Young actors take over area stages

From left, Keith Dona of Sylvania, portraying Tevye, and Anna Birkmeier of Waterville, as Tzeitel, rehearse a scene from 'Fiddler on the Roof.'

The kids are most definitely all right this weekend on the local theater circuit as a number of troupes hand things over to energetic and ambitious young actors.

The Toledo Repertoire Theatre’s Young Rep will tackle the venerable Fiddler on the Roof tonight through Sunday. 

The original 1964 Broadway production won nine Tony Awards and ran for more than 3,000 performances.

Set in Russia in the early 20th century, it tells the story of Tevye, the father of five daughters, as he struggles to preserve Jewish family traditions while fending off outside influences. He also must deal with a Russian czar’s attempts to evict Jews from their village.

The play produced such iconic songs as “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Tradition,” and “Do You Love Me.”

"Fiddler on the Roof" will be presented tonight, Friday, and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 and $10. The Toledo Repertoire Theatre is at 16 10th St. Information: 419-243-9277 or www.toledorep.org.

Junior con job

A traveling salesman with a gift for gab and a keen eye for a con takes over River City, Iowa, in the Oregon Community Theatre Youth presentation of The Music Man Jr. this weekend.

Con man Harold Hill meets his match with the kindly town folks who aren’t as gullible as they seem when he persuades them to buy instruments for a boys’ band that doesn’t exist.

Love prevails, of course, in the form of the town librarian and Harold turns his life around.

Songs from The Music Man also have entered the popular lexicon, most notably “Ya Got Trouble,” “Seventy-Six Trombones,” and “Good Night, My Someone.”

“The Music Man Jr.” will be presented tonight, Friday, and Saturday at 7 p.m. at Clay High School Auditorium, 5665 Seaman Rd. Tickets are $8 and $10. Information: 419-691-1398 or www.oregoncommunitytheatre.org.

Dance, dance, dance

A more contemporary musical is the focus of the River Raisin Youth Theatre’s production of Footloose: The Musical this weekend.

The musical is based on the semi-classic film starring Kevin Bacon in which a teenage boy moves to a small farming town that has all kinds of restrictions, including rules against — gasp! — dancing. So he wins over the town reverend’s rebellious daughter, gets everybody up shaking their groove things, and both he and the old man find redemption.

“Footloose: The Musical” will be presented Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, and $10 for students and children. The River Raisin theater is at 114 S. Monroe St. in Monroe. Information: 734-242-7722 or www.riverraisincentre.org.

Good ol’ Shrek

Archbold Community Theatre presents Shrek the Musical Friday, Saturday, and Sunday featuring the lovable ogre and his pals.

The “fractured fairy tale” is based on the hit movie and its sequels, but back stories are added for some of the secondary characters such as Fiona, Donkey, and Lord Farquaad. 

It’s comedy with a message that young children will enjoy and adults will appreciate as it explores Shrek’s desire to fit in.

“Shrek the Musical” will be performed at Archbold High School Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 to $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Information: 419-267-5717 or www.archboldcommunitytheatre.com.