When the national touring company of "Fiddler on the Roof!" takes the stage Saturday, March 24, at the Classic Center in Athens, audience members may find that the lead actor, John Preece as Tevye, looks familiar.

Preece was a theater major at Piedmont College in Demorest, graduating in 1971.

Now in his 10th National Tour of "Fiddler on the Roof!," Preece has performed in the show some 3,400 times, more than 1,780 of those performances as Tevye. The Baltimore native has drawn rave reviews around the country as the next in a line of actors who have made the role memorable, including Theodore Bikel, Chaim Topol and the original Tevye, Zero Mostel.

Scot Zacher of Chicago Theater Beat said Preece is the "perfectly, personable Tevye. Whether he is talking to God or lovingly teasing his daughters, Preece engages. He commands the stage with a vulnerability that feels organic."

While best known for his performances in "Fiddler" across the U.S. and Canada, Preece has been involved in theatre for the past 40 years, including roles as Ben Franklin in "1776" and The Devil in "Damn Yankees."

He recently just completed a successful run as Don Quixote in "The Man of La Mancha" at the Candlelight Theatre in Wilmington, Del. He has also been involved in producing and directing more than 35 productions ranging from the classics to musical theatre. He has produced such shows as "Jesus Christ Superstar," "The Sound of Music," and "42nd Street."

For more information about the upcoming Athens show, visit www.classiccenter.com.