Great Falls Theatre Company Presents
The Fiddler on the Roof
- Date: July 10, 11, 12th & 17, 18, 19th**
- Show Times: 7:00pm all dates **July 19th is a 2:00pm Matinee
- Box Office Opens 1 hour before Show Time
- Doors Opens 45 min before Show Time
- Venue: Great Falls High, Davidson Auditorium - 1900 2nd Ave S
Ryan Hurley
Director
Ryan is so grateful for the chance to help bring the beautiful and poignant story of Steel Magnolias back to Great Falls. This is Ryan’s 3rd endeavor with the Great Falls Theatre Company. The first playing Jud Fry in last summer’s production of Oklahoma! and second as the director of the holiday classic, Charlie Brown Christmas! He has been working in theatre for the better part of 25 years. Originally from Ohio, he majored in Theatre Studies at Wright State University. He would like to thank and acknowledge the board, cast, and production team for all of their hard work, dedication, support, and passion for the arts. Also, a special thanks to his partner/stage manager Tim, for his unconditional love, and unwavering support. Ryan would like to dedicate this show to his sister Amy, to all the women of his life, and to his father who recently passed. Thank you so much for coming to our show, and supporting the local arts. Get your tissues ready, and please, enjoy the show!
Fiddler on the Roof
Synopsis:
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 or around 1905. It is based on “Tevye the Dairyman” and other short stories by Sholem Aleichem. The story centers on Tevye, a milkman in the village of Anatevka, who attempts to maintain his Jewish traditions as outside influences encroach upon his family’s lives. He must cope with the strong-willed actions of his three older daughters who wish to marry for love; their choices of husbands are successively less palatable for Tevye. An edict of the tsar eventually evicts the Jews from their village.
The original Broadway production of the show, which opened in 1964, had the first musical theatre run in history to surpass 3,000 performances. Fiddler held the record for the longest-running Broadway musical for almost 10 years until Grease surpassed its run. The production was extraordinarily profitable and highly acclaimed. It won nine Tony Awards, including best musical, score, book, direction and choreography. It spawned five Broadway revivals and a highly successful 1971 film adaptation and has enjoyed enduring international popularity. It has also been a popular choice for school and community productions.
Directors Note:
Most recognize Steel Magnolias as the iconic Hollywood chick flick from 1989. A film truly of its time, and written by the same man who wrote the stage version. I believe the play, in its own right, is just as much or even more so a timeless classic. Robert Harling wrote it shortly after his sister passed away of diabetic complications in 1985. In his grief, he essentially crafted a Greek tragedy nuanced with the modern day female experience, stylings of the late 80’s, and good old fashion southern hospitality. It is a story about community, friendship, parent-child relationships, grief, and the resilience of the human spirit. Most importantly it is a story that is grounded in truth. Just like the neighborhood ladies who regularly frequent Truvy’s salon, we as a community know each other through the peaks and valleys of life. We see each other through the bad times, and we celebrate the good. Although this story may be a poignant one, it is richly decorated with clever candor, witty banter, generosity, great humor, love, and hope. Thank you so much for showing up for local arts and joining us as we pay tribute to the ones who have the courage to stand by us during our most difficult times. To the ones who are as delicate as magnolias, and are as tough as steel, we honor you. Please, enjoy the show.
“If you want the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain.”
- Dolly P
Best regards, Ryan