MEDIA CONTACT: Stacia Smith
561/297-2971, ssmith@fau.edu
FAU Continues Tradition of Classic Summer Theatre with
"Fiddler on the Roof" and "You Can't Take it With You"
BOCA RATON, FL (May 19, 2003) - Florida Atlantic University's School of the Arts continues its tradition of offering the South Florida community a rotating repertory of quality summer theatre with the smash Broadway musical "Fiddler on the Roof" and the comedy classic "You Can't Take it With You." The series, which opens Friday, June 18 and closes Sunday, July 18, takes place in the Dorothy F. Schmidt Performing Arts Center on FAU's Boca Raton campus, 777 Glades Road. Ticket prices are $16 for one show and $27 for both. Group rates are available for 20 or more, and FAU faculty, staff, students and alumni may purchase tickets for $10 with ID.
"Fiddler on the Roof," which includes music classics like "Sunrise, Sunset" and "Tradition," is based on a series of short stories written by Sholom Aleichem. The play tells the story of Tevye, the dairyman, and his attempts to preserve his family traditions in Russia of 1905. Tevye's eldest daughter wants to marry a poor tailor rather than the middle-aged butcher who has been chosen for her. Tevye must choose between his daughter's happiness and the traditions that keep his family and his people together. Tevye faces the challenges many fathers face, but worsened by an atmosphere of increasing anti-Semitism and threat in Tsarist Russia."
"This is a story of hope and resiliency," said Richard Gamble, associate professor of theatre at FAU and director of "Fiddler on the Roof." "It is about the celebration of life." The script for "Fiddler on the Roof" was written by Joseph Stein, the music by Jerry Bock and the lyrics by Sheldon Harnick.
The other play in FAU's summer lineup is the Pulitzer Prize winning play "You Can't Take it With You." This perennially appealing comedy has become an American classic. It is the story of the delightfully eccentric Vanderhof family, led by Grandpa, and consisting of his children, grandchildren and friends who came for a visit and never left. Tony Kirby, scion of a conservative Wall Street family, enters the scene with his interest in one of the Vanderhof daughters. When the Kirby family meets this group of artists, writers and inventors, the fireworks fly. The play was written by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. This production will be directed by Jean-Louis Baldet, professor of theatre at FAU.
Both productions will include performances by professional actors David Mann and Jerry Gulledge. Mann began his professional work as an actor in South Florida. He played the title role in the production of "Hamlet" at the New Theatre in Coral Gables, Florida. Mann was also part of the cast in "Smithereens," "The Weir," "Electra" and "Far East" at the New Theatre. Mann performed in "The Blue Room" at the Gable Stage and portrayed Beethoven for the Florida Philharmonic's "Beethoven on the Beach." Nationally, Mann has worked with such companies as The Old Globe in San Diego, Pasadena Playhouse and the Philadelphia Area Repertory Theatre.
Gulledge has spent most of his professional career in Florida. He played the part of Percival Browne in "The Boyfriend" at the Caldwell Theatre, and his many performances at the Royal Palm Dinner Theatre include Dr. Kitchell in "Bells are Ringing" and Nat in "Take Me Along." He has also performed from Philadelphia to Miami. Gulledge is a four-time Carbonell Award nominee, and he was awarded a Curtain Up Award for best actor for his portrayal of Juan Peron in "Evita."
The schedule for both plays follows:
"You Can't Take It With You"
Studio One Theatre
Friday, June 18 @ 8 pm
Saturday, June 19 @ 8 pm
Sunday, June 20 @ 2 pm
Friday, July 2 @ 8 pm
Saturday, July 3 @ 8 pm
Friday, July 9 @ 8 pm
Saturday, July 10 @ 8 pm
Wednesday, July 14 @ 8 pm
Thursday, July 15 @ 8 pm
Saturday, July 17 @ 2 pm
Sunday, July 18 @ 2 pm
"Fiddler on the Roof"
University Theatre
Friday, June 25 @ 8 pm
Saturday, June 26 @ 8 pm
Sunday, June 27 @ 2 pm
Saturday, July 3 @ 2 pm
Sunday, July 4 @ 4 pm
*Special celebration with fireworks
Thursday, July 8 @ 8 pm
Saturday, July 10 @ 2 pm
Sunday, July 11 @ 2 pm
Friday, July 16 @ 8 pm
Saturday, July 17 @ 8 pm
Festival Rep 2004 is presented by Bank of America, with support from The Palm Beach Post, Barnes and Noble, Coastal Graphics, Comcast, WXEL, and additional support from Marta and Jim Batmasian and Madelyn Savarick.
Tickets may be obtained by calling Ticketmaster at 561-966-3309 or 954-523-3309, calling FAU's box office at 561-297-3737 or by emailing ucboxoffice@fau.edu. For information about the shows, call 561-297-3810 or visit www.fau.edu/festivalrep. For further information about the School of the Arts in FAU's Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, call 561-297-2977 or go to www.fau.edu/artsupdate.
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