About Fiddler on the Roof
Winner of nine Tony Awards when it debuted in 1964, Fiddler on the Roof is the brainchild of Broadway legends, Jerome Robbins and Harold Prince; songwriters, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick; and bookwriter, Joseph Stein. Touching audiences worldwide with its humor, warmth and honesty, this universal show is a staple of the musical theatre canon.
Set in the little village of Anatevka, the story centers on Tevye, a poor milkman, and his five daughters. With the help of a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, Tevye tries to protect his daughters and instill them with traditional values in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia. Rich in historical and ethnic detail, Fiddler on the Roof's universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of race, class, nationality and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of laughter, joy and sadness.
Mechanicsburg High School
Mechanicsburg High School is in the midst of rekindling their own tradition of musical theater. Originally home to Junior and Senior plays, musicals were staged beginning in 1983, when Jacqueline Howell brought them to the Burg. Following a 10 year hiatus from any stage work, concerned community members brought musical theater back with a production of Oklahoma! in 2017.
This production of Fiddler on the Roof continues the quest to instill theater in our small community. In the last 5 years, our students have earned multiple honors from the Miami Valley High School Theater Awards. Last year’s recipients included:
Merit for a Musical Production
Merit for Lead Actress, Lilly Marsh
Merit for Lead Actress, Taylor Miller
Merit for Supporting Actress, Elizabeth Dumolt
Merit for Supporting Actress, Ava Johnson
Merit for Supporting Actor, Liam Smith
Merit for Stage Direction, Hailey Gaylor