For Jonathan Galle, there鈥檚 no time for 鈥渂iddy-biddy-bum鈥� this semester.
That鈥檚 because he鈥檚 the violinist鈥攆iddler, that is鈥攊n the Theatre & Dance department鈥檚 upcoming production of 鈥�.鈥� 听
鈥淚t was kind of nerve wracking at first,鈥� says the first-year violin performance major, a native of Washington state. He鈥檚 never acted before, so despite having performed on stage with orchestras and chamber groups, this appearance is new territory for Galle.
鈥淚 played in an orchestra pit, but never on stage during a musical or play,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou have to be ready and keep your attention on everything. Even during rehearsal, you could just be standing there watching and then boom, you鈥檙e up.鈥�
Galle found out about the opportunity to perform in CU鈥檚 production of the beloved musical from his studio teacher, Assistant Professor of Violin Charles Wetherbee. 鈥淗e emailed me with a proposition to play the fiddler, and I decided to audition. I played kind of a medley of songs from the musical, and I had them memorized.鈥�
鈥淛onathan is a bright, engaging student with a real flair onstage presence,鈥� says Wetherbee. 鈥淗e鈥檚 great for the role.鈥�
Galle wasn鈥檛 going in completely blind; the 1971 film version of 鈥淔iddler鈥� is one of his favorite musicals. But he says this performance will nonetheless be a new test for him. 鈥淭he most challenging part is figuring where you fit in the puzzle,鈥� he explains. 鈥淚n a solo performance, you come in and do your thing. In a play, you wait for your cue in the big picture.鈥�
As a musician, Galle says crossing disciplinary lines and working with the theatre department will make him a stronger, more expressive performer. 鈥淚t鈥檚 is all about portraying how you feel to the audience and making them feel a certain way,鈥� Galle explains. 鈥淚n that way, it鈥檚 related to music.
鈥淵ou have to be expressive as a musician, too, and embrace the theatrical. This experience will give me more depth and more ideas to express my music.鈥�
It just might give him more ideas for his future career, too. As a freshman, Galle says he鈥檚 not yet sure which direction his music career will take him鈥攈e has an interest in solo and orchestral performance, chamber music and jazz. He鈥檚 even interested in owning his own recording studio some day.
You can learn more about Jonathan Galle's turn as the fiddler .
鈥淔iddler on the Roof鈥� at the CU-Boulder University Theatre
Friday, Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 8, 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 15, 2 p.m.
