By Samantha Drumm
Hometown Weekly Staff
If you aren’t familiar with the Dover Foundation after their 79th year of performing for charity, it’s high time you get acquainted in time for their 80th anniversary.
Though you may have missed their 79th annual performance, this year’s being a fantastic rendition of Fiddler on the Roof, the Dover Foundation promises local color in the performance arts year after year.
If you had the pleasure of sitting in on one of the Dover Foundation's three performances last weekend, you may be shocked to learn that a show with such spectacular costumes, strong acting and vocals, phenomenal choreography and direction, and a highly talented pit band, a pleasure somewhat unusual for smaller local productions, was put on entirely by volunteers.
Since 1947, the Dover Foundation has strived to fulfill its mission–fostering community spirit, neighborliness, cooperation, friendships, and service within the town of Dover.
Other than a brief hiatus during COVID, the Dover Foundation has put on refined productions annually, with proceeds entirely devoted to community scholarships for high schoolers.
According to Director Sheridan Miller, who has been with the Dover Foundation since the 1980s and has directed the foundation’s performances since the 2000s, this is the oldest continuous volunteer organization in Dover.
As for the reason behind selecting Fiddler on the Roof as this year's show, Sheridan says it’s a classic.
“If you look online, you’ll see that this is one of the top 10 musicals of all time; a whole generation of people grew up with this music. This performance is universally, persistently relevant,” shares Miller. But what makes the performance especially perfect, Sheridan shares, is that the Dover Foundation waited 79 years to assemble the perfect cast.
“There is not a single weak number in this cast,” Miller promises.
This emotional story of forgiveness, reconciliation, tradition, and religion is undeniably relevant and sure to connect with viewers from all generations. But its capacity to tug on our heartstrings was sealed by potent performances across the cast, Michael Jones‘s strong musical direction, Laurel Conrad’s choreography, and, of course, Miller’s direction.
This being their 20th year working together, the artistic team was sure to put on a phenomenal performance.
The cast, made up of 42 volunteers from ages 4 to 84 from towns throughout the area, features lawyers, nurses, mothers, fathers, and grandparents alike.
“It’s a collection of people who loved to perform theater,” Miller shares, “and they’re all volunteers. “
If you looked among the faces of the near-full house of attendees at any three of these shows, you would be met with a sea of smiling faces. Audience members tapped their feet as Tevye (Jim Braunstein) performed a catchy, melodic rendition of “If I Were a Rich Man”.
Carina Krusell, Lisa Herrmann, and Jen Paxton delivered strong vocal and acting performances as Tevye’s three daughters. Their talent was matched by their mother, Golde (Becky King). Kyle Cohan, acting as the poor tailor Motel, provided much-needed comedic relief throughout the play.
The list of powerful performances only goes on. The Dover Foundation’s performance was rife with emotion, local color, and a shared sense of community selflessness.
As the Dover Foundation looks toward its 80th year, Sheridan recognizes how fortunate they are to put on these shows, support their community, and feature such talented local performers from all walks of life.
If you have yet to see one of the Dover Foundation's performances, you can visit thedoverfoundation.org and keep an eye out for upcoming shows. As a newly indoctrinated fan of the organization, I can promise you will be anything but disappointed.
