By Nicole Gyulay, Special to JTNews
“Without tradition, our lives would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof.” So said Tevye, the embattled protagonist from Fiddler on the Roof.
Tradition has always been an integral part of Jewish culture, and now Fiddler on the Roof is part of a new tradition growing in popularity among Jewish communities throughout the country — the Fiddler on the Roof Singalong. This spring, in conjunction with the Jewish Transcript, the Seattle Jewish Film Festival (SJFF) will once again bring this tradition to Seattle for this celebration of film, music and Jewish culture.
The past year has seen an explosion of Fiddler Singalong events at community centers, film festivals, local theaters and synagogues across the continent. The Rochester, New York Jewish Film Festival is just one of these. “We are so happy to show this classic film,” said Andrea Miller, director of the Rochester festival. “It is a great way to bring families and the community together, and that is the major goal of our festival.”
The Fiddler phenomenon continues to grow as more and more Jewish communities realize the film’s special ability to make people laugh, cry and sing.
Fiddler’s popularity is only part of a larger sing-along craze: the Sing-a-long-a Sound of Music. First started several years ago in London, it not only continues to sell out every weekend, but also has had successful tours throughout the world. Seattle’s own 5th Avenue Theater recently brought the Sing-a-long-a-Sound of Music experience back for a second year, after experiencing overwhelming demand during its three-night engagement in 2001.
Anne Abrams, Director of Communications at the 5th Avenue Theater, believes the singalong to be “a very special and unique” part of the theater’s programming. “There’s something very special about singing together — especially singing together to really beautiful music,” Abrams said.
Fiddler on the Roof holds strong significance for SJFF, not only because many Jewish people personally relate to the film, but also because it dramatizes a universal human struggle. The Fiddler Singalong offers an opportunity for audience members to experience a unique sense of community. This is an integral part of SJFF’s mission.
Last year, the sing-along attracted a sold-out crowd of 800 people. “The Fiddler sing-along was one of the most successful and moving events in the seven-year history of the film festival,” festival director Molly Hasson said. “Most of us have grown up with this score, so it was familiar to young and old. I witnessed some of the most elegant and refined people in Seattle singing their hearts out! At times, there was not a dry eye in the house!”
The event will also have a number of silly film-inspired activities, including a costume contest with prizes for the winners. The Singalong is SJFF’s closing-night celebration of the annual weeklong festival. SJFF is presented by the American Jewish Committee, and will exhibit over 30 films from 11 countries from March 8–16 at the Cinerama Theater in downtown Seattle.
The Fiddler Sing-along is likely to sell out again this year, so it is suggested that you purchase your tickets early. Fiddler tickets cost $10 and all other showings cost $8. Tickets for all SJFF showings can be bought in advance at www.ticketwindowonline.com. For more information please call 206.622.6315 or visit www.ajcseattle.org.