Fiddler on the Roof
at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Reviewed on May 1, 2015

Jessica Scarano
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

Tradition is challenged in the town of Anatevka when Tevye's three oldest daughters are ready to be matched and married. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology beautifully captures this idea and creates an inspiring tale of love and family in their production of Fiddler on the Roof.

Fiddler on the Roof made its Broadway debut in 1964 with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. The show won nine out of ten Tony nominations including best musical and ran for a total of 3,242 performances. The show was later adapted into a movie in 1971 and has had multiple revivals and remains popular among theatregoers today. Tevye, a poor Jewish milkman, is ready to give away his daughters using the old custom of matchmaking. When his oldest daughter challenges that concept, the others are quick to follow and Tevye struggles to uphold tradition within his home.

Leading the show in the role of Tevye was Gavin Moore. Moore carried the show with his bold stage presence and excellent comedic timing. In addition, Moore remained consistent with his character choices and strong vocals throughout the production. Tevye's wife Golde, Kira Becker, maintained exceptional physicality as well as admirable vocals. Moore and Becker sustained wonderful and authentic chemistry from start to finish. The whole cast brought boundless energy and superb dancing during the number "To Life." The Russian dance ensemble was a standout during this number with their intricate steps and outstanding mastery of choreography.

Tevye's daughter Hodel was portrayed brilliantly by Sophia Martinese. Martinese sustained a charming stage presence along with beautiful vocals. Alongside Martinese was Michael Ryjik in the role of Perchik. Ryjik performed with believable physicality as well as bold character choices. Ryjik and Martinese had fantastically believable chemistry that was enjoyable to watch as the story unfolded. Another talented addition to the cast was the iconic fiddler (Anna Tsutsui). Tsutsui played remarkably and kept the pacing of the show up. Not to be forgotten is Abby Peterson in the role of Yente the matchmaker. Peterson had terrific physicality and played the old women with confidence and ease. Lazar Wolfe (Hugo Kessler) had tremendous comedic timing and a great deal of energy.

Aiding the talented actors were excellent technical elements. The orchestra played marvelously and accompanied the cast through their scene transitions. The large and versatile set was very visually interesting as well as extremely detailed. The house was cleanly built and was moved effortlessly around the stage. The costumes were very well done and complied with the time period. At some points, there were some minor difficulties with the sound system, but overall, the actors did an exceptional job of projecting. The house was very well decorated and Tevye's wagon was expertly crafted.

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology put on a compelling production of Fiddler on the Roof that was not only engaging, but also delightfully endearing.

Isabel Zapata
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

Anatevka: a Russian town where Slavic folk music, matchmakers, and the patriarchy make up the heart of social customs and family tradition. However, on the Thomas Jefferson High School stage, the consequences of revolutionary ideas take Anatevka and its people by storm, unfolding in the musical Fiddler On The Roof.

With music and lyrics by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, respectively, The Fiddler on the Roof tradition began in 1964 with the first Broadway run to surpass 3,000 performances. The musical follows a dairyman named Tevye in 1905, depicting his struggle between his orthodox Jewish beliefs and his daughters' desire to marry for love. Tevye and Golde, his wife, are anxious to marry off their daughters and uphold the traditions of their religion in a rapidly changing world, but as each daughter falls for a less-than orthodox man, Tevye is forced to choose between his daughters' happiness and loyalty to his traditional customs.

Even before the first moment he walks on stage, Gavin Moore completely embodies the witty but exasperated Tevye, appropriately representing his old age by walking stiffly and hunching slightly over, even though dance numbers. Although he incorporates a character voice, Moore's behavior remains entirely natural throughout the performance, especially in his chemistry with Kira Becker, who plays Golde, his wife. Moore not only presents his acting talent, but also his knack for comedic timing and his ability to sing on pitch and with soothing vocal quality throughout the tough numbers. As one of the best female vocalists on stage, Sophie Martinese reveals rich, bright vocals alongside her superb portrayal of Hodel, staying committed to her rebellious character while creating convincing chemistry with Michael Ryjik, who plays Perchik with excellent stage presence and charisma.

The production springs to life with the energetic and dedicated ensemble, which complement each scene and add more to the spectacle of the show. The male dancers particularly stand out in the crowd-favorite number "To Life", where Richard Li astounds the audience with a perfect mid-air split. The dancers boisterously but comically interact with the Jewish townspeople at the bar, all the while committing to traditional Russian dance moves and maintaining dynamic energy. Woorin Jang also exhibits her talent as a dancer, committing to the rhythm and displaying her technical capacities. As the prying but well-intentioned matchmaker Yente, Abby Peterson keeps the audience chuckling with her comedic dexterity, delivering her lines with the best diction and projection of the cast members. Although working with very few lines, Keaton Lee transforms his Rabbi character into one of the most appreciated sources of comedic relief in his scenes.

Complementing the production and adding to its realism, the technical qualities of Fiddler on The Roof are well executed and enjoyable. The music (TJ Symphony Orchestra) is excellently timed, the musicians always mindful and aware of the action on stage, catching up or slowing down with an actor that strayed from the rhythm. The Fiddler, played by Anna Tsutsui, flawlessly plays the musical theme, enrapturing the audience with her melodic performance. Transforming from the exterior to the entire of the house through a revolve, the set adds to the shifts in mood and atmosphere. Costumes and makeup remain cohesive and true to the time period with minimalistic design and organic color palettes.

Complete with humorous bickering, an enchanting cast, and skillful production elements, Thomas Jefferson High School accomplishes an impressive rendition of Fiddler on the Roof, manifesting the hardships of a peaceful village when confronted by monumental change in their traditional community.

Charlotte Rodger
Bishop Ireton High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

A sharp-tongued wife, a matchmaker, and Jewish tradition. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology brings "Fiddler on the Roof" to the stage Friday night.

"Fiddler on the Roof" is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in the Pale of Settlement of Imperial Russia in 1905. Based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem, Fiddler on the Roof takes place in Anatevka, a village in Tsarist Russia during the eve of the revolution. Tevye is a poor milkman who cares for his five daughters. While he and the rest of the elders in the village are deeply rooted in tradition, his daughters' forward thinking clashes with Tevye's principles and causes a rift in the family.

Gavin Moore plays the caring Tevye, a father of five. As Tevye tries to keep Jewish tradition alive in his family as his daughters want to marry, Moore plays the perfect concerned father. His vocals shone through in his solo song, "If I Were a Rich Man". Playing opposite of Moore was Kira Becker as Tevye's strong-headed wife, Golde. Becker kept a consistent accent throughout the show, and had perfect comedic timing. A standout couple of the show were Sophia Martinese and Michael Ryjik as Hodel and Perchik, respectively. The two had a convincing chemistry that had the audience feeling compassion for their relationship, making their song together, "Now I Have Everything" an emotional one.

Of course, no production of "Fiddler" is complete without an actual fiddler. Anna Tsutsui as Fiddler, played the violin on what sounded like a professional level. The Company had glimmering vocals which shone through in their incredible harmonies throughout the show. The most impressive ensemble of the show was the Male Dancers. They tackled tough choreography including a traditional Jewish dance in which they danced with bottles balanced on their heads, making the Male Dancers a crowd favorite.

Technical aspects are what finish off any show. The set portrayed a classic village, including moving and rotating set pieces. Costumes were visually pleasing, well fitting, and accurate to the period. Although there were issues with mics at times, actors' diction and projection made up for them.

With great energy and enthusiasm, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology performs what will leave an audience satisfied from "Sunrise," to "Sunset".

Emma Paquette
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - Fairfax

Traditions are what keep cultures intact and connect them to their long histories. But as time changes, so must customs, even if it seems difficult. Even old ways were new once. In their performance of Fiddler on the Roof, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology's many talented actors affectingly portrayed the difficulties of change.

Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein. The original Broadway run opened in 1964 and won nine out of its ten Tony nominations, including Best Musical. The story takes place in 1905 in a small village of Imperial Russia and centers on Tevye, a Jewish milkman and the longsuffering father of five daughters. Tevye must wrestle with his devotion to Jewish customs as his eldest daughters fall in love in increasingly unconventionally ways while the Tsar's orders to evict the Jews from Russia move closer and closer to his little village.

The show was led ably by Gavin Moore embodying the role of Tevye. In contrast to a few actors, Moore displayed his character's age convincingly with a weary voice and slower physicality. Moore was also brilliant in comedy, hitting the timing and inflections of his jokes just right, particularly in his solo conversations with God. Among his three daughters, Moore's relationship with Hodel (Sophia Martinese) was the most touchingly heartfelt. Martinese herself possessed a stunningly gorgeous voice that soared bittersweetly through her ballad "Far From the Home I Love." She also had natural chemistry with love interest Perchik, played with commanding charisma by Michael Ryjik.

The ensemble were the real stars of the show with gorgeous harmonies and energetic dancing that was full of stunts. The dance in "To Life" was especially impressive with acrobatics and jumps. Richard Li wowed with three successive splits in mid-air. Woorin Jang also showed impressive skill in "Chavaleh (Little Bird)" with graceful movements and long extensions that captured the melancholy mood. The smaller parts also helped to add atmosphere to the show. Yente, the matchmaker, was hilarious with her gravely voice and monologues that continued without seeming to have a breath in between. Both fit very well with the personality of the energetic and headstrong old woman.

The technical elements were undoubtably simple but highly effective in creating an appropriate environment for the show to transpire. Costumes were cohesive, creating a consistent image on stage, while also being appropriate for the time period of the show. Tevye's wagon, handcrafted, was also incredible, seeming both functional and weathered from years of work. The set was cleverly reversible, turning the stage from outside to inside with a simple turn. The orchestra must also be heartily congratulated for their mastery of the score; whenever actors sped up or slowed down, the orchestra was right there to cover for them.

In the end, the important thing is to do what is right, not what is proper. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology's earnest performance conveyed this message with commitment.

Marielle Burt
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Insidenova - Sun Gazette

Thomas Jefferson High School's "Fiddler on The Roof" was a gleaming rendition of a golden-age musical. From the lone fiddler's meandering melody, to the athletic, rivalrous dance numbers, to the endearing love duets, every moment was a delight.

When "Fiddler on The Roof" premiered on broadway in 1964, audiences went wild. "Fiddler" was the first show in musical history to surpass 3,000 performances, and it won 10 Tony Awards, including best musical. Noted for his witticism and snark, Joseph Stein wrote the book, drawing inspiration from Sholem Aleichem's tales about jewish shetl life in the late 1800s. The composer Jerry Bock and the lyricist Sheldon Harnick are responsible for the show's genius musical numbers that have become anthems of classic broadway. The show is set in the small Russian town Anatevka and revolves around a traditional Jewish family: Tevye, the conservative, protective father, Golde, the mother whose goal in life is to find suitable husbands for her children, and their five daughters who are a little too progressive and little too quick to fall in love for their parents' comfort.

The male dance ensemble led the energy of the cast with its virile dance numbers, including the riotous bar celebration "To Life," and "Wedding Dance", with its iconic bottle-balancing-on-head dance sequence that thrills and impresses. Richard Li was a standout among the dancers, executing every move with precision and wowing the audience with his 180 degree split-jump.

Other memorable songs included the "Sabbath Prayer," in which the cast stood in the aisles and sang in perfect harmony, candles in hand. This ritual atmosphere conveyed a wonderful sense of place powerful feeling of community.

Gavin Moore, as Tevye, was a born comedian. Taking full advantage of Tevya's oddball character, Moore put the audience in stitches with little more than a well-timed shoulder shrug. Moore conveyed great maturity with his raspy voice and genuine fatherly affection towards his daughters.

Sophia Martinese, as Hodel, the second eldest of Tevye's daughters, and Michael Ryjik, as Perchik, the rebel outsider who sweeps Hodel off her feet, were a perfect young-love couple. Their timid flirtation was both adorable and believable. Additionally, Martinese's pure soprano was a highlight of the production.

Abby Peterson, as Yente, the gossipy, old village matchmaker, was hilarious. Peterson was also spot on in her second role as Golde's dead mother, who invades Tevye's dream clad in a glittering dress. With her wry wit as Yente and bold showiness as Golde's mother, Peterson proved an impressively versatile performer.

The technical elements of the production brought the little town of Anatevka to life. The set featured a shingled-roof hovel, adroitly designed to reveal the inside of the house when turned around. Costumes consisted of neutral Russian-style peasant garments, that all fit well and were true to the time period. The props crew had a keen eye for detail: Tevye's cart, crafted from miscellaneous wood pieces, was remarkably realistic. The student orchestra was also worthy of praise -- these high school musicians sounded as good as any professional ensemble. Anna Tsutsui, who played the fiddle solos on stage, had a clear mastery of her instrument, never missing a note even as she pranced around on stage.

By the end of the night, the cast of Thomas Jefferson's "Fiddler on The Roof" proved that "Tradition" has its merits -- at least in the case of this sensational classic.

Maura O'Reilly
Washington Lee High School
Submitted for publication to Alexandria Times

A fiddler on the roof. Tradition. The cultural struggle between Jews and Russians. Love not made from a matchmaker. All are themes that you would find in a production of Fiddler on the Roof, and Thomas Jefferson High School does an excellent job encompassing and emphasizing those themes.

Originally produced on Broadway in 1964, Fiddler was directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins and garnered nine Tony Awards and ten Tony nominations. This poignant tale tells the story of Tevye, a Jewish milkman, and his poverty-stricken family. His oldest three daughters, Tzeitel, Hodel, and Chava, fall for men in the village and do not have their matches set up for them by the matchmaker in town, Yente, therefore shocking their parents and the rest of the village. As the daughters get married one by one, the tensions between the Jews and the Russians increase until the eventual eviction of the Jews from Anatevka.

Leading the cast was Gavin Moore, as the gruff yet humorous Tevye. As Tevye maneuvered his way through the twists and turns of his daughters' disobedience and his extreme lack of wealth, Moore kept the audience chuckling with his precise comedic timing. Moore was able to access Tevye's paternal insecurities, as well as the undying love for his daughters and gruff shell with ease. Tzeitel was portrayed beautifully and maturely by Heather Lukas. Sophia Martinese and her saccharine voice shone as Hodel, especially in the emotionally moving "Far From the Home I Love". Chava (Debi Das) provided believable tension within the storyline through Das' tough and loving qualities.

Also shining in the cast were the three love interests to the daughters: Motel (Arjun Guidroz), Perchik (Michael Ryjik), and Fyedka (Adrien Bernard). All three young men provided real reasons for the daughters to fall for them, with their kind demeanor and devotion. Kira Becker as Golde stood out in her strictly sassy imperatives. Also deserving of a shoutout was Brittany Csik and Olivia DePasquale (as seen at the Friday, May 1st performance) as Shprintze and Bielke respectively. Both young ladies maintained a high energy level throughout the show, infecting the rest of the cast with their spunky appearances.

The ensemble held together the larger scenes in the show with their commitment, although lacking in energy at times. However, they maintained a beautiful choral ensemble sound consistently, and executed the harmony-filled score very well. They were accompanied by the seemingly flawless student orchestra, conducted by Ms. Jennifer Lowery, who also directed the production. When paired with the orchestra, the costumes (designed and created by Mikaela Ruiz-Ramon, Masha Goykhberg, and Debi Das) and the set (designed by Julia Lee, Rebecca Linick, Mikaela Ruiz-Ramon, Kanvi Shah, and Emily Rogers), created a realistic representation of the poor town of Anatevka, although with the occasional long scene change.

Thomas Jefferson's Fiddler on the Roof provided what Fiddler should provide-- a sense of family strength, the love of a human, and the eternal belief conflict-- in a way that many high schools have trouble with. Jefferson tackled it with ease and finesse, and the strong cast alongside the meticulous technical aspects created a moving and excited piece that left the audience remembering the tasks that the family had to go through.

Samantha Morley
Washington Lee High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

Come out to enjoy the balance of cultures!

Fiddler on the Roof is a well-known musical based in a tradition-brimmed Russian village, Anatevka, in the early 1900s. Once the longest running show on Broadway, this story has brought to life the story of "Tevye and his Daughters," by Sholem Aleichem, many times over. The confliction between traditional values and feminist rights presented in this timeless piece ran parallel to the modern ongoing push for equalities between men and women.

Thomas Jefferson High School's production of Fiddler on the Roof was anchored by their phenomenal orchestra. Though members of the cast sometimes fell out of sync, the orchestra did a marvelous job of adapting to the new beat. The fiddler, Anna Tsutsui, did a wonderful job of embodying this as she sat perched on the roof, "scratch[ing] out a pleasant, simple tune" above the characters and the audience alike. The relationships between the characters themselves also helped bring this script to life, especially as seen in the warm and life-like relationship between the sisters in "Matchmaker, Matchmaker." The cast made good use of their space, both onstage and in the aisles.

"As the good book says," the lead actor in this production, Tevye, played by Gavin Moore, brought the house down on several occasions with his sarcastic and witty dialogue. Despite the times changing around him Tevye stuck to his tradition, but was able to adapt for the sake of his beloved daughters' happiness. The sisters in this show, played by Heather Lukas, Sophia Martinese, and Debi Das, showed an excellent display of sisterhood. The attraction between Chava and Perchik onstage was wonderfully executed and brought another level to the radical and his love. Because of the tradition in their little town, Yente, played by Abby Peterson, the town matchmaker, was a central character to the life of the town and often comedically mistaken about the actual events occurring in the plot.

The technical aspects of this show especially helped transport the audience to the setting of the story. The men of this show were adorned with beards, as the men traditionally sported this kind of facial hair. The costumes the actors wore displayed many earthy tones in the realistic garb of the area. The wonderful music especially helped bring the audience to the place of the show.

All in all, Thomas Jefferson High School brought this tradition(al) show to life.

Charlotte Kuhn
Bishop Ireton High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Between bottle dancers, nightmares, and a mischievous matchmaker, chaos comes to the close-knit community of Anatevka in Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology's production of "Fiddler on the Roof."

"Fiddler," written by Joseph Stein with music and lyrics by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, follows the story of a family in the Jewish village of Anatevka in 1905 Imperial Russia. The family feels torn apart as the three eldest daughters are pulled farther and farther from the town as they marry and move away from Jewish custom. Their father, Tevye, worries about his daughters breaking tradition as well as the fate of his beloved village.

Senior Gavin Moore upheld the challenging role of Tevye, the devout patriarch of the family. With consistent, albeit repetitive, character choices, Moore clearly and accurately utilized his talents in this emotional yet comedic role, performing numbers such as "If I Were a Rich Man" and "Chavelah." Tevye's main concern as a character was his family. Most notably, Sophia Martinese performed the role of Tevye's second daughter, Hodel. With impressive vocals and emotional intensity, Martinese filled this role with grace and vibrance. Hodel falls in love with a Bolshevik revolutionary, Perchik. Taking on this role was Michael Ryjik. His emotions mirrored those of Martinese, creating believable chemistry between the pair.

This show was additionally graced with a talented ensemble. With strong vocals and harmonies, they made up for a lack of energy at certain points. Additionally, the ensemble proved themselves as skilled dancers, particularly in scenes such as "To Life." Standing out from the crowd of townspeople was Abby Peterson, doing double duty as both Yente, the matchmaker, and Fruma Sarah, the deceased wife of the butcher. Her unexpected flair and comic timing added a necessary element to the show.

Creating Anatevka is no easy task. Using a rotating set piece to depict both indoor and outdoor scenes, Thomas Jefferson provided a look into this tiny town. Furthermore, the costumes helped to round out this vision. Aside from a few issues with lighting and sound, the technical aspects of this show were overall pleasing.

Thomas Jefferson High School's production of "Fiddler on the Roof" followed the "Tradition" of being an overall commendable show. With skillful dance sequences and a strong family dynamic, Anatevka did not feel "Far From the Home I Love."