'Fiddler' on The Ritz stage

PHOTO BY NICOLE WALBY Pictured are The Ritz Players during dress rehearsal Thursday for the production of "Fiddler on the Roof." Performances are to be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Feb. 25 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 26 at the 30 S. Washington St. theater. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for students. From a book by Joseph Stein, with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, "Fiddler on the Roof" is set in the village of Anatevka. The story centers on Tevye, a poor dairyman, and his five daughters. With the help of a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, Tevye tries to protect his daughters and instill them with traditional values in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia. The theme of "Fiddler on the Roof" is tradition cuts across barriers of race, class, nationality and religion. The audience will hear iconic songs such as "Sunrise, Sunset," "If I Were a Rich Man" and "Matchmaker, Matchmaker." Director Chris Joyce said she long had been involved with theater, but stepped away to be with her family. Now, she and her husband and two children all are involved. "It is great to come back as a family and have the opportunity to do this together," Joyce said. Cast members include Sean Joyce, Tiffin (Tevye); Amy Berger, Tiffin (Golde); Hannah Mathias, Tiffin (Tzeitel); Cheyane Thacker, Tiffin (Hodel); Enya Granados, Delaware (Chava); Britanie Botton, Tiffin (Yente); Rick Frederic, Tiffin (Lazar Wolf); Charles Groth, Bloomville (Motel); Kevin Held, Tiffin (Perchik); Dillon Sickels, Tiffin (Fyedka); Bob Derby, Bloomville (Constable); Maggie Joyce, Tiffin (Shprintze); Mollie Joyce, Tiffin (Bielke); Norman Gibat, Tiffin (Rabbi); John Kahler, Tiffin (Priest); Holly Rife, Tiffin (Grandma Tzeitel); Jennifer Denike, Findlay (Fruma-Sarah); Shayla Thomas, Tiffin (Nachum); Louis Dorsch, Tiffin (Yussel); Sandy Kimmel, Tiffin (Shaindel); Tyrek Hyde, Tiffin (Sasha); Josh Cunningham, Tiffin (Boris); Cory Lachner, Tiffin (Mendel); Nathan Morton, Tiffin (Mordcha); Jim Cook, Sycamore (Avram); and Seth Innis, Tiffin (Fiddler/Russian soloist). Ensemble cast members are Emma Charlton, Elizabeth Charlton, Ann Gillig, Zoe Halm, Esme Hummel-Sass, Rachel Hummel-Sass, Xander Hummel-Sass, Jennifer Kahler, Kennedy Lachner and Brynn Rees, all of Tiffin; Drew Denike, Tori Denike and C.J. Miller, all of Findlay; and Nancy Derby and Neil Groth, both of Bloomville. The choreographer is Laura Warren of Tiffin, music director is Dani Hummel-Sass of Tiffin and assistant director/stage manager is Jennifer Payne of Tiffin.