I am lucky enough to be friends with Kirk Geritano, who performed in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish (Fidler Afn Dakh) in 2018 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage and again in 2022 at New World Stages. Kirk played Avrom (Avram) in both productions and was also the understudy for Motel (Motl), Lazar Wolf (Lazar-Vulf), and the Rabbi.

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Kirk and I worked together as teachers and co-directors at Porch Light Productions in Glen Rock, NJ. Some of the Porch Light students and I were able to attend a special performance of Fidler Afn Dakh in 2022 to see Kirk and to participate in a talkback session with members of the Human First Coalition for Afghan refugees. It was truly incredible to watch my students, most of whom had no familiarity with Fiddler on the Roof whatsoever, become invested and passionate about the story, even seeing it performed in another language. 

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As a Jewish man who learned Yiddish specifically for this role, Kirk has an incredible story of how Fiddler enabled him to connect to his heritage and history. Being a lead teacher and director at Porch Light also gives him a great connection to students -- he is engaging, compassionate, and humorous. I'd like to invite Kirk to the first rehearsal with the cast and crew.

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First Rehearsal Plan

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Part 1 - Presentation: Kirk will give a brief presentation about his time in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish, his own personal connections to the musical, the experience of working with both Jewish and non-Jewish actors in Yiddish, and traditions that the cast implemented in their own little "shtetl".

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Part 2 - Q&A: Actors will have time to ask Kirk questions about the process of learning Yiddish, life as a Broadway actor, and other questions about Fiddler. ​

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Part 3 - "Traditsye": Kirk will teach us to sing portions of "Tradition" in Yiddish and perform the some of the classic choreography.

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Watch Kirk and the Yiddish cast rehearse "Traditsye" ("Tradition").