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Friday, Aug. 27, 1971
THI SOUTHERN ISRAHJTE
‘Fiddler’ A Broadway Tradition
By George Friedman
New York City shouted “Ma
ze! tov!” the night of July 21
when “Fiddler on the Roof” be
came the longest-running musi
cal in Broadway history, its
2,845th performance surpassing
“Hello, Dolly!” Additionally,
Paul Lipson, with 1,582 perform
ances as Tevye as of that night,
appeared in the show for the
3,000th time over seven years.
“Fiddler,” which opened Sept.
22, 1964, was capitalized at
$375,000 and has returned 927
percent profit to its 147 invest
ors and to producer Harold
Prirtce. Total profits are at or
near the $7 million mark, ac
cording to Prince; the show has
been seen by 36.5 million per
sons in 32 lands, and the musi
cal score has been recorded on
61 different albums.
The production, adapted by
Joseph Stein from Sholom Alei-
chem’s tales of Jewish hardship
~~ THINKING
of Travel 9
Think of
the Travel Mart
11 Pryor St., S.W., Suit* 401 524-041)
Irvin Frank*' tarry Goldbarg
in Czarist Russia, won 10 An
toinette Perry (Tony) Awards.
The songs are by composer
Jerry Bock and lyricist Sheldon
Harnick. (Ironically, the Bock-
Harnick team’s other current
musical, based on the lives and
successes of th e inimitable
Rothschild, has been short on
box-office gelt.)
The July 21 audience was
treated to a half-the-night party
in the balloon-festooned Broad
way Theater. Recorded show
tunes competed for attention
with, of all things, a live bag
pipe band complete with kilts.
Noting the record-breaking
show’s “two-thousand, eight-
hundred forty-fifth perform
ance,” special guest John V.
Lindsay remarked that “that’s
about one-tenth the number of
years that I’ve been mayor of
New York City.” When his term
ends in 1974, His not-so-Jewish
Honor added, “I’m gonna ask
Paul Lipson to move over,
’cause I’m gonna play Trevye’.
(cq) If Pearl Bailey can do it
for “Hello, Dolly!” I can do it
for ‘Fiddler.’ ”
Author Stein was equally di
rect: “I don’t think it’s an oc
casion for false modesty—even
Religious School Registration
CONGREGATION
SHEARITH ISRAEL
... a Conservative congregation, is
pleased to announce registration in its
two conveniently located religious
school branches with students in
grades 1 through 7.
Northeast Branch, 1180 University
Dr., N. E.
Northcentral Branch, at the
High Point School, near
Sandy Springs.
For further information
please call the school office 873-3147
or the synagogue office, 873-1743.
for real modesty.” He then re
peated a comment by a produc
er of the Tokyo production: “Do
they understand this show in
America? It’s so very Japanese!”
Lyricist Harnack recalled that
director - choreographer Jerome
Robbins had thought of “Fid
dler” as an attempt to extend
the wrecked culture it por
trayed.
Original Tevye Zero Mostel,
tiptoeing globosely across the
stage with the aid of a cane—
which he later used to swat
photographers blocking the au
dience’s view of his antics-—•
commented: “There would be
no 300,000th night if it wasn’t
for the first night. If it were a
disaster, you and I would be
home having a hell of a good
time.” He closed on a serious
note. “It’s a wonderful thing
that Sholom Aleichem has be
come a greater and more accept
able author than, for instance,
Shakespeare. He runs longer—
seven years. But Sholom Alei
chem means ‘peace be with you,’
and that’s what it is all about.”
Another fact pointed up by
the occasion was the degree to
which Jewish talent figures in
the creation of Broadway hits.
If the 15 musicals that have
racked up 1,200 or more Broad
way performances, 13 have had
a Jewish writer or composer or
both.
There is “Fiddler,” of course,
with Stein, Harnick and Bock.
Then comes “Dolly” (2,845) with
songs by Jerry Herman. Alan
Jay Lerner and Frederick
L o e w e fashioned “My Fair
Lady” (2,717). “Man of la Man
cha” (2,328 as of July 21 and
still running) has a book by
Dale Wasserman and songs by
Joe Darion and Mitch Leigh.
“Oklahoma!” (2,212) and “South
Pacific” (1,925) were scored by
Richard Rodgers and written by
half-Jewish Oscar Hammerstein
II. Herman musicalized “Marne”
(1,508). Rodgers and Hammer
stein collaborated on “The
Sound of Music” (1,443). “How
to Succeed in Business Without
Really Trying” (1,417) was co
written by Abe Burrows and
scored by Frank Loesser. Sam
my Fain wrote the music for
“Hellzapoppin”’ (1,404). “Fun
ny Girl” (1,348) had songs by
Jule Styne an,d Bob Merrill.
‘The King and I” (1,246) was
Rodgers and Hammerstein
again, and “Guys and Dolls”
also teamed Burrows and Loes
ser. Only two of the 15 most
successful musicals—“The Music
Man” (1,375) and “Hair” (1,344
on July 21 and counting)—were
not spawned by Jews.
SOUTHEASTERN STATES REGION
Jewish National Fund
3158 MAPLE DRIVE, N. E.
ATLANTA, GA. 30305
404-237-1132
$835.00
per person inclusive*
Atlanta-to-Israel return
The Jewish National Fund Atlanta and Southeastern States
Region proudly announces its Official Study Mission and Pil
grimage to Israel and England leaving November 2, 1971, and
returning November 16, 1971.
This Study Mission was planned to give the touring dele
gate a better than just average experience. We will visit cen
ters of historic, cultural and strategic values. We will officially
dedicate the City of Atlanta Forest in Jerusalem.
No delegate will be required to assume a financial obliga
tion in order to become a delegate representing his commun
ity, Zionist, fraternal or synagogue organization.
For our detailed resume of the Mission itinerary please
contact JNF (404-237-1132) in Atlanta or the El A1 office
(522-3535).
The future of Broadway’s
“Fiddler" is uncertain, however.
It has been on two-fers (half-
price tickets) for some months
to keep it alive long enough to
pass “Dolly,” and the opening
of the film version Nov. 3 will
probably take many customers—
especially out-of-towners—away
from the stage production. The
film will star Israel’s (Haim)
Topol, Second Avenue’s Molly
Picon and “The Boys in the
Band’s” Leonard Frey. It is be
ing directed by Norman Jewison
(“The Russians Are Coming,”
“In the Heat of the Night”), who
despite his surname is a Metho
dist. ,
Copyright 1971, JTA
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a
new
adventure
a
new
horizon
in pre-school
education
The Hebrew Academy, Atlanta’s only
Day School, is happy to announce the
the formation of a pre-school enrichment
program for 3 and 4 year bid
youngsters.
The enrichment program will be patterned
along the same lines as the Hebrew
Academy, with special emphasis
upon bi-lingual and bi-cultural activities.
Sessions will be held in the educational
facilities of the Hebrew Academy,
located at 1829 N. Druid Hills Rd., N. E.
MEETING DAYS: MONDAY,
WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY
2:00 - 3:30 P. M.
First session:
September 22 - November 24
Class registration limited to 20 children.
Mrs. Sidney (Claire) Schwartz
Group leader
For additional information please call the
Hebrew Academy - 634-7388
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