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Tradition!: The Highly Improbable, Ultimately Triumphant Broadway-to-Hollywood Story of Fiddler on the Roof, the World's Most Beloved Musical Hardcover – September 2, 2014

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 54 ratings

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Since it first opened on Broadway in September, 1964, Fiddler on the Roof has constantly been onstage somewhere, including four Broadway revivals, four productions on London's West End and thousands of schools, army bases and countries from Argentina to Japan. Barbara Isenberg interviewed the men and women behind the original production, the film and significant revivals-- Harold Prince, Sheldon Harnick, Joseph Stein, Austin Pendleton, Joanna Merlin, Norman Jewison, Topol, Harvey Fierstein and more-- to produce a lively, popular chronicle of the making of Fiddler. Published in celebration of Fiddler's 50th anniversary, Tradition! is the book for everyone who loves Fiddler and can sing along with the original cast album.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Half a century of sunrises and sunsets have passed since Fiddler on the Roof opened. It’s still playing to full houses somewhere, and theater journalist Isenberg expounds happily on why it remains such a satisfactory hit for all audiences. Who would expect a big Broadway musical about poor shtetl Jews to become such a big hit? Yet Fiddler, based on stories set in Czarist Russia by the popular Yiddish writer Sholem Aleichem, broke box office records…The star, of course, was a mad comic genius, the egocentric Zero Mostel, who loathed the difficult directorial genius, equally egocentric Jerome Robbins… The popular 1971 film, under the guidance of Norman Jewison (not Jewish), starring Israeli actor Chaim Topol, with Isaac Stern fiddling, carried Fiddler’s reputation still further. For many of a certain age, the musical’s score is ingrained, part of the DNA. Isenberg’s readable, straightforward history… is a loving tribute to a cultural phenomenon." —Kirkus Reviews

"The seemingly hyperbolic subtitle of award-winning journalist and theater author Isenberg’s tribute to Fiddler on the Roof, "the world’s most beloved musical," is entirely justified. Interviews with the principal creators, actors, and allied personnel juxtaposed with detailed number-crunching statistics and balance-sheet information and a breezily deft narrative explicate the inherent charm and soul of Fiddler. The author has created a most endearing valentine to honor the production on its upcoming 50th anniversary (the show opened on Broadway’s Imperial Theatre September 22, 1964)… VERDICT: A deliciously rich and detailed story of an American musical-theater jewel… An obligatory purchase for every musical theater collection." —Library Journal

"Barbara’s book traces the history of Fiddler from the stage to the screen. It is a fascinating story filled with laughter and tears."—Norman Jewison, director of the film adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof

"Tradition gives you a wonderful sense of Sholem Aleichem’s world and Fiddler’s heart- and of the heartbreak that runs through its core. Reading the book, I realized what denomination of Jew I am—a Fiddler on the Roof Jew."—Julie Salamon, author of Wendy and the Lost Boys: The Uncommon Life of Wendy Wasserstein

"Barbara Isenberg’s history of Fiddler on the Roof, from Sholom Aleichem’s Tevye stories to Norman Jewison’s film and beyond, is definitive. I can’t imagine anyone covering the subject more fascinatingly or eloquently. As someone who was lucky enough to be part of the saga, I applaud Tradition!"—Hal Prince

"Barbara Isenberg's book about the making of Fiddler itself has all the qualities that make that musical so great: it's drenched in humanity, it's full of joy and sorrows, beautifully rendered, it's often very funny and it's almost somber in the way it appreciates the process through which unforgettable theatre has to be born. The early parts of it, which I lived through, hit me with, if I wanted to be pretentious (and I do) a truly Proustian surge; the rest of it conveyed all the richness and fascination it surely had for all those participants. I think as many people who love Fiddler on the Roof will love this book. In other words, people all over the world."—Austin Pendleton

"Great works of art seem to have been created effortlessly. They appear as whole, solid and eternal as if they'd always existed in their perfection. Fiddler on the Roof is one of those works. Every element of the story, script, music and lyrics are so naturally balanced and complete that it seems impossible to imagine the success of this piece was ever in question or that its creators ever floundered. Here, Barbara Isenberg uncovers sweat and tears behind the curtain through the stories of those who were actually there. And then, she carries us forward to this day's productions which keep Fiddler on the Roof before generation after generation of appreciative audiences. Brava, Barbara!!!!"— Harvey Fierstein

About the Author

BARBARA ISENBERG, author of Tradition!, is an award winning journalist who has been writing and lecturing about theater for over three decades. She is the author of Making It Big: The Diary of a Broadway Musical, State of the Arts: California Artists Talk About Their Work and Conversations with Frank Gehry. Her work has appeared in the LA Times, the Wall Street Journal, Time, Esquire, The Huffington Post, and London's Sunday Times. She lives in Los Angeles.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Press (September 2, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 031259142X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312591427
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.36 x 0.93 x 9.46 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 54 ratings

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Barbara Isenberg
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BARBARA ISENBERG is an award winning journalist who has been interviewing artists in print and onstage for over three decades. She is the author of the Los Angeles Times best-sellers "Tradition!: The Highly Improbable, Ultimately Triumphant Broadway-to-Hollywood Story of 'Fiddler on the Roof,' The World's Most Beloved Musical" and "Conversations with Frank Gehry" as well as "State of the Arts: California Artists Talk About Their Work" and "Making It Big: The Diary of a Broadway Musical." Formerly a staff reporter for the Los Angeles Times, where she remains a contributor, and Wall Street Journal, she has also written for Time, Esquire, The Huffington Post, and London's Sunday Times. She received a Distinguished Artist Award from the Los Angeles Music Center and has been a Visiting Scholar at the Getty Research Institute. She lives in Los Angeles.

For more information, visit: www.barbaraisenberg.com

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
54 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining. They appreciate the thorough and well-researched account of the development of the classic musical. The stories provide an interesting and informative read about the trials and tribulations involved in creating a musical.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

8 customers mention "Story quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging and entertaining stories in this book about the birth of a classic musical. They find the back story fascinating and informative, and appreciate the account of one of the greatest musicals of all time.

"...conjures up warm and tearful recollection of one of the greatest musicals of all time...." Read more

"..."biography" of one of the best and most popular Broadway musicals ever written...." Read more

"An easy, informative, interesting read. Lots of great stories about the trials and tribulations involved in birthing a masterpiece -- it didn't..." Read more

"Fascinating evolution of a wonderful play and insights that we'd never know about how the script, story, music, direction etc intertwine...." Read more

6 customers mention "Book enjoyment"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They say it's a wonderful book, but not to read at bedtime due to the haunting melodies.

"...I recommend that you not read this wonderful book at bedtime, because the haunting melodies will start rushing through your mind and keep you wide..." Read more

"...A good read!" Read more

"WONDERFUL book on the evolution and production of "Fiddler on the Roof" at a great price and shipped in a timely manner - VERY pleased with..." Read more

"Loved this book.. completely engaging, entertaining and flowed as if someone were telling a story." Read more

5 customers mention "Information quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's informative and well-researched account of the development of the classic play. They find it readable and insightful, with many wonderful details like Zero Mostel constantly breaking.

"...Isenberg digs up many wonderful details, such as Zero Mostel constantly breaking character during his performances as Tevye and Norman Jewison’s..." Read more

"An easy, informative, interesting read...." Read more

"Fascinating evolution of a wonderful play and insights that we'd never know about how the script, story, music, direction etc intertwine...." Read more

"A thorough and well-researched account of the development of the classic play "Fiddler on the Roof" and the subsequent impact it had." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2014
    Fiddler on the Roof—just reading the title conjures up warm and tearful recollection of one of the greatest musicals of all time. All those memories well up on reading "Tradition." Somehow, we think of great cultural treasures as being conceived and born just as we finally experience them, but Barbara Isenberg’s insightful and gripping account of the show’s gestation proves that this is far from the truth. Everybody thought the show was far too Jewish to succeed with a mass audience, but producer Harold Prince took a chance on it. Director Jerome Robbins constantly shaped and reshaped the work (driving everyone meshuga in the process) and the composers wrote about 50 songs, most of which were cut. Isenberg digs up many wonderful details, such as Zero Mostel constantly breaking character during his performances as Tevye and Norman Jewison’s need to use marble dust as fake snow in the movie, or the fact that the ladies’ stockings were placed over the camera lens during filming. I recommend that you not read this wonderful book at bedtime, because the haunting melodies will start rushing through your mind and keep you wide awake. Happy 50th birthday to Fiddler on the Roof! L'Chaim! May it live a thousand years!
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2014
    Author Barbara Isenberg has crafted a highly readable and wonderfully informative "biography" of one of the best and most popular Broadway musicals ever written. Anyone with an interest in the history of American musical theatre in general or "Fiddler on the Roof" in particular will find this book to be a welcome addition to their library. Recommended.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2016
    An easy, informative, interesting read. Lots of great stories about the trials and tribulations involved in birthing a masterpiece -- it didn't come together easily or magically, it was dedication and hard work. Oh -- and Frank Sinatra wanted to play Tevye in the movie version! Ha!!!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2014
    The book covered the story of how the book and music came together, the casting, the out-of-town previews, the special issues of filming the story and how it was received around the world. A timely reflection on the 50th anniversary of Fiddler's opening on Broadway. A good read!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2015
    Fascinating evolution of a wonderful play and insights that we'd never know about how the script, story, music, direction etc intertwine. Also shows the personalities of the people who made it happen and how they worked together. It made me realize the uncertainties that go along with the unfolding of a play with those who don't think it will have a wide audience and those who see it in a more universal breadth.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2017
    A thorough and well-researched account of the development of the classic play "Fiddler on the Roof" and the subsequent impact it had.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2015
    Entertaining and an easy read. If you know the show and like Broadway musicals, you'll enjoy learning the back story
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2015
    WONDERFUL book on the evolution and production of "Fiddler on the Roof" at a great price and shipped in a timely manner - VERY pleased with the item AND the service!
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Ann Baxter
    5.0 out of 5 stars My review
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 15, 2023
    Thoroughly enjoyed this

    A loving look at a wonderful musical , great stories and facts throughout the book most enjoyable
  • tonyz
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2015
    Not as comprehensive as Wonder of Wonders. Needed more detail. Not a bad read though