Mazal Tov!

Published 7:00 pm Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Kitsap Children’s Musical Theater is presenting one of the most popular musicals to hit Broadway, “Fiddler on the Roof (junior version),” but it wasn’t easy getting permission to stage it.

That wasn’t because of any controversial elements of the musical about a small Jewish village in late 19th century Russia. It was just a matter of timing.

“I’ve been wanting to do this musical for quite a while,” Kerby Criss, KCMT director said. “But the timing never worked out.”

Licensing requirements for the show stipulate that there can only be one production of “Fiddler” at a time within a 70-mile radius.

“They don’t understand that we’re on the other side of the water from Seattle,” Criss said, so she had to compete with any productions in the Seattle area, too.

Between that and booking the North Kitsap Auditorium around school events, she might have had an easier time dancing on a rooftop while playing the fiddle.

But, at long last, the show will go on.

Kitsap Children’s Musical Theater presents “Fiddle on the Roof, Jr.” June 30 through July 10 at the North Kitsap Auditorium in Poulsbo.

“Fiddler” has a huge cast — 52 children ages 7 to 17, from 17 different schools across Kitsap County. Criss casts every child who auditions, which often means double casting lead roles. She has worked out a system of a “younger and/or shorter” cast and a second “older and/or taller” cast, which alternate productions.

In this case, the role of Golde, the mother of a clan of strong-willed daughters, is played by 14-year-old Jessica Balk and 13-year-old Jennifer Gerosa. The fiddler is played by 9-year-old Kelly Lanzafame and 10-year-old Maren Sedy.

The role of daughter Tzeitel is shared by Alexa Prince and Lauren Hill; daughter Hodel is Allison Verhofstadt and Katharine Beddoe, Chava is Havilah and Annabeth Criss; daughter Shprintze is Alexandra Lanzafame and Gabrielle Bozarth; and daughter Bielke is Maria Warns and Lydia Sedy.

Tevye, the beleaguered father who laments the changing times, is played solely by Norman Criss.

Director Criss noted that “Fiddler” was her husband’s favorite musical, and the source of their daughter Havilah’s name. She conceded it was a bit confusing during rehearsals to have Havilah playing Chava, which is pronounced “Hava.”

Other than that, the production has gone smoothly.

“It’s been the easiest show I’ve had,” she said, giving credit to the cadre of dedicated parent volunteers who have taken on everything from costumes and sets to publicity.

The cast largely already knows the ropes too — there are only 14 new actors in all.

One challenge though was finding enough boys for the play, which features a large cast of villagers. For large scenes such as the wedding, girls will have to dress as boys. Only one main character is a girl cast as a boy, that of Perchik. He is played in both younger and older versions by Myriah Riedel, who has a beautiful singing voice.

Criss also gave high praise to the little fiddlers, who actually are playing their violins as they walk across the stage or around the characters.

“I was blown away by their musicianship,” Criss said.

At a recent dress rehearsal an audience of the actors’ peers sat spellbound, seeming to enjoy the musical tale of a village from another time. It may have been the first time most of them heard “Sunrise, Sunset,” but chances are they will be humming it from time to time, just like their parents.

“Fiddler on the Roof, Jr.,” opens June 30 and runs weekends through July 9 at the North Kitsap Auditorium on Hostmark across from North Kitsap High School. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Fridays, 3 p.m. Saturdays and 5 p.m Sundays.

Tickets are $8 general admission, available at the Kitsap Mall information desk and at the door.

Kitsap Children’s Musical Theater is a semi-professional non-profit production company for youth actors ages 6 to 16. Registration fee to join KCMT is $50 per child, or $75 for two children and $100 per family. For more information on the organization visit www.kcmt.org.