Photo courtesy of James Acomb.
Red Mountain Theatre Company Executive Director Keith Cromwell.
Courtesy artsBHAM
Musical theater has a long tradition of illuminating human struggle and building empathy for others in an accessible and thought-provoking way, and “Fiddler on the Roof” has remained among the most beloved of these works since its Broadway debut in 1964.
The pursuit of sparking and fostering conversation in the community is at the core of Executive Director Keith Cromwell’s mission at Red Mountain Theatre Company. RMTC’s upcoming production of “Fiddler on the Roof” seems a perfect and timely choice.
“As I dive into the material and look at what the situation was for the Jews in the time period depicted and the time period of the show’s opening, the parallels to today are unreal,” Cromwell said. “But I’m a glass-half-full kind of guy. There is an opportunity for us in our community, with four bomb scares at the JCC this year, to provide an artistic catalyst for a deeper conversation about humanity.”
RMTC is leaning into its role of fostering conversation and understanding in the community by inviting Friday night audiences to stay after the performance for a “talkback” — or question-and-answer session — with the cast and crew.
“I am so hungry for our talkbacks after this production,” Cromwell said. “I am looking forward to being there, watching and listening, to see what unfolds and what insights bubble up.”
The politics and history of “Fiddler” may have been beyond him when he first saw the show at 12 years old, but it nevertheless had a lasting impact on him.
“To my recollection, ‘Fiddler’ was the very first show I ever saw,” Cromwell said. “I remember that moment of transport when you find you are completely taken into this world and the magic of it all. I remember how badly I wanted to be part of Tevye’s family and help them. I also remember thinking that humans shouldn’t treat each other like this.”
Cromwell credits “Fiddler” with sparking in him a desire to pursue theater for a living. This production continues that legacy by casting young members of RMTC’s Conservatory Program for young artists.
“‘Fiddler’ is a huge production with more than 40 people, and the conservatory is taking a big role,” said Marketing Director Drew Francis. “The show has young characters, so it’s a great opportunity to cast conservatory students and even some conservatory alumni, in one of our main productions of the season.”
The scale of the production is huge, Cromwell said.
“I am proud of the fact that we produce our shows at Broadway caliber, with full orchestra, beautiful sets and a huge cast,” he said.
“We don’t do small in the summer,” Francis said.
As stage director, Cromwell said he hopes to bring to the stage a fresh telling of this old favorite.
“More than any other show we have done, I think, we are doing more dramaturgical work for this production,” he said. “We have sent the cast information about the historical context and pronunciation. Rabbi [Jonathan] Miller from Temple Emanu-El is going to come and work with the cast, and Cantor Jessica Roskin (who is also in the show) will be by my side during rehearsals, so we can honor and authentically represent the Jewish traditions depicted in the show. I think saturating ourselves in the facts is critical and will make it ring true.”
Cromwell said he is focused on authenticity and quality of production to engage the audience in new ways.
“Sometimes with a show like ‘Fiddler’ that has a reputation for being done a lot, you have to dig deeper to remember how wonderful the show really is and lay it out like a diamond on a black fabric for the audience,” he said. “Whether you’ve seen ‘Fiddler’ before or not, gone to a lot of theater or not, what you have in this show is one of the most beautifully cultivated characters in Tevye.
“Everyone can connect to him — you’ve been a child, have a child, wanted children, lost a child,” he continued. “At his very center, he’s such a generous old soul; when life is constantly throwing him curveballs, we can rejoice in how Tevye responds in grace and continues to move forward. This is a universal part of the human condition, figuring out how to accept change.”
Ultimately, “Fiddler” is about the tension between the traditions that ground us and the changes that challenge us and propel us forward, according to Cromwell.
“We sing to life,” he said.
What’s up next?
In July, Red Mountain Theatre Company brings to the stage “Newsies,” a high-energy musical about a ragtag band of young paper boys who take on the exploitative labor practices of their employer in a classic David-versus-Goliath tale.
The stage version is full of thrilling moments, eight brand-new songs and beloved favorites like “Seize the Day” and “King of New York.”
Performances run July 7-30, and a sensory-friendly performance is available July 11.
– Abbott Jones
