - (winner of Variety’s poll of critics as best musical, citing Bock and Harnick as best composer and lyricist). Fiddler on the Roof - (nine Tonys, notably the citation for best musical of the year), The Apple Tree and The Rothschilds. In addition to the 1989 silver anniversary production of Fiddler (from which a major excerpt was featured in Jerome Robbins’ Broadway), a highly esteemed revival of The Rothschlds enjoyed a successful run off-Broadway the following year. Since then, Bock and Harnick were triply honored by being inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame, receiving the Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Spirit of American Creativity Award from the Foundation for a Creative America. But the “award” that Bock holds near and dear is the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Wisconsin. It was there that he met his wife Patti, and it was there that he decided to be a composer. Mr. Bock is a member of a number of professional guilds and associations, among which the BMI Foundation, Inc. is a membership he relishes. As for Patti, his wife, George, their son and Portia, their daughter, Bock confesses they are his longest running hit.

Sheldon Harnick (Lyrics) Sheldon Harnick’s career began in the 1950s with songs in revues (e.g., “The Boston Beguine,” “The Merry Little Minuet”). With Jerry Bock he created a number of memorable musicals, including Fiorello!

(Tony Award, Pulitzer Prize), Tenderloin, She Loves Me (Grammy), Fiddler on the Roof (Tony), The Apple Tree, and The Rothschilds (subsequently revised as Rothschild & Sons). Other collaborations: Rex (Richard Rodgers), A Christmas Carol (Michel Legrand), A Wonderful Life (Joe Raposo), The Phantom Tollbooth (Arnold Black, Norton Juster), and The Audition (Marvin Hamlisch). He wrote three musicals himself: Dragons, A Doctor in Spite of Himself, and Malpractice Makes Perfect.

Jerome Robbins (Original New York Stage Production Director and Choreographer) Jerome Robbins is world renowned for his work as a choreographer of ballets as well as his work as a director and choreographer in theater, movies and television. Although he began as a modern dancer, his start on Broadway was as a chorus dancer before joining the corps de ballet of American Ballet Theatre in 1939, where he went on to dance principal roles in the works of Fokine, Tudor, Massine, Balanchine, Lichine, and de Mille. His first ballet, Fancy Free (1944) for ABT, still in many repertoires, celebrated its fiftieth birthday on April 18, 1994. While embarking on his career in the theater, Mr. Robbins simultaneously created ballets for New York City Ballet, which he joined in 1949, and became an Associate Artistic Director with George Balanchine. Mr. Robbins has directed for television and film as well, with his co-direction and choreography of West Side Story winning him two Academy Awards. After his Broadway triumph with Fiddler On the Roof in 1964, Mr. Robbins continued creating ballets for New York City Ballet. He shared the position of BalletMaster-in-Chief with Peter Martins until 1989. He has created more than 60 ballets, including Afternoon of a Faun (1953), The Concert (1956), Les Noces (1965), Dances At a Gathering (1969), In the Night (1970), In G Major (1975), Other Dances (1976), Glass Pieces (1983) and Ives Songs (1989) which are in the repertories of the New York City Ballet, the Ballet de l’Opera de Paris and major dance companies throughout the world. His most recent ballets include A Suite of Dances with Mikhail Baryshnikov (1994), 2 & 3 Part Inventions (1994), West Side Story Suite (1995) and Brandenburg (1996) all of which premiered at New York City Ballet. In addition to his two Academy Awards, Mr. Robbins’s awards and citations include four Tony Awards, five Donaldson Awards, two Emmy Awards, the Screen Directors’ Guild Award and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award.

Mr. Robbins is a 1981 Kennedy Center Honors Recipient, was awarded the Commandeur de L’Order des Arts et des Lettres, is an honorary member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, and was awarded a National Medal of Arts as well as the Governor’s Arts Awards by the New York State Council on the Arts. Some of his Broadway shows include On the Town, Billion Dollar Baby, High Button Shoes, West Side Story, The King and I, Gypsy, Peter Pan, Miss Liberty, Call Me Madam and Fiddler on the Roof. In 1989, Jerome Robbins’s Broadway won six Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Director. He was most recently awarded the French Chevalier dans l’Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur. Jerome Robbins passed away in 1998.

Music Theatre International 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 70,000 professional, community and school theatres in the U.S. and in over 60 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.

on stage next huron country playhouse

aug 7 to sept 1

huron country playhouse south huron stage

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staff ADMINISTRATION Artistic Director & CEO Alex Mustakas Executive Director Steven Karcher Associate Artistic Director David Connolly Director of Audience Services Ellen Berwick Director of Facilities Alan Card Director of Finance Siobhan Lovejoy Director of Human Resources Natasha Hopf Director of Marketing & Development Jonathan Randall Director of Production Dave Horner Accounting Clerk Joanne Labrecque Ticketing & Systems Specialist Randi Perriam ARTISTIC Artistic Administrator Brenley Charkow Artistic Administrative Assistant Stephanie Reeve AUDIENCE SERVICES Audience Services Manager Gary Good Box Office Manager Laurie Castro Box Office Supervisor Paige Corriveau AUDIO Head of Audio Allan McMillan Audio Assistant Nicholas Wadel-Tucotte MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT Development Manager Lindsay Bellaire Group, Events & Rentals Manager Karen De iuliis Community Engagement Specialist Danielle Dixon Marketing & Development Associates Nigel Gordijk Lia Tunstall

PRODUCTION Production Coordinator Jeff JohnstonCollins Technical Directors Lyle Franklin Jeff JohnstonCollins Austin Wilson Head of Electrics Lyle Franklin Head of Construction Rob Clarke Assistant Head of Construction Jenna Barry Lead Carpenter Lindsey Woelfle Carpenters John Bigelow John Graham Toofik Boulus Ajae Whittaker House Technicians Glenn Beckner El D’Almanda Matthew Canning Naomi Damasco Katrina Kosa Production Administrator Caitlyn Hill PROPS Head of Props Kat Theriault Senior Props Builder Madeline Samms Junior Props Builder Josiah Bosse SCENIC PAINT Senior Scenic Painters Frank Crickmore Kristen McCormick WARDROBE Head of Wardrobe Jenine Kroeplin Assistant Head of Wardrobe Jessica Pembleton Cutter Rachel Berchtold First Hand Joanna Lee Wardrobe Supervisor Julia Nelham Stitchers Sarah Hunsberger Heather McKenzie

Wardrobe Maintenance Grace Robinson Wig Stylist Anne May Rich Halliday FOR FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Audio Operator Ashley Lindsay Dressers Molly Fortier Sarah Hunsberger Flys Richard McLeod Follow Spot Operator Emery Oudshoorn Gill Brooks Running Crew Molly McCallum Phillip Ratcliff Vivi Valo HURON COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE Facility Manager Caitlyn Hill Mainstage House Manager Chris Morchain South Huron Stage House Manager Jason Dannock House Technician Richard McLeod Bartender Jordan Clarke Pamela Jonah Abby Verberne Box Office Staff Petra Aisenpreis Julia Barrett Stacy Bastiaansen Cassidy Galvin Custodian Chelsea Brooks DRAYTON ENTERTAINMENT YOUTH ACADEMY Director of Education David Connolly General Manager Natasha Hopf Marketing & Development Associate Christian Rose Arts Administrator Assistant Hanna Freitas Administrative Intern Simon Zenker

on stage next huron country playhouse

ur The Story of Frankie Valli and The Fo

Seasons

JULY 10 TO AUGust 3 How did four blue-collar guys from the streets of New Jersey climb the charts and make it to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame?

Have we got a story for you!

Book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice Music by Bob Gaudio Lyrics by Bob Crewe

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