"Fiddler On The Roof" opens May 12

By Jeff Petersen
The La Grande Observer

Published: May 6, 2004

Observer/Phil Bullock Ready for the May 12 opener are, from left, Alejandra Ceja (Hodel), Ariana Snow (Shprintze), Meegan Anderson (Tzeitel), Brenna Miller (Bielke) and Jennifer Anne (Chava).

You don't have to be a two-time high school district champion in the shot put to play Teyve in "Fiddler on the Roof."

But it helps to be built like a mountain and have a booming singing voice. Oh yes, and you need the focus to contribute mightily in about 80 percent of the scenes.

David Sintay fills the bill and more. The show that opens May 12 is close to the heart of the 36-year-old junior at Eastern Oregon University. He broke into theater with the same show, playing Fyedka the Russian, as a freshman at The Dalles High School. That performance started a family tradition, as his five brothers and sisters all ended up with a passion for theater.

"They fell victim to the drama bug," Sintay said, laughing.

Director Kenn Wheeler, when he announced last year that EOU would stage the musical, knew Sintay was perfect for the role. Sintay brings his experience as Buffalo Bill in "Annie Get Your Gun" and Dewhurst in "Scarlet Pimpernell," among other roles, to the character of Tevye.

"You just look at him and think ‘Tevye,'" Wheeler said.

Sintay is a double major in music education and theater who hopes to someday — soon, his wife Julie and three children urge — teach high school. Before returning to college, he had been self-employed in the family business in John Day.

"I've wanted to teach my entire life, but I got sidetracked," he said.

Sintay thinks of himself as a method actor, which means he lives and breathes the character.

"The goal is to make it through the show with friends in the audience identifying with Tevye, not with Dave Sintay."

A key to success in theater, he said, is to pay close attention to detail. And to not leave any emotion on the table.

"Tevya's daughters start getting married, and one gets married outside the Jewish faith," Sintay said. "He tells his wife, ‘Chava is dead to us.' It hits me hard. I get very emotional. It's difficult to do over and over."

To prepare for the role, Sintay has grown a wild beard and let his hair grow.

He has a large singing role, but since he is a voice major, that aspect is not as difficult for Sintay as mastering the idiosyncracies of the role.

"If there was any show I wanted to do, this was the one," Sintay said. "It's a dream come true for me."

"Fiddler on the Roof" is a family and community affair.

Among the 66-person cast and the behind-the-scenes crew is the entire Winn family, the entire Gibian-Smith family and the entire Wheeler family.

"It's as it should be, as that's what the show's about — families," said director Kenn Wheeler.

Wheeler is also scenic designer, while Denise Wheeler is costume designer and plays Yente. Daughter Jennifer Anne does makeup and hair design and plays Chava. Jessica and Jillian Wheeler play daughters.

Jill Gibian plays one of the Mamas, and Larry Smith plays one of the Papas, while Grayson and Julian Gibian-Smith play sons.

John Winn, meantime, plays Mordcha the Innkeeper, while Rachel and Sarah Winn play daughters and Caleb and James Winn plays sons. Jordan Winn plays Yeshiva Student No. 1, and Nathan Winn plays Yeshiva Student No. 2.

The show is also a real community experience. The cast includes high school and, college students and community members ranging in age from Benjamin Griznowski, 5, to Mary Helen Garoutte, who is in her early 70s.

Cast members come from as far away as Lostine (Kate Loftus) and Joseph (Buck Potter).

"Fiddler on the Roof" for a time was the longest running production on Broadway.

Now the musical, based on the short story "Tevye and His Daughters" by Sholom Aleichem, is back on Broadway, and coming to McKenzie Theatre.

Touching on such issues as persecution, poverty and holding onto beliefs amidst hostility and chaos, the show is set in a 1905 Russian Jewish village where the men wear yarmulkes and the women wear babushkas.

Lighting design is by Lyle Schwarz and David Enslow, the orchestra is conducted by Jesse Jones and Beckie Thompson-Hendrickson choreographs the show. Stage manager is Kelsey Robertson.

Tickets are $8 general admission, $6 for students and seniors.

Reserve your seat by calling the EOU ticket office at 962-3757.

The show runs 8 p.m. May 12-14 and 2 and 8 p.m. May 15 at McKenzie Theatre, Loso Hall, EOU campus.

Contact Information

University Advancement Eastern Oregon University One University Boulevard La Grande, OR 97850 phone 541.962.3740 fax 541.962.3680 email University Advancement