Dayton City Paper previews ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ at Wright State

Excerpt

Wright State University’s Department of Theatre, Dance, and Motion Pictures continues its tradition of bringing quality stage entertainment to the Miami Valley with a revival of the venerable Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof. It will be presented at WSU’s Festival Theatre from Nov. 2 through Nov. 19.

Fiddler on the Roof features music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and a book by Joseph Stein, set in the Pale of Settlement of Imperial Russia in 1905. It is based on “Tevye and his Daughters” (or “Tevye the Dairyman”) and other tales by Sholem Aleichem. The story centers on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his Jewish religious and cultural traditions as outside influences encroach upon the family’s lives. He must cope both with the strong-willed actions of his three older daughters who wish to marry for love – each one’s choice of a husband moves further away from the customs of his faith – and with the edict of the Tsar that evicts the Jews from their village.

Stuart McDowell, Coordinator of Theatre Studies for the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Motion Pictures is the director. He feels that the inclusion of this classic piece of stage Americana into the current program year comes at the right time.

Read the article from the Dayton City Paper.