The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival couldn't have chosen a more beloved classic than "Fiddler on the Roof" to open its 23rd season.

For PSF, noted for presenting the classics of Shakespeare and the Broadway stage, to borrow from the beloved "Fiddler" song, it's "Tradition."

"It's certainly a musical that our audiences have wanted us to do," says Dennis Razze, PSF associate artistic director, directing "Fiddler," June 11 - 29, Main Stage, Labuda Center for the Arts, DeSales University, Center Valley, Upper Saucon Township.

"Patrick [Mulcahy, PSF producing artistic director] and I have had it on our list of must-do musicals for the past five years," Razze says.

"I love the play," says Mulcahy. "I've been burning to do it for years. There's a strong, strong demand for it," says Mulcahy.

According to Razze, as of press time, "Fiddler" pre-sales are surpassing those of other musicals over the past five years at PSF.

"We were for several years talking with our audience about doing [it]," Mulcahy continues. "I think a lot of people have great memories of this play. It was the first play I was in as a young actor. It made me fall in love with this [theater].

"In huge numbers, they're [PSF audience] saying, 'I can't wait to see it again.' And Dennis [Razze] knows how to do this," says Mulcahy.

Razze directed "Fiddler" in 1982 at American University when on the faculty there, and in 1990 at DeSales University.

"This particular production is going to be the most layered production that I've done," says Razze.

The original Broadway production of "Fiddler," which opened in 1964, was the first musical theater show to surpass 3,000 performances after being nominated for 10 Tony Awards and receiving nine (musical, score, book, direction, choreography). There've been four Broadway revivals and a 1972 feature movie version.

"Fiddler" has music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, book by Joseph Stein and original choreography by Jerome Robbins. The show's favorite songs include "Tradition," "Matchmaker, Matchmaker," "If I Were A Rich Man," "To Life" and "Sunrise, Sunset."

"We are really doing the Jerome Robbins choreography fulll-tilt," says Razze. "Steven Casey is choreographer, who I've collaborated with many times. He's playing a big role in the production because there's so much choreography."

The show's title is a metaphor for survival with tradition and faith providing the balance in tumultuous times.

The musical is based on "Tevye and His Daughters" and other tales by Yiddish writer Sholem Aleichem, set in 1905 in Czarist Russia.

"It's the time of Chekov and Stanislavski," Razze says. "It kind of mirrors what's going on today in the Ukraine and Russia. It takes place in an area where Jews were segregated.

"The Czarist Russians are the bad guys in the show. That's for sure," says Razze. "They are the villains of the piece. Instead of wanting to be inclusive, they are kicking them [the Jews] out. And the Russian Jews ended up being dispersed throughout the world yet another Exodus for the Jews."

"Joe Vincent, who plays Tevye, starred as Big Daddy in our [PSF] production of 'Cat in a Hot Tin Roof.' When I saw 'Cat,' [at PSF], I said, 'There's a guy who could play Tevye. Little did I know he played Tevye three times before," says Razze.

The "Fiddler" cast, at 34, is the largest ever at PSF. The orchestra, at 15, is the largest to date at PSF.

"It's certainly the biggest PSF has done every on all kids of levels," Razze says.

The 23rd PSF season coincides with the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth. In two years, PSF's 25th season coincides with the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death.

PSF kicked off its 2014 season May 30, with "Cinderella" as annual family production, continuing through Aug. 2, Shubert Theatre, Labuda Center for the Arts on DeSales' Center Valley campus. An estimated 475 attended "Luminosity Gala 2014," May 31, DeSales University Center.

Mulcahy is back in the director's chair, after directing PSF's 2011 production of "Hamlet," for Shakespeare's monumental drama, "Macbeth," July 17 - Aug. 3, Main Stage, with Ian Bedford in the title role and Susan Riley Stevens as Lady Macbeth.

"Macbeth" is in repertory with "Lend Me a Tenor," Main Stage, July 9 - Aug. 3. The hilarious comedy marks its 25th anniversary in a production directed by PSF favorite funnyman Jim Helsinger. It's the fourth season for rep at PSF.

PSF mainstay for comedy in the round, Matt Pfeiffer directs The Bard's romantic comedy, "The Two Gentlemen of Verona," June 18 - July 13, Schubert Theatre, with new married couple, Marnie Schulenburg (TV's "As The World Turns") and Zach Robidas ("It's Complicated" movie), in the lead roles.

The season concludes with Tina Packer's "Women of Will," July 20 - Aug. 3, Schubert Theatre, with the original production launching a national tour after its PSF run. There's also "Shakespeare for Kids," July 23 - Aug. 2, Main Stage.

Tickets: pashakespeare. org, 610-282-WILL