Lior to make musical theatre debut
PRESS RELEASE:
An impressive line-up of Australian talent has been assembled for the new production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, opening at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre from December 29th. Followed by a Sydney season at the Capitol Theatre from March 24th 2016.
Making his musical theatre debut playing the role of Motel, is ARIA award winnerLior.Renowned for his beautiful voice and songs that radiate truth and sincerity,Lioris one of Australia’s most successful singer- songwriters with his self-released debutAutumn Flow,achieving gold and numerous prestigious award nominations. His following three albums, national tours and musical projects have earned Lior an ARIA award and an impressive legion of fans in Australia and around the world.
As previously announced, Australian musical theatre superstar, Anthony Warlow, returns direct from Broadway to play the coveted role of Tevye. Anthony has spent the last three years treading the boards on Broadway playing Daddy Warbucks in Annie and most recently replacing Kelsey Grammar as Captain Hook in Finding Neverland.
Joining Anthony as his sharp-tongued wife Golde, is Australian stage and screen star, Sigrid Thornton. Having recently played the legendary Judy Garland, to critical acclaim, in the television mini-series Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door, the award winning actress is widely known for her lead role as Laura Joy Gibson in Sea Change. Not one to shy away from iconic roles, Sigrid’s notable stage credits include Blanche Dubois in the critically acclaimed production of A Streetcar Named Desire as well as Sondheim’s A Little Night Music in which she played opposite her onstage husband-to-be, Anthony Warlow.
Best known for his alter-ego ‘Con the Fruiterer’, Mark Mitchell will play Lazar Wolf, the wealthy butcher. Currently playing Shaun Micallef’s on screen wife in ABC’s The Ex PM, acclaimed actress Nikki Wendt will play the role of Yente, the meddlesome village matchmaker with further casting to be announced at a later date.
Producer Tim Lawson said of the impressive line-up, “To have cast Anthony in the title role, I thought the dream was complete, but to also have the privilege to work with Sigrid Thornton, arguably one of the country’s finest actors alongside the incredible comic forces of Mark and Nikki whilst welcoming Lior to the world of musical theatre is as much a treat for us as it promises to be for Melbourne and Sydney audiences’
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’s celebrated score by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, features songs loved the world over, Tradition, Sunrise Sunset, Matchmaker, To Life and of course, If I Were A Rich Man.
Written by Joseph Stein and based on Sholem Aleichem’s short story, ‘Tevye and His Daughters’, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF debuted at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway in 1964. It ran for 3,242 shows, becoming the longest-running musical in 1972. It won ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Director, as well as awards for author, producer, choreographer, costume design and, composer and lyricist. It won another Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical in 1991. In 1971, the movie version, starring Topol was nominated for Best Picture and picked up three Academy Awards. The show has enjoyed many London and Broadway revivals, the latest opening at the Broadway Theatre this November.
Set in 1905 in a small Jewish village in Tzarist Russia, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF tells the story of milkman Tevye and his attempts to preserve his family’s traditions in a changing world. One of Tevye’s 5 daughters, Tzeitel, wants to marry a poor tailor instead of a middle-aged butcher her father has chosen for her in the tradition of arranged marriages. The story follows Tevye as he attempts to hold onto his family values despite sweeping social change.
This new Australian production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is produced by Tim Lawson for The Works Entertainment, (The Illusionists, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, A Chorus Line), directed by the acclaimed Roger Hodgman (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) and boasts the award winning choreography by Jerome Robbins (West Side Story).
MELBOURNE – PRINCESS THEATRE – FROM DECEMBER 29
SYDNEY – CAPITOL THEATRE – FROM MARCH 24
TICKETS ON SALE NOW