680NEWS

TORONTO - Harvey Fierstein is replacing Chaim Topol in the North American tour of "Fiddler on the Roof."

Mirvish Productions, which is mounting the hit musical in Toronto from Dec. 8 to Jan. 10, 2010, says Topol has to leave the show due to a shoulder injury that requires "emergency long-term treatment." Topol played the lead in the Oscar-winning 1971 film "Fiddler on the Roof."

His participation in the current production of the Tony-winning Jerome Robbins musical was billed as his farewell tour.

Fierstein has won four Tony Awards, including best book of a play and best actor in a play for "Torch Song Trilogy."

His most recent win was the 2003 Tony for best actor in a musical for the Broadway production of "Hairspray."

David Mirvish of Mirvish Productions said he was shocked to hear about Topol's injury but is pleased with the choice of his replacement.

"As soon as the tour's producers told us that they had successfully engaged Harvey Fierstein to play the lead role in this classic and iconic musical, our shock turned to delight," Mirvish said in a statement.