Rosie O'Donnell Joins Fiddler On The Roof Early

By Amy Somensky Sep 20, 2005, 3:29 GMT

Rosie O'Donnell

New York: Rosie O'Donnell surprised audiences on Sunday by beginning her run in Fiddler on the Roof two days earlier. O'Donnell was ready to begin playing Golde, so she performed in the matinee. Her official first show is still set for September 20th.
 
It was announced on August 7th that O'Donnell would join the production. Harvey Fierstein, who is currently playing Tevye, said in a statement, "As a twenty year friend of Rosie's, I couldn't be happier that we will finally share a stage together. With her understanding of Fiddler's important place in theatrical history, I am positive she will uphold that tradition excitingly."
 
Fiddler will mark O'Donnell's third jump into Broadway. She made her debut as Rizzo in Grease! in 1994, starred in a limited engagement of Seussical , and served as producer for Taboo.
 
The production, directed by David Leveaux, opened on February 26, 2004 with Alfred Molina starring as Tevye and Randy Graff as Golde.
 
Attempting to live a normal life filled with Jewish traditions in early twentieth century Russia, Tevye, a dairyman, is searching for appropriate husbands for his eldest daughters- Tzeitel, Hodel, and Chava. In a break of tradition, his daughters refuse to accept the wishes of the matchmaker, Yente, and their father. Instead, they marry the men they love. Meanwhile Russians are instigating terrible progroms against the Jewish people in Russia. In the end, the Jews of Anatevka are forced to leave their homes and Tevye is determined to start a better life in a new land.
 
The musical will close on January 8th.
 
For tickets to the final performances of Fiddler on the Roof visit www.ticketsnow.com.