Harvey Fierstein Frontrunner to Replace Molina in Fiddler

Will Harvey Fierstein be taking up residence in Anatevka? Broadway.com has learned that the gravelly voiced Tony winner is the frontrunner to replace Alfred Molina as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.

Fierstein won a Tony Award for Hairspray, his first and only Broadway musical acting credit. He additionally appeared on the Great White Way in his own plays, Torch Song Trilogy which won him Best Actor and Best Play Tonys and Safe Sex. While he is not exactly known for his musical prowess, Fierstein did write the books for the tuners Legs Diamond and La Cage aux Folles for which he won a Best Book of a Musical Tony and has performed the Fiddler on the Roof song "Do You Love Me? at numerous benefits.

Fiddler on the Roof features book by Joseph Stein, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and music by Jerry Bock. The story of the show--inspired by the stories of Sholom Aleichem--concerns Tevye and his daughters, who are yearning for something new as great changes are happening in the world outside their village of Anatevka. The score includes such songs as "If I Were a Rich Man," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "Sunrise, Sunset" and "To Life." Tevyes in past Broadway productions of Fiddler include Zero Mostel and Topol who also played the role in the acclaimed 1971 film version of the musical.

This revival, directed by David Leveaux, opened with Molina in the lead on February 26, 2004. His contract is scheduled to expire in mid-January. A production spokesperson told Broadway.com that there was no one set to replace Molina, adding that Leveaux had been out of the country and not able to see potential Tevyes.