A Night to Remember at HCPAC
'Fiddler on the Roof' delivers music, heart, and the magic of small-town theater
Post sponsored by Tinsley Title, Holt Wrecker, R&R lawn specialists, Gibson Pharmacy.)
By Michael V. Hannigan
There’s a kind of comfortable magic you only find at community theater.
I felt it Saturday night at the Henderson County Performing Arts Center, sitting next to my mom, watching "Fiddler on the Roof." Yes, the cast nailed the iconic songs and scenes, but it was the feeling in the room that made the night unforgettable.
The show was excellent. Timm Zitz delivered from start to finish as Tevye, and the cast around him matched the energy, scene after scene.
Maria Ogburn, as Yente the matchmaker, brought a real spark to the production. Her timing and delivery lifted the role, adding just the right edge of humor. It showed the kind of depth this cast had all the way through.
"Fiddler" is an ambitious show. It's long and packed with iconic music. There were times, like the wedding scene, when more than two dozen actors filled the stage, pulling off big choreography. The cast made it all work. Plus, the new lights, part of Phase 1 of the Ghost Light Campaign, gave the production a polish that didn’t go unnoticed.
After the final bow, something amazing happened.
Instead of the usual rush for the doors you see in bigger theaters, the cast came out to meet the audience. I introduced my mom to T. Gordon Mayhall, who played Lazar Wolf, and we talked about how he and Timm had such natural chemistry. Pretty impressive, considering it was their first show together.
Gordon also let me in on a backstage secret: Timm didn’t just star in the show. He built the sets, too. Another reminder of what makes community theater different — it’s built on heart and the kind of hard work that gets things done. (*Clarification below)
There was even a moment in the second act that reminded me what makes small-town life so special.
During a scene change, one stubborn battery-powered candle refused to go out. Two crew members wrestled with it for several long seconds while the crowd quietly watched. When they finally got it handled, the audience broke into applause — not mocking, but warm, like friends pulling for each other. One of the crew members gave a quick bow, and everyone laughed.
It was a small thing. But it said everything about the night — a room full of people rooting for each other.
There’s still time to catch "Fiddler on the Roof" at HCPAC. The show runs May 1, 2, and 3, and it’s a night you’ll be glad you spent.
Go to celebrate a community that still believes in coming together to create something special.
*Clarification: After I posted this story, T. Gordon Mayhall reached out to me to clarify that Timm Zitz designed the set and did a lot of the painting, but that Eric Davis actually built most of the set. Eric also played the Rabbi in the musical, which proves the point: the folks who are part of our community theater pour their hearts into these productions. — Michael