By by lindsey Sherrill
newsroom@atmoreadvance.com
On Sunday, May 25, the Greater Escambia Council for the Arts held auditions for the summer production of Fiddler On The Roof. More than fifty people tried out for the production, which requires over 100 characters.
The production team for the show is made up of the Directors, Phil Johnson, Jerry Janes and Alison Robinson. Dayton Long is the Assistant Director. Shea Johnson will be the accompanist, and Jerold Stahly and Jennifer Couch will share choreographers duties.
Johnson says that he is excited about the show and his cast. "Last night [at the first music rehearsal] when I heard the cast sing 'Sabbath Prayer' I got chills up and down my arms. It's going to be a great number." This year will feature Johnson in a slightly different role than in the past-for the first time in 27 years he will be directing a show that he does not also act in.
Glenn Weber was cast in the lead role as Tevye. "I'm looking forward to seeing Glen take the stage," said Johnson. "He's a new face and should bring some excitement to the stage. We're also glad to have Jennifer [Couch] back this year." She was cast in the role of Tevye's wife, Golde.
Megan Martin, Meagan Adams, and Haley Pearson will play the three older daughters, Tzeitel, Hodel, and Chava. The younger daughters, Shprintze, Bielke, and Chiffra, will be played by Ellen Johnson, Caitlyn Luttrell, and Morgan Weber.
Other principle characters include Amy Merker as Yente, the Matchmaker, Leo Hursh as Motel, Eugene Berry as Perchik, Jerry Gehman as Lazar Wolf, Tom McGinty as Mordcha, Karl Robinson as the Rabbi, Jerold Stahly as Avram, Steve Billy as Nachum, Lindsey Sherrill as Grandma Tzeitel, Steve Billy as Uncle Mordecai, Cathy Coxwell as Fruma-Sarah, Lindsey Sherrill as Shaindel, Nathan Lindsey as Yussel, Jerold Stahly as the Fiddler, Billy Nelson as the first man, Timothy Huber as the second man, Ellis Beachy as the Fifth man, Billy Nelson as the priest, Lisa Greenwood as the Woman on the Street, Deanna Hart as Mirala, and Kate Sherrill as the First Woman.
Other characters in the play are The Sons, played by Christopher Huber, Brandon Patterson, and Daniel Johnson; the Beaus, played by Frisco Gehman, Stephen Billy, and Joseph Billy; the Daughters, played by Emily Moore, Jacinda Stahly, Kendra Beachy, Laura Hursh, Meg Sherrill, Meagan Hart, and Molly Barnett; the Mamas, played by Judith Stahly, Judy Huber, Lisa Greenwood, Deanna Hart, Sharon Poulsen, Mary Beachy, Faith Gehman, Pam Dees, Sheri Hursh, and Wanetta McGinty; the Russians, played by Karl Robinson, Timothy Huber, Bryant Pitts, Stephen Billy, Joseph Billy, and Ellis Beachy; the Ghosts, played by Terri Bumann, Laura Hursh, Nathan Lindsey, Judith Stahly, Mary Beachy, Kate Sherrill, Deanna Hart, Pam Dees, Sheri Hursh, Sharon Poulsen, Wanetta McGinty, Stephen Billy, Tom McGinty, Jerry Gheman, Jerold Stahly, and Faith Gehman; the Wedding Guests, played by Terri Bumann, Nathan Lindsey, Lindsey Sherrill, Cathy Coxwell, Kate Sherrill, Deanna Hart, Judith Stahly, Steve Billy, Sharon Poulsen, Wanetta McGinty, Sheri Hursh, and Meagan Hart; and the wedding Dancers, Jerold Stahly and Tom McGinty.
The show will be performed July 25-27 at the Escambia County High School. What the Advance for more information on tickets and show times.