from page 91
other cast members."
Eileen Tepper, who plays the oldest
daughter and the first to break with
tradition in the play, has established a
touring career that has brought her to
Detroit more than any other city.
Although her character Tzeitel is
betrothed to a butcher as part of the
pre-arranged marriage customs of the
time being depicted, she gives her
heart to Motel the tailor and goes after
that marriage.
"There's a deeper emotional connec-
tion to this play because I'm Jewish," says
Tepper, who also has been on tour with
Starlight Express as an off-stage singer and
Les Miserables as a factory worker.
"Theo [Bikel] likes to have some of
the people from previous tours in each
production of Fiddler and holds up
phonetic signs so the new people will
know the right pronunciations of the
characters' names."
Tepper, who ran the New York City
marathon this year, studied theater at
Syracuse University, where faculty
tried to prepare her for rejection. She
therefore considers herself lucky when-
ever she gets a part.
"My stepsister used to live in Ann
Arbor, so I know that city, too,"
Tepper says.
Karen Katz, who portrays the
youngest daughter, is the newest of
these four to Fiddler, and she also has
visited Michigan relatives, an uncle
and aunt, Larry and Roz Rockind of
Huntington Woods.
"I think being Jewish enhances my
performance [as Sprintze]," says Katz,
27. "The Sabbath scene around the
table rings true because I experienced
a similar scene every Friday in my own
home. I also like that the themes are
so universal. Everyone can relate to
them without being Jewish."
Katz, who went to drama camp and
studied acting at New York University,
has appeared in Gypsy, Bye Bye Birdie
and Grease. In a related job, while
auditioning for parts, she dressed up as
Raggedy Ann and conducted story-
times at FAO Schwarz.
"I love being on the road," Katz
says. "Everything is always new —
new theaters, new audiences, new
museums to see. These keep the show,
and my life, fresh."
FIDDLER from page 91
dren," Topol said.
Paul Michael Glaser, who as Perchik,
the idealistic student, da77.les Tevye's
daughter with his sophistication and
passion, recalled his experiences.
"I was 27 and was asked to play a
17-year-old, and thought I wouldn't
get the part. I went to the Sherry
Netherland Hotel in New York and sat
with Norman and read and danced
around the hotel room. A screen test
followed, and I got the part."
Jewison recalled the opening of the
movie. "In 1971, Arthur Krim, then
chairman of United Artists, wanted
the premiere to be in Jerusalem,
instead of New York or Los Angeles,
and he wanted Golda Meir to be the
special guest at the screening," he said.
Meir arrived in an old Chevy
Impala, flanked by young, heavily
armed soldiers. She sat with Topol for
the first half of the film and Jewison
for the second half. "I was worried
about her reaction," said the director.
"I watched her during the exodus
scene. She put her fist into her eye and
flicked one tear away, and she took my
hand and squeezed it. At that moment
I knew I had done good." ❑
TROUPERS
broad for film.
"There was also tremendous pressure
to cast Danny Kaye, who was a close
friend," said Jewison. "I knew I didn't
want to do an American version. I
wanted the film to have a very strong
first-generation Russian-Jewish feel."
In London, Jewison saw Topol's per-
formance and was "knocked out. He had
warmth and a virility that I knew would
translate to the screen," said the director.
Topol has become as synonymous
with the role as Mostel. "It is a joy to
reminisce about the film," said Topol
from his home in Tel Aviv. "Before the
film, I had done more than 400 per-
formances as Tevye in London, and
since the film I have done more than
2,000 performances in the United
States, Canada, Europe, Japan and
Australia. I haven't been away from the
subject at any point in my life.
"I am very grateful for the experi-
ence," he said. "The most significant
phenomenon for me is that people
would come to see the play in genera-
tions. I had audiences that came to see
me 30 years ago and again recently
with their children and grandchil-
It had been Chef Paul Grosz' lifelong
dream to open a restaurant of his own.
After ten years at the Whitney, he finally
saw his dream come to fruition with the
opening of Cuisine. It resides at 670
Lothrup in the shadows of the Fisher
Theater, in Detroit's New Center Area.
With his brother/partner, Rick Grosz,
the brothers transformed the former rus-
tic restaurant of Il Centro into an elegant
contemporary establishment to compli-
ment their French-American menu.
AM:.0:3.
Please join Ch6f Paul for a unique palatable experience.
Restaurant 6' Bar Hours
Summer: Mon.-Sat. 4 p.m.
Available for private
Luncheons and Dinners
•
❑
Fiddler on the Roof will be per-
formed Nov. 16-25 at the Fisher
Theatre. Perforrwances are 8 p.m.
Mondays-Saturdays, 2 p.m.
Saturdays-Sundays and 7:30 p.m.
Sundays. No performances on
Thanksgiving. $23.50-$62.50.
(313) 872-1000.
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11/16
2001
97