All right.

It is time for matchmaker.

Matchmaker?

Make me a match.

So you always do this to me.

Every time I find you tempt me, and then you don't audition.

Next time.

Oh.

You heard it.

Here, people.

All right, we're here with some of my favorite people.

Right from your art.

This is an exciting production.

I mean, Fiddler on the roof is a staple in the musical realm.

Would you say that in Life is Right?

Okay.

I love that so many people have said to me, I love that you're doing Fiddler.

I love Fiddler.

So many people said, well, you know what?

I said, if you ever do Fiddler, I'll audition.

And then I held them to that.

And, you know, it's funny because I think so many high schools do it.

And so it's a part of our early development that it kind of stays with people for the rest of their lives.

And the story is so moving and beautiful and weirdly timely.

Yes it is.

And okay, now, Megan, tell us, what is your role.

Sure.

I'm currently well, I'm auditioning.

Well, I didn't audition.

I auditioned for my first show, and this will be my theatrical debut as a first time on this show.

I'm on the stage, I live on a first timer and as a mother's ensemble.

Okay.

Very good.

And you have children in the cast too?

I do.

My daughter Avery is Bianca in the youth show, and my daughter Kayla is in the daughter's ensemble for main stage.

And I know Craig, you and I have talked about this all the time, but it's all a community here.

Any time we're talking about the performing arts, and I'm sure you're finding that to be true now that you are also on stage with your kids.

Yes.

I love Premiere Arts.

It gives us an opportunity to not only help outside of the stage, join the community, and now, for the first time, be on stage.

But, my daughter Kayla has been a part of this community since she was seven years old.

And, I've been a volunteer and helped painted, shed learn how to do different things in the workshop.

So it's been amazing, I love that.

Okay, so for anybody who maybe doesn't know what Fiddler on the roof is all about, oh, Craig, give us a little synopsis.

what rock do you live under?

I know, I know, right.

So Megan is actually serving kind of as a cultural attache, if you will, for us to make sure this all of the the Jewish, things that are happening in the show are truly represented based on the time in which we live, which is like 1905, in Russia.

Okay.

And in that time, the Russian people are saying, Jewish people have got to go and they're pushing them out of their of their home, which is really a really an interesting thing because the Russian people and the Jewish people, in some instances, have lived there their whole lives together, grown up together.

Right.

And so, like, there's a little confusion, like, why now?

We've lived here.

This has been the corner of our world forever.

Why would we have to move?

And, you know, for the Jewish population, we've seen that repeat it through history, which is just such a fascinating, kind of a dialog to have as a, as a group and an important one, too.

Yeah.

You know, history repeats itself if you don't learn it.

Yeah.

Sometimes even when you do.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's it's kind of crazy.

But one thing Megan didn't mention that I think is super important is that her mother in law is also in this.

Oh yes.

Oh my goodness.

So we were talking about thing about her.

Yeah.

So three generations.

And the thing I love about that is that Kayla and Avery had mentioned this to, you know, to their families.

And they both said if they ever do Fiddler.

They actually they like, really held true to their word.

So, that's that's our new strategy.

We're going to make those children make their parents promise to do it, and then we're gonna pick those shows.

I love that, but I think that really deepens the community.

One thing I love about Premier Arts as a whole, but especially this show, is there is a multigenerational effect.

Right?

And so grandmas and daughters and fathers and grandpas and uncles and, you know, are all on stage together.

And then eventually what happens is that becomes your extended family.

Yeah.

You know, I mean, making your grandma's my grandma, right?

Beware.

You, you.

But like Frida, for example, we just, you know, kind of have finished the holiday season, right?

In our world, Easter in your world, Passover.

And so Megan and her family invited me to a sader dinner, which I had never experienced.

And it gave me such more, so much more context.

And it was really a moment that I will treasure forever.

It was a really great, great thing to be a part of and their family and like just the history of it and why?

Why they do what they do and eat what they eat and like all the things had, you know, really clear meaning.

And it was very communicative around the table.

And that's a really cool thing.

And I think if if we took that theory into life and in more avenues in our lives, boy, what richer, better place we live in.

Absolutely.

And, Megan, you have a special connection.

You serve on the board for the Jewish Federation of Saint Joseph Valley, and they're partnering up for this, aren't they?

Yes, yes.

We truly appreciate that.

Premier Arts reached out and asked us to be a partner.

The Jewish Federation of Saint Joseph Valley is a connecting point for all of the Jewish community within the Michiana area.

Not only do we raise funds for local community members, but also globally as well, it allows us to bring together our own cultures, and do celebrations.

Our biggest cultural event is actually coming up the week after Fiddler.

It's the Jewish Film Festival, which is open to the entire community.

It takes place on Notre Dame's campus at the DeBartolo theater.

And so we showcase, different films that are made by Jewish people from around the world.

And additionally, we also have a summer camp that's open to the community as well.

And so it's really nice that we're able to have an opportunity to meet members of Premiere Arts, as well as engage within the community and the community.

Right?

I mean, that's what Fiddler is all about.

It's about community and it's about tradition.

And are you able to help kind of bring that into the performances with your knowledge and your experiences?

Sure.

Craig has been fabulous about that.

Very welcoming to, to listening to what we do do in our Jewish homes, as well as pronunciations of words within the show.

And being very respectful and trying to make it as realistic as possible.

So it's been wonderful out of that.

Now, Craig, this is not your first time, I think, doing Fiddler or is it.

No.

Oh, it's the first time I've played Tevye.

Oh, I mean, that's why I'm dressed like this, right?

Oh, did you come?

I didn't come today like this just for the for the heck of it.

Well, you look great.

Thanks so much.

So, yeah, I have done Fiddler a lot.

This.

You know, this is a funny thing.

I was sitting around the table with the creative people in our organization, and we were talking about the show, and I thought, you know, I would like to play Tevye at some time, but I don't know that I'm really old enough.

And collectively, in unison, they all said, you are like, what?

Oh my gosh.

And so but it is like a whole other like level or meeting of, of of involvement.

I, I was all from the bookseller in college.

I have directed it a couple times.

Is there anything unique that you're doing this round that maybe you haven't tried before, like learning all those lines?

Right.

Lucky for me, Jackie Jerlecki is my co-director.

She's my choreographer.

We are of one mind often, and it is a really a joy just to watch and to be able to put my shoulders down, relax into it, let her give the notes.

Let me just kind of, you know, enjoy being Tevye.

And that is the thing that I think is the hardest part is getting comfortable enough to to the point where you just live in the world of the play and enjoy the ride.

And I preach that all the time and not having to walk it.

Yeah.

And so I've had to check myself and I'm really good at that.

Like myself talk should be a podcast, right?

I'm like, what's wrong with you?

So I'm really working hard on that.

And then, you know, kind of as the leader of the community on stage, you know, people looked at Tevye for guidance, people looked at Tevye for all of all of those things.

And so that's kind of a really special thing.

Yeah.

And just the relationship between the characters and the the depth of our time together and the uncertainty of what's going to happen next.

But because we're faithful, we believe that it will be okay.

And I think that's a really, really strong message for today, for any day.

Absolutely.

Right.

Okay.

Now you guys have a number of performances coming up.

Let us know when are they?

Because there's also a kid's performance of Fiddler is.

And you know, what I love about this is May 9th, 10th and 11th.

Okay.

So it is a perfect thing for Mother's Day, and it's a mother's day treat.

And if you come on Mother's Day, there's also a brunch at the Crystal ballroom.

So you could bring your mom to brunch and then you could come to the show.

But it's Friday and Saturday and Sunday, and that Saturday afternoon is reserved for the kids.

Like Megan was saying, Avery, her youngest, is in that show.

And you know, people are constantly saying to me, Fiddler with kids.

Okay, but it's our oh, and our kids are so talented and so mature that they really are just tackling this material.

And they are a joy to be in rehearsal with.

I mean, they get it.

And if they don't get it, they, they, they soak it up at the sponge and they really are, are really doing a fine job.

And so, you know, if you, if you we often say that really the people who come see that are in their sphere of influence, their circle.

But if you're really interested in seeing the future of what we have in our community, coming to one of our kids shows would be a great thing.

And, and the thing I love the most about the kids show is that when you're talking about, like, the Jewish people being pushed away from their homelands and all of these things, these kids are like, they don't get it.

And what a wonderful place to live where they don't understand that separation and that that kind of hate and angst and haven't experienced that in their world.

I love that for them and I hope that they keep it forever.

I love it.

Well, you guys can get your tickets on the website or show up box office if there's any tickets left.

I'm sure this is going to be a phenomenal performance for you guys, so come be a part of the community here at Premier Arts.