At the Monticello Opera House, “Fiddler on the Roof” is becoming more than a classic story of tradition, change, and family — it’s also a deeply personal reflection of the cast bringing it to life.
For one married couple in particular, the production, which runs May 15-31, is something rare: a chance to share the stage not only with each other, but for the first time with their son.
John Campana and Juliann Cortese will appear together as Tevye and Golde, the iconic husband-and-wife at the heart of the story. The pairing feels almost inevitable given their shared history on stage. The two first met in high school during a production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” when John was playing keyboard in the pit and Juliann was on stage. That creative collision sparked a lifelong partnership in theatre — and eventually in life.
“We were part of the same theatre circle for years before anything else,” John recalls. “It started as friendship, then collaboration, and eventually something more.”
Their journey together continued through college, where they performed in shows such as “Baby” and “West Side Story,” productions that quietly mirrored their own evolving relationship. What began as onstage chemistry slowly became offstage reality, and the couple eventually married — continuing to build both a family and a shared artistic life.
Over the years, John and Juliann have shared the stage frequently, often playing opposite one another. They have previously expanded their theatrical world to include performing with their daughter, Joelie in productions of “Into the Woods,” “Little Women,” and “The Drowsy Chaperone.” But “Fiddler on the Roof” marks a new milestone: the first time their son, Jace, joins them on stage.
Jace will appear as Mendel, the rabbi’s son, making this production a true family affair.
For John, the experience carries added resonance. He was most recently seen in the Southern Shakespeare Company’s festival’s production of “The Tempest,” continuing his long-standing connection to classical theater and ensemble-driven performance.
Juliann describes their partnership simply: “Theater has always been something we do together. It’s how we connect — not just as performers, but as people and as a family.”
That connection extends beyond the stage. The couple often runs lines together at home, records music for rehearsals, and coordinates their family schedule like a production in itself. “We basically run our lives like a theater company,” John says with a laugh. “Google Calendar is our stage manager.”
While balancing rehearsal schedules, parenting, and performance is no small feat, they both describe it as a shared rhythm rather than a burden. “One of us steps forward when the other needs to step back,” Juliann says. “That’s how it’s always worked.”
In “Fiddler on the Roof,” John and Juliann step into the roles of Tevye and Golde — an older couple weathering change, raising children, and holding onto tradition in a shifting world. It’s a story about endurance, love, and family structure under pressure — qualities the couple understands not just as actors, but as partners in real life.
“What makes this special,” John reflects, “is that we’re not just playing a married couple — we are one. And now we get to share that with our son.”
For audiences, that reality adds a quiet layer of authenticity to a beloved musical about family, faith, and the ties that hold people together across generations.
At its heart, this production is exactly what the Cortese/Campana household has lived for decades: theatre as a shared language, and family as its strongest ensemble.
If you go
What: “Fiddler on the Roof”
When: May 15-31; Friday and Saturday night performances at 7:30 (lobby and bar open at 6:30); Sunday matinee performances at 2 p.m. (lobby and bar open at 1 p.m.)
Where: Monticello Opera House, 185 W Washington St, Monticello
Tickets: $27; call 850-997-4242. or visit monticellooperahouse.org
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: A family that plays together: Couple brings real-life love to ‘Fiddler’
Reporting by James Alexander Bond, Special to the Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
