Of all the romantic relationships in the Tony-winning classic Fiddler on the Roof, the saddest and most challenging is Tevye's daughter Chava and Fyedka, a non-Jewish Russian solider. The pair is played in Bart Sher's powerful new Broadway revival by Melanie Moore (So You Think You Can Dance, Finding Neverland) and newcomer Nick Rehberger. Below, BroadwayBox gets to know Rehberger better as we talk Fiddler moments, how he owes his Broadway dream to Danny Burstein and his creative new hobby.
1. My favorite moment in our production of Fiddler has to be:
The opening images of "Tradition" give me chills every time. And I get to shake Danny Burstein's hand on a Broadway stage! There are many beautiful and unexpected moments and that's all I'll say—you'll have to come see!
2. Hashtag I would use to describe my Chava, Melanie Moore:
Just one hashtag?! I really can't say enough good things about her. She's open, kind, thoughtful, and an incredibly smart actor. I'm lucky to share the stage with her. Mel is #therealdeal!
3. A forbidden love story I really love:
Sweeney Todd! Antony and Johanna have a pretty exciting forbidden love.
4. Special skill on my resume I'm most proud to have mastered:
My Christopher Walken impression has been my friend's Dad's voicemail greeting for six years, so that's either scary or pride-worthy.
5. My most cherish memory from The Glass Menagerie on Broadway is:
After the cast finished the first read-through, we sat in a circle and discussed the play. As the standby, I couldn't believe that they wanted my input and voice. They were so generous and instantly welcomed me into that incredible company as well as into the Broadway community. It was a special moment.
6. The story of how I got into wood working:
It's a new hobby for me! Last year—on a trip home to Michigan—I made a jewelry box for a friend and the process was really challenging and fun. I brought some of my Dad's old hand tools back to NY and I've just started to learn how to use them. There can be so much creative pressure in our business, I find it very relaxing to make something with your own hands with absolutely no pressure on the results.
7. The last TV show I binge-watched:
House of Cards! If they happen to need a rugged blonde guy with extensive dietary restrictions for the next season, I'm available.
8. Moment I knew I wanted to be a performer:
On a field trip in high school I got to see Bart Sher's production of South Pacific at Lincoln Center. It was my first Broadway show and I remember seeing Paulo Szot and Danny Burstein give those masterful performances and thinking "I want to be like these men." At 16, doing plays in public high school, I never thought that I'd be working on Broadway, much less with Bart and Danny!
9. Michigan secret to surviving a cold winter:
Rock a Canadian (Michigander) tuxedo under your winter coat! Jeans on top, jeans on bottom!
10. Two things I wouldn't be able to live without on a two-show-day:
(1) My dresser, Mikey Goodmark, and (2) his magical health-making Witch's Brew. A show wouldn't function without dressers and mine rocks and keeps me in line. On two show days he'll cut slices of fresh ginger and lemon and steep them in the coffee pot with oil of oregano. Then you add honey and a bag of Throat Coat tea. You can instantly feel it melt away any bad stuff!
See Nick Rehberger in the stunning new 'Fiddler on the Roof' at the Broadway Theatre.
