Topol, the beloved Israeli-born actor who was to perform as Tevye in the upcoming

production of "Fiddler on the Roof" at Shea's Performing Arts Center, is bidding an early

farewell to his farewell tour.

The 74-year-old actor, who has come to define the role of the Jewish milkman at the heart

of the musical during his long acting career, has dropped out of the tour because of a

reported shoulder injury.

Shea's spokeswoman Lisa Grisanti confirmed that the star would not appear on the Buffalo

tour stop but that the show would go on as scheduled from Tuesday through Nov. 22. Topol's

role will be performed by understudy and longtime Tevye interpreter John Preece, a Broadway

veteran who has performed the lead role in eight national tours of the show.

A press release sent Wednesday by Mirvish Productions of Toronto, where the same tour will

stop in early December, announced that Topol had dropped out of the production because of "a

shoulder injury requiring emergency long-term treatment" and would be replaced in the Toronto

production by Broadway veteran Harvey Fierstein.

Because the show has been billed as "Topol in Fiddler on the Roof: The Farewell Tour,"

Shea's expressed an an obvious concern about possible financial fallout from disappointed

ticket-holders. Shea's refund policy mirrors the tradition in the theater world: When a star's

name appears in the title of the show or is listed above the title, ticket-holders are

entitled to refunds.

But Anthony Conte, Shea's president and chief executive officer, stressed that the actor

taking over for Topol has years of experience and urged theatergoers to give him a chance.

"It's not like they're taking some sleazeball and throwing him out there. This guy knows

the role," Conte said. "He's played this role 1,400 times. For the last three or four months,

he's played at least three performances every single week."

Grisanti said refunds for the production will be given to those who request them, but she

urged ticket-holders to see the production with Topol's replacement.

Conte also said Shea's would offer refunds during intermission to theatergoers who were not

satisfied.

"We really want to encourage people to come to the production. If you're not satisfied with

the show, then at intermission, come to the box office and we'll refund your money," Conte

said. "We would encourage them not to leave just because Topol's not in the show."

Grisanti said Shea's would deal with refund requests "on a case-by-case basis" and directed

questions from ticket-holders to the Shea's box office at 847-0850.

The show, Grisanti had said previously, has sold "extremely" well relative to the average

touring musical at Shea's.

That's a reflection both of the musical's appeal and of the public's enduring fondness for

Topol, who starred as Tevye both on London's West End and in the 1971 film version of the

show. He began the tour in January and was scheduled to continue through June 2010.