On this lovely holiday weekend, if you have a little free time and are looking for something to watch, here are a few "Fiddler" related ideas. Because I hear "Gone Girl" is selling out like crazy at the Avalon Mall. Plus it's raining outside. So why not catch up on your Sholem Aleichem?
"Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness" - this is a portrait of the writer whose work provided a basis for "Fiddler on the Roof." Lots of great information about the culture of the shtetl, lots of great photos, and tons to learn about this writer. Great background information, if you're interested.
"Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy" - this documentary aired on PBS last year, I believe, and it replays from time to time. It discusses the Jewish influence on the Broadway musical, beginning with Yiddish Theatre in New York. Not directly related to our show, but really interesting background. It discusses melodies in Broadway songs inspired by Jewish prayers ("It Ain't Necessarily So" from "Porgy and Bess" is a direct quote from prayer). Might be able to find some clips on youtube, or check out if it's replaying!
"Great Performances: The Thomashefskys" - Boris and Bessie Thomashefsky were two of the biggest names in early Yiddish Theatre in New York. You can see the Yiddish Theatre recreated by a cast of Broadway Stars in this show from PBS. And the whole thing is available to watch from the PBS website, at this link. Again, not directly related, but cool stuff.
And, of course, there is the film version of "Fiddler on the Roof," also available on Netflix. Not to watch because we want to recreate it: we're interested in building our "Fiddler," for our time, in our community. But, it's a fantastic movie!
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