10 years Spencerport resident Steve Valvano remembers when he brought his 16-year-old daughter to Hale Auditorium on the Roberts Wesleyan College campus 10 years ago to let her try out for the new community theater troupe that was scrambling to put together a group of eager amateurs for its premier production, Fiddler on the Roof. "After the audition, my daughter came home and said to me 'Dad, they told me to tell you they need some more old guys,' " Valvano said. Valvano, along with many more unsuspecting fathers, uncles, brothers and grandfathers were recruited to the cast, which initially lacked several of its patriarchal roles. "I remember I had a ball auditioning, just going through the motions," said Valvano, who had had a few acting experiences as a younger man. Without even an initial thought about acting himself, Valvano ended up being cast for the lead role of Tevye, the humble yet heroic Jewish peasant milkman. His daughter was cast as one of Tevye's five daughters. Valvano's story is not unique to the Roberts troupe. Tom Mark, who also came out for his daughter to audition, ended up in the part of the Rabbi and was cast alongside his son who filled that same role in the play. Many more families brought their filial bond to the stage for a cast of characters full of family ties. "What's nice about this group, about the 10 years we've been here, is that we've really created a family-oriented atmosphere," says Production Manager Dave Myer, who plays Lazar Wolf, the Butcher, in Fiddler. "It's been really nice that we've been able to give an opportunity for families to participate." Cast and crew come from all walks of life. Initially, the RWCCT wasn't sure what sort of response to expect from the community. None of the western suburbs had a community theater troupe at the time. But when nearly 700 people came out for opening night, and the show sold out every performance of its six-evening run with an overall attendance of more than 4,000, they knew they were accepted. In the 10 years that have passed since the RWCCT hit the stage with their sold-out success, the company has put on a musical every winter and a play nearly every fall. On January 19, Myer, Mark and Valvano return to the stage for a reprise of the premier production of Fiddler on the Roof as the Roberts Wesleyan College-Community Theater celebrates its 10th anniversary season. Many more actors and crew from the original production re-join Director Christopher Jones for the anniversary production. And though a daughter who left for college may have been swapped for a sister who recently returned home from distant travels, the family-steeped stage tradition continues. The production will feature a tribute to Ogden native and theater veteran, Antonette "Toni" Wacenske, who played Yenta the Matchmaker in the original performance, and who died last November at the age of 72. Both her daughter, Cocchiara, and granddaughter, Angella, will carry the maternal torch as they perform. The production is Friday, January 19 and 26 and Saturday, January 20 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, January 21 and 28 at 2 p.m. at the Andrews B. Hale Auditorium. Tickets are $12 general admission; $10 seniors; $8 students and children under 12. Call 594-6008 or go to www.roberts.edu/clc. January 14, 2007 |
