My daughter mentioned hearing the other day that Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix would soon be opening its fall musical.
Because I’m always on the prowl for local high school theater productions, I did some homework and discovered that Xavier and Brophy Theatre will present “The Fiddler on the Roof” for just a few days — starting this evening.
They’ll perform the classic musical Oct 6, 7 and 9 and 7pm — with a 1:30pm matinee on the 9th (there’s no performance on Friday). Performances are being held at the Virginia G. Piper Performing Arts Center on the Xavier campus. Tickets are just $7.
“Fiddler on the Roof” first opened on Broadway in 1964, closing in 1972 after 3,242 performances. It’s set in 1905 Anatevka, a small town in Russia on the brink of the Russian Revolution. The town has a strong Jewish community but also several non-Jewish Russians who live alongside one another.
It’s a tale of tradition, prejudice, tolerance and change — critical issues facing contemporary society. And it’s the story of two parents seeking the best for their five daughters, which is one of many reasons I never tire of seeing it.
We took the whole family many years ago when the touring production came to ASU Gammage — and we had our own little fiddler, Lizabeth, in the family. Happily, it’ll return to ASU Gammage March 29-April 3, 2011.
In between the Xavier/Brophy and ASU Gammage productions, you can check out the 1971 film.
You also can enjoy a rare blend of Bollywood and the Bard as students from Highland High School perform Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost” from Oct 28-30 at 7pm (in the school’s auditorium). Tickets are just $5.
It’s one of Shakepeare’s early comedies, and has a relatively uncomplicated plot that makes it accessible to younger audiences. And, it appears, “all the aplomb, color, flamboyance and energy” of the Bollywood style of Indian dance.
Each evening will feature a special performance by students of Kriti Dance in Chandler, a studio specializing in the Bollywood style of dance popularized by “the Hindi film industry that closely resembles Hollywood.”
Thanks to Kriti Dance for answering the call yesterday when the magazine shared my high school musical quest via Facebook and Twitter. If your high school is performing a musical this season that’s open to the public, please let me know.
Unless, of course, you’re blending the Bard and ballroom dance…
–Lynn
Note: Lizabeth also shared with me that Southern Utah University opened their 2010-2011 theatre arts and dance season last weekend with “Love’s Labour’s Lost” — which there’s still time to enjoy. It’s being performed Oct 8 & 9 at the Adams Shakespearean Theatre in Cedar City, Utah — one of our very favorite places on the planet!
Coming up: Film as a vehicle for education reform
