Tevye the Dairyman dreams of being a rich man. Actor John Preece has played and enjoyed many roles in more than 40 years in the theater; but he dreamed of playing the lead role in “Fiddler on the Roof” since he was a young man in graduate school.
Tevye’s dream didn’t come true; but Preece’s did. He is now on his ninth national tour with the classic Joseph Stein-Jerry Bock-Sheldon Harnick musical, and has done more than 1,500 performances as Tevye.
Preece will bring his interpretation of Yiddish author Shalom Aleichem’s dairyman to the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts June 14-19, courtesy of Broadway Across America-Milwaukee and the Marcus Center as part of the Time Warner Cable Broadway at the Marcus Center Series.
Preece is on a national Broadway Across America tour of the show. The tour began last October in Detroit and will end June 21 in Elkhart, Ind.
Chronicle: What roles have you played that you found particularly enjoyable or meaningful?
Preece: Ben Franklin (“1776”) and “Man of La Mancha” (Don Quixote).
Preece: As an actor, I’ve always been interested in it, ever since I was in graduate school. It’s one of the best-written roles in musical theater, but it’s a part one has to grow into. I’ve also done Lazer Wolf in “Fiddler”and worked my way up to Tevye.
Chronicle: This play is about Russian Jews who came to America about a century ago. That is also the story of many of The Chronicle’s readers, so they will be curious: Is that your family’s heritage? If not, how did you prepare for the role?
Preece: No. I did lots of research into the history, read the stories of Shalom Aleichem, and visited synagogues and studied people’s body language. And the script [by Joseph Stein] is so well written, it provides plenty of direction.
Chronicle: So how do you see Tevye yourself? What is your own personal interpretation of him?
Preece: The story is based on real history, and it’s all still happening today. I try to keep it honest. It’s not a one-man show, but an ensemble piece, about community. He’s surrounded by six women, and he loves them all. Without the rest of the people he’d be nothing.
Tevye isn’t Shrek [the comedic cartoon ogre in a series of animated movies]. Of course there’s some shtick written into play, and some humor, but I don’t play it for laughs. There’s no doing this part on autopilot.
Chronicle: What is your favorite thing about playing Tevye? Is there a scene or song that’s special to you?
Preece: The opening number, and “Sabbath Prayer,” where he gets to talk to God and his children. Nobody like a prologue or stage manager comes down and explains it.
People aren’t aware how hard they had to work those six days, and the sigh of relief. I try bringing a sense of appreciation for that and show six days for that relief of the Sabbath. I also feel moved by the Chava ballet.
Chronicle: You have been on tour playing Fiddler in dozens of towns and many cities before coming to Milwaukee. Have you had any experiences playing somewhere in particular that might interest our readers?
Preece: The reaction is pretty much universal. By the end of the show everyone is touched.
Milwaukee performances are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Prices start at $25 and vary depending on performance, seat location and date of purchase. Tickets are on sale now and are available by calling the Marcus Center Box Office at 414-273-7206, online at MarcusCenter.org, and at all Ticketmaster locations or in person at the Marcus Center Box Office, 929 N. Water St., Milwaukee.
Milwaukeean Susan Ellman, MLIS, has taught history and English composition at the high school level and is a freelance writer at work on a historical novel.
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