IF YOU GOWhat: "Fiddler on the Roof."When: Through Dec. 9.Where: Cumberland County Playhouse, 221 Tennessee Ave., Crossville, Tenn.Admission: $24 adults, $23 seniors, $22 groups, $12 children/students.Phone: 931-484-5000.Website: www.ccplayhouse.com.ALSO PLAYING* "Smoke on the Mountain," through Oct. 29.* "Dearly Departed," through Nov. 12.
"Fiddler on the Roof," a nine-time Tony Award winner, is the newest entry to the lineup at Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, Tenn.
The production, which plays through Dec. 9, reunites the Playhouse's Carol Irvin and producing director Jim Crabtree as the central couple, Golde and Tevye, leading a company of 50 on and offstage.
In this musical of faith, family and tradition, Tevye is father to five daughters amid changing times in 1905 Tsarist Russia. He defends family and religion, but his three oldest daughters find love outside the Jewish traditions that he and Golde honor.
Daughter Tzeitel (alternates Leila Nelson and Emily Woods) loves Motel the tailor (Greg Pendzick), but Yente, the village matchmaker (Weslie Webster), suggests wealthy butcher Lazar Wolf (Jason Ross).
Hodel and Perchik (Lindy Pendzick, Daniel Black) and Chava and Fyedka (Ali Gritz, Austin Price) also find love without the matchmaker, but Tevye tries to demand marriage in the faith. In the face of pogroms, religious persecution and a changing world, the family must find a new life, and a new nation, in America.
Scenery is by Robert Cothran, head of design for a generation at Knoxville's Clarence Brown Company and UT Theaters. Crabtree and John Fionte co-direct, with music directed by Ron Murphy and Leila Nelson as choreographer.
"Fiddler on the Roof" opened on Broadway in 1964 and was the first musical to surpass 3,000 performances. Music is by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and book by Joseph Stein.