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Lyricist Sheldon Harnick, who, with composer Jerry Bock, forged one of Broadway's most successful Broadway composing teams, responsible for such classics as Fiddler on the Roof and She Loves Me, has passed away. He was 99. The news was confirmed via Harnick's longtime publicist Sean Katz. If Mr. Harnick and Mr. Bock had done nothing else than musicalize the tales of Yiddish writer Sholom Alechim into the bittersweet tale of the joys and trials of family and tradition called Fiddler on the Roof, their place in musical theatre history would be secure. First on Broadway in 1964, it ran for...

Israeli actor, singer and Israel Prize laureate Chaim Topol passed away overnight Wednesday at the age of 87. Topol was best known for his portrayal of Tevye, the lead role in both the stage musical Fiddler on the Roof as well as the 1971 film adaptation. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease several years ago, and his condition deteriorated in recent days. Omer, Topol's son, told the Mako website on Wednesday that his father was on his deathbed. "We are here at home with him, he is surrounded and loved," he said. "He is still with us in his final...

The spirited Israeli actor and singer died in Tel Aviv.Chaim Topol, the spirited Israeli actor and singer who, one season following another, portrayed Tevye the milkman in Fiddler on the Roof on stages all around the world and in an Oscar-nominated turn in Norman Jewison’s 1971 film adaptation, has died in Tel Aviv, the Associated Press reported. He was 87. Israel’s first international movie star, Topol also played famed Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei in Galileo (1975); an American scientist, Dr. Hans Zarkov, in the cult sci-fi classic Flash Gordon (1980); and Milos Columbo, a Greek smuggler and ally of Roger...

The man who shouted “Heil Hitler, heil Trump” at a Baltimore performance of “Fiddler on the Roof” apologized Friday for his outburst, saying he chose the wrong words when he was attempting to compare President Donald Trump to the Nazi leader. Anthony M. Derlunas II, 58, said the play, which tells the story of a Jewish family facing persecution in tsarist Russia, reminded him of Trump’s immigration policies. His comparison “came out wrong” and was “beyond a mistake” he said during an interview at his home in Joppa. “Instantly it was like, ‘Oh my God, what did you do?’ ”...

The video Fiddler on the Roof - You Got Served Trailer Mash-Up was part of a student film editing project. He should get an A+:

A new British film explores what happens when an everyman Muslim wakes up to discover one day he was actually born Jewish. Released this week in the UK is a timely and wholesome comedy that celebrates Jewish and Muslim culture in a way not often seen in cinema. It uses comedy to take a light-hearted look at religion. The Infidel is about a Muslim who discovers that he adopted and is actually Jewish. Written by renowned Jewish comedian and author David Baddiel, the film is a timely reminder of the commonality between both religions and goes further than most ethnic...

SYDNEY – In the world of fiddler crabs, the best form of protection for females is, apparently, having sex with the neighbors, according to an Australian study published Wednesday. Researchers from The Australian National University in Canberra found male fiddler crabs will happily defend a nearby female against intruders — partly because the females will dole out sex in return. "The fact that the neighbor comes over and helps to defend another territorial individual is pretty unusual," said Michael Jennions, who helped conduct the study, the results of which were published in the journal Biology Letters. "This study shows, for...

A Palestinian whose violin performance at a West Bank checkpoint embarrassed the military, angered Palestinians and upset some Israelis said Tuesday that he has found goodwill at an Israeli kibbutz which invited him to take some lessons there. Wissem Tayem, 29, was speaking in an interview with The Associated Press after spending three days as the guest of Israelis at a music workshop on a kibbutz communal farm in the hills of the Galilee. "They gave me a wonderful, warm reception," Tayem said of his kibbutz hosts. "Everyone was lovely, in this kibbutz they treat people with respect no matter...

Johnny Cunningham passed away on the evening of December 15th 2003. He died at home from a heart attack. He was embraced in Trisha's arms. To send condolences and commemorate his life, click here and send a note to be posted on this page.