BALTIMORE (WJZ)—The Tony Award-winning musical “Fiddler on the Roof” is now playing at the Lyric Opera House. The lead actor is from the Baltimore area.

He talked to Andrea Fujii about how he enjoys performing for a hometown crowd.

“If I were a rich man…” is one of the most recognizable songs from “Fiddler on the Roof,” and the deep voice behind it spent years in the Baltimore area.

“I’ve got a good number of people coming to see the show.  It’s going to be great. It’s going to be good. I’m looking forward to it,” said John Preece, actor.

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Preece most recently lived in Catonsville.

He’s played the musical’s main character Tevye nearly 1,800 times.

“It’s probably one of the best written roles in musical theater.  You get to go through the full range of emotions,” Preece said.

“Fiddler on the Roof” is about a humble milkman and father as he experiences life’s challenges in Russia’s early 1900s. Preece has performed in his hometown four times.

And for anyone who hasn’t yet seen the musical live, “One of the things about this show is this is history.  This is something that everybody can relate to because there’s something in it that affects everybody’s lives,” Preece said.

“Fiddler on the Roof” will be playing at the Lyric Opera House through Saturday.

Preece currently lives in Illinois. He has also produced and directed more than 35 musicals.