Fiddler on the Roof auditions

BrassNeck Theatre are presenting Fiddler on the Roof from 13 – 17 November 2012 at Yeadon Town Hall.

Auditions are being held at Guiseley Theatre from 11:00 to 15:00 on Sunday 11 March 2012.

A full character plot is detailed below.  To register your interest and obtain audition pieces, contact Barbara Matthews by email or on 0113 2505011.

Directors notes

Fiddler is one of the true classics of Musical Theatre, a great script and score culminating in a powerful piece of theatre. Our intention is to modernise the piece finding new twists in the characters and exploiting the dark side and humour of the piece, not unlike Sweeney Todd.  Often when you see Fiddler the casting does not make sense. You usually have a 60 year old man and woman with 16 to 25 year old daughters (for the main 3) and then two younger ones, making them unrealistically old parents.  I see the cast of Fiddler as a much younger and more dynamic group than is often the case. After all the max life expectancy under Tsar rule was 55 for a peasant with an average of 47.3 year life expectancy.  It is absolutely a piece that suits our company and will show the public that we can tackle anything.

Character plot

TEVYE, THE DAIRYMAN – Playing age 40
Tevye is a likeable, hard-working, pious man who sees the positive side of life. Strong patriarch but gentle father of 5 daughters he has raised according to the Scriptures. He is humorous and relaxed, but when pushed, can show stubbornness and rage. Strong actor who must carry the show and have a good connection with the audience.

GOLDE, TEVYE’S WIFE – Playing age 40
Golde is the real strength behind Tevye, the one who keeps the household going. She is very concerned that her daughters make good matches and have easier lives than she & Tevye have had. Good comic timing for very funny lines.

YENTE, THE MATCHMAKER – No playing age
Yente is usually a middle-aged widow who matches up the young people of the village in the hopes that they will marry. I don’t see any reason why she has to be middle-aged all that is necessary is that she is the village busybody and knows all the news of the town. She is the comedienne of the show.

LAZAR WOLF, THE BUTCHER – Playing age 35+
Lazar is the town’s wealthiest citizen. He wants to marry, by traditional parental agreement, Tevye’s daughter, Tzeitel. Promising to give her a good & secure life. A feisty, comic role.

TZEITEL, THE ELDEST DAUGHTER – Playing age 25
Tzeitel is the first daughter to marry and the first to challenge the traditions. She has a desperate crying scene with Tevye when faced with marrying Lazar Wolf instead of Motel, who she really loves. A strong dramatic actress.

MOTEL, THE TAILOR – Playing age 25
Motel is a rather meek & poor tailor who seeks the hand of Tzeitel, and comes into his own in the process! This is a terrific character role needing a sensitive, nervous but loveable portrayal.

HODEL, THE 2ND ELDEST DAUGHTER – Playing age 20
Hodel becomes intrigued with the radical, young student, Perchik. She eventually leaves Anatevka to join him in Siberia where he is imprisoned for his reform activities. Hodel sings a haunting solo as she says goodbye to her father at the train station.

PERCHIK, THE STUDENT – Playing age 22
Perchik is a visitor to Anatevka, and therefore, an outsider. He brings with him radical new ideas that challenge the traditions. He falls for Hodel. This role requires an actor capable of showing intensity and an unfailing commitment to his beliefs.

CHAVA, THE 3RD ELDEST DAUGHTER – Playing age 16

Chava is the scholarly daughter who loves to read. She falls in love and runs off with Fyedka, a Russian soldier, and breaks her father’s heart. This role requires a capable dramatic actress who can perform an emotional dance.

FYEDKA, A RUSSIAN SOLDIER – Playing age 20
Fyedka, a strong young soldier, sees past his military obligations and falls in love with Chava. He challenges Tevye’s imposed silence towards him. Fyedka has a solo in “To Life” and dances a Russian dance with his fellow soldiers.

SHPRINTZE & BIELKE – Playing age 10 – 14
The two youngest daughters of Tevye & Golde. They take lessons at home from Perchik & appear in several scenes with some speaking lines.

THE RABBI
Anatevka’s Jewish spiritual leader.

MENDEL, THE RABBI’S SON
The Rabbi’s son. He is uncertain of the presence of Perchik in the village.

MORDCHA, THE INNKEEPER
Runs the bar in town and is a friend of Tevye.

AVRAM, THE BOOKSELLER
Runs the bookshop in town and keeps the town advised of all of the news in the area.

GRANDMA TZEITEL
Grandma Tzeitel is a ghost figure who appears in the Dream Scene and has a wonderful solo, endorsing the marriage of Tzeitel to Motel.

FRUMA-SARAH
Fruma-Sarah is also a ghost figure who appears in the Dream Scene. She portrays Lazar Wolf’s departed wife & becomes enraged that her husband plans on marrying Tzeitel. It is a show-stopping scene requiring a strong singer to carry a challenging solo. This actress will also appear as a villager.
This could be played by a woman or a man.

NACHUM
The town beggar

YUSSEL
The town Hatter

SHANDEL
The mother of MOTEL.

SASHA & BORIS
Fyedka’s Russian friends & fellow soldiers.

PRIEST
Christian spiritual leader. Will also play a villager.

VILLAGERS, RUSSIANS & DANCERS
These chorus members will portray the people of the village as either Papas, Mamas, Sons or Daughters. Also, Russian soldiers and featured dancers. There will be double casting in these areas as needed. Some smaller speaking roles & solos will be determined during rehearsals.