Character Breakdowns
TEVYE
Playing Age: 45–60
Vocal Range: Baritone/Bass-Baritone, Ab2–F5
Dance: Moderate movement; strong physical characterization
The hardworking, philosophical village milkman and father of five daughters. Tevye is warm, funny, stubborn, deeply devoted to his family and his faith, and constantly wrestling with the changing world around him. He frequently speaks directly to God and to the audience. This role requires an exceptional actor/storyteller with strong comedic instincts, emotional depth, commanding stage presence, and a strong singing voice.
Featured Songs: “Tradition,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” “To Life,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Chavaleh”
GOLDE
Playing Age: 40–55
Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano, A3–Eb5
Dance/Movement: Light movement
Tevye's strong-willed, practical wife and the mother of five daughters. Golde runs her household with authority and has little patience for Tevye's philosophizing. Beneath her tough exterior is tremendous devotion to her husband and children. Requires excellent comic timing and the ability to bring warmth and vulnerability to the role.
Featured Songs: Tradition; Sunrise, Sunset; Do You Love Me?
TZEITEL
Playing Age: 18–25
Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano, B3–D5
Dance/Movement: Moderate
Tevye and Golde's eldest daughter. Responsible, loving, and respectful, but courageous enough to challenge tradition when her future is at stake. Tzeitel is deeply in love with Motel and is determined to marry for love rather than accept an arranged marriage.
Featured Songs: Matchmaker; Sunrise, Sunset
HODEL
Playing Age: 17–23
Vocal Range: Soprano/Mezzo-Soprano, B3–E5
Dance/Movement: Moderate
The second-oldest daughter. Intelligent, spirited, independent, and increasingly willing to question the traditions in which she was raised. She falls in love with Perchik and ultimately makes a courageous decision to follow him.
Featured Songs: Matchmaker; Now I Have Everything; Far From the Home I Love
CHAVA
Playing Age: 16–21
Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano, B3–D5
Dance/Movement: Moderate to strong movement ability
Tevye's third daughter. Thoughtful, gentle, intelligent, and an avid reader. Her love for Fyedka creates the greatest challenge to Tevye's beliefs and traditions. Requires a strong dramatic actress capable of handling some of the show's most emotional material.
Featured Songs: Matchmaker; Chavaleh
SHPRINTZE & BIELKE
Playing Age: 10–16
Vocal Range: Youth/unchanged or developing voices
Dance/Movement: Moderate
Tevye and Golde's two youngest daughters. They are lively members of the family and help establish the warmth and humor of the Tevye household. These performers should be comfortable singing, moving, and acting as part of the family and ensemble.
MOTEL KAMZOIL
Playing Age: 18–28
Vocal Range: Tenor, E3–F#4
Dance/Movement: Moderate
A poor, shy tailor who is deeply in love with Tzeitel. Initially nervous and unsure of himself, Motel finds tremendous courage when fighting for the woman he loves. A wonderful character role requiring excellent comic timing, sincerity, and an engaging stage presence.
Featured Songs: Miracle of Miracles
PERCHIK
Playing Age: 20–30
Vocal Range: Baritone/Tenor, B2–E4
Dance/Movement: Moderate
A passionate young student and revolutionary who comes to Anatevka and challenges many of the villagers' traditional beliefs. Intelligent, confident, outspoken, and idealistic. He falls in love with Hodel.
Featured Songs: Now I Have Everything
FYEDKA
Playing Age: 20–30
Vocal Range: Primarily an acting role / ensemble singing
Dance/Movement: Moderate
A young Russian soldier who falls in love with Chava. Unlike many of the Russian soldiers surrounding him, Fyedka is kind, thoughtful, and respectful. His relationship with Chava forces Tevye to confront the limits of what he is willing to accept.
YENTE
Playing Age: 45–70
Vocal Range: Alto/Character Voice
Dance/Movement: Light
The village matchmaker. Talkative, meddlesome, opinionated, and endlessly entertaining. Yente knows everyone's business—and is happy to share it. Requires a strong character actress with excellent comic timing.
Featured Songs: Tradition; ensemble material
LAZAR WOLF
Playing Age: 40–65
Vocal Range: Baritone, C3–F#4
Dance/Movement: Moderate
The prosperous village butcher and a widower who wishes to marry Tzeitel. Although significantly older than she is, Lazar genuinely believes he can provide her with a good life. Strong personality with excellent comedic opportunities.
Featured Songs: To Life
GRANDMA TZEITEL
Playing Age: Flexible adult
Vocal Range: Character Mezzo/Alto
Dance/Movement: Strong character movement
Golde's deceased grandmother, who appears during Tevye's elaborate nightmare. A highly theatrical character role with opportunities for bold comedy and physical characterization.
Featured Songs: The Dream
FRUMA-SARAH
Playing Age: Flexible adult
Vocal Range: Mezzo/Soprano, dramatic character singing
Dance/Movement: Strong theatrical movement
Lazar Wolf's deceased wife, who appears in Tevye's nightmare and threatens terrible consequences if Tzeitel marries Lazar. This is a memorable featured role requiring a fearless performer with a strong voice, commanding presence, and willingness to embrace heightened physical comedy.
Featured Songs: The Dream
THE RABBI
Playing Age: 50–75
Vocal Range: Baritone/Bass/Character Voice
The respected spiritual leader of Anatevka. Wise and dignified, though occasionally humorous. A featured character role who also participates in ensemble scenes.
MENDEL
Playing Age: 18–35
Vocal Range: Tenor/Baritone
The Rabbi's son. A featured member of the village community who participates heavily in ensemble scenes and musical numbers.
MORDECHA
Playing Age: 30–65
Vocal Range: Baritone/Bass
The village innkeeper. A featured character and strong member of the male ensemble.
AVRAM
Playing Age: 30–70
Vocal Range: Baritone/Bass
The village bookseller. A featured character who participates throughout the village scenes and ensemble numbers.
NACHUM
Playing Age: 30–70
Vocal Range: Character voice
The village beggar. A memorable featured character with opportunities for comedy and strong characterization.
CONSTABLE
Playing Age: 35–60
Vocal Range: Primarily an acting role
The Russian official responsible for maintaining order in the region. Although he has a complicated relationship with Tevye and the villagers, he ultimately represents the oppressive forces threatening Anatevka. Requires authority, presence, and strong acting ability.
THE FIDDLER
Playing Age: Flexible
Vocal Range: Instrumental/symbolic role
Dance/Movement: Strong movement ability preferred
A symbolic presence representing tradition, survival, and the precarious balance of life in Anatevka. The Fiddler appears throughout the production and should have a compelling, mysterious stage presence. Depending upon the production concept, violin ability may be preferred but is not necessarily required.
ENSEMBLE – VILLAGERS OF ANATEVKA
Playing Ages: Teens through adults
Vocal Ranges: All voice types
Dance: Beginner through advanced dancers needed
The ensemble is essential to Fiddler on the Roof and creates the entire world of Anatevka. We are seeking strong singers, actors, dancers, and character performers to portray villagers, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, merchants, wedding guests, Russian soldiers, and other members of the community.
Featured ensemble opportunities include Bottle Dancers, Russian Dancers, Papas, Mamas, Sons, Daughters, Villagers, and Soldiers. Strong male dancers are particularly encouraged to audition for the featured dance sequences, including “To Life” and “The Wedding.”
The ensemble appears extensively throughout the production in numbers including “Tradition,” “Sabbath Prayer,” “To Life,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “The Wedding,” “Anatevka,” and other scenes and musical sequences.
CASTING NOTE
All listed ages are suggested playing ages rather than required actual ages. Casting will be based on vocal ability, acting, movement, stage presence, chemistry, and the needs of the overall production. HRT welcomes performers of varying experience levels and encourages actors to audition for any role for which they feel they may be appropriate.