Irina Zaurov Directs FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at Toledo Repertoire Theatre

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Toledo Repertoire Theatre will present FIDDLER ON THE ROOF this June.

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The Toledo Repertoire Theatre will present the classic musical FIDDLER ON THE ROOF this June on its Tenth Street stage. Rich in historical and ethical detail, this Tony Award-winning musical tells the story of milkman Tevye and his five daughters as they navigate changing social norms while trying to hold onto their traditional values. Written by Joseph Stein , with music by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick , this heartfelt musical remains deeply relevant regardless of background or generation.

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Director Irina Zaurov brings both professional experience and personal connection to the production. A classically trained actor and director, Zaurov has directed for numerous theaters throughout the Greater Toledo area. She currently serves on the Toledo Rep’s Board of Directors and is the artistic director and co-founder of Sylvania Arts Youth Theatre, where she has worked for 21 years. She also teaches “Creative Process,” “Acting for Non-Majors,” and “Intro to Theatre” at the University of Toledo.

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Zaurov to discuss her personal and professional connections to the show.

Tell me a little bit about yourself, your background, and what brought you to direct Fiddler. I’ve been living in Toledo for more than 30 years now. Most of our relatives ended up in New York, but we moved here because we have a child with special needs. At the time, the children’s hospital here was considered one of the best in the country, so we came for help for our son.

My family immigrated from the former Soviet Union looking for a better life. Some people immigrated because of religious persecution, but for us, it was mostly about helping our child. We now have relatives all over the world — Germany, Australia, Austria — places I never imagined. Sometimes it’s still strange to realize we speak English together instead of Russian.

I had a very interesting religious experience as a child. I was maybe nine or 10 years old when all of my cousins gathered in my grandmother’s basement to learn about Hanukkah. One of the neighbors must have called the police, because officers came in and arrested the adults, leaving all of us children standing there terrified. After that, we never talked about it again. We never celebrated openly, though I always remember my grandmother quietly lighting a candle.

When we arrived here, everything felt so free. People openly celebrated all kinds of holidays, including Jewish holidays. It took me a while to adapt. It was a huge change.

Theater-wise, you have extensive training, don’t you?

I’m a classically trained actor and director. I earned a master’s degree in performing arts in Moscow, and I also trained here at the University of Toledo. The approaches are very different. My Russian training was much more conservatory-style.

At some point, I decided I wasn’t getting any younger, and I didn’t really see myself continuing as an actor. My accent was always somewhat of a barrier. But I’ve worked in theater here for 15 years now, and Fiddler will be my 80th show.

“We have a multi-generational, multicultural cast, and it’s amazing that 75 people came to audition. We ended up with a cast of 40. They are absolutely incredible — a dream cast and production team. This is our third show working together, and for a director, having a dedicated production team and actors willing to put in the time is a real blessing.

A major theme in Fiddler is tradition. Are there any traditions you keep in your own life?

I have a tradition with my husband every Friday night. We light candles and rest through Saturday. We eat, take walks, and spend time together, especially if the weather is nice. He prays a lot, and it’s wonderful to have a peaceful day where you can just slow down.

“In theater, I also have a tradition before performances. Everyone stacks their hands together, and we count to three or say ‘break a leg’ or the name of the show. It’s something small to help boost everyone’s spirits. I always remind them how hard they’ve worked and encourage them to enjoy the experience.”

Fiddler has been around for a long time. Will this production be a more traditional retelling? Yes. I like keeping it traditional. I spend a lot of time teaching the cast about Jewish culture and traditions — how they work and how they differ.

“We also have a Jewish gentleman in the cast playing the Rabbi. His daughter recently had a bat mitzvah, and he invited members of the cast to attend so they could experience the celebration firsthand. They loved the dancing, the food, and the atmosphere. It was a wonderful experience for everyone.

My approach as a director focuses heavily on character development. It’s important that actors understand who their characters are, what they want, and how they connect to each other. Once they understand that, the singing and dancing become much easier.“This production is very movement and music heavy. Thankfully, I have Gail Mowry as music director and Alex Fisher as choreographer. We all work very hard together, and they are at every rehearsal.

Why do you think the show is still so relevant today?

“It’s still relevant because it touches on important topics like tradition, assimilation, and the search for a better life. So many people are still looking for that.

Tevye is such a wonderful father, and it’s fascinating to watch how he adapts throughout the show. One of the most beautiful moments comes at the end, when his daughter returns to say goodbye before leaving. He quietly says, ‘God bless you,’ not directly to her face, but almost to the side — like he’s leaving a little window open for forgiveness someday. It’s his way of saying, ‘I still love you.’

There are many touching moments in the show, but also a lot of humor.

Act One has much more humor, while Act Two becomes more serious. Watching Fiddler, I want audiences to laugh, cry, and appreciate the beauty of family even during difficult times.

Toledo audiences understand that we’re all individuals, but together we create a larger human community. With so much hatred in the world right now, I want people to see that we are all more alike than different.

It was fascinating to see so many people audition for a production about Jewish life, especially considering everything happening in the world today. I feel very blessed to be directing this show.

June 5–21, 2026
Toledo Repertoire Theatre

16 Tenth Street
Toledo, Ohio 43604

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/cleveland/article/Interview-Irina-Zaurov-Directs-FIDDLER-ON-THE-ROOF-At-Toledo-Repertoire-Theatre-20260519)._