After stunning with the upbeat all Fine-Arts musical of Footloose, Frenship Theatre shifts gears and shakes the foundation with a captivating production of Fiddler on the Roof. The four nearly sold-out shows took place from February 27- March 1 in the Frenship High School Lab Theater.
Audiences follow the story of Tevye, a poor dairy farmer in a fictional Russian shtetl, or Jewish village, called Anatevka during the reign of Tsar Nicholas II. Tevye, raised his five daughters with his wife, Golde, according to Jewish tradition. But one by one, his three oldest daughters resist tradition by marrying the men they choose rather than those designated by a matchmaker. However, the Tsar’s increasing persecution of Russian Jews leads to the violent disruption of the villagers’ lives, culminating in the forced removal of the Jewish people from the town. Although they lose their homes and land, Tevye and his fellow villagers persist, preparing to restart their lives in new places.
Amy Fryar, FHS theatre teacher and director of Fiddler on the Roof, emphasized that this production was a true collaborative effort, with contributions from the performers, student crew, and booster club. Seniors Abi Thomson and Cat Denson choreographed the entire show, seniors Brayden Carter and Shelby Stidham served as music directors, and sophomore Jacen Phillips designed and set up the lighting for the production.
“Without those five students and all the hours of work they put into planning, teaching, re-teaching, adapting to last-minute changes, and basically living and breathing Fiddler, it never would have gotten off the ground,” said Fryar.
The final piece of the puzzle that brought the show together was the dedication of the Theatre Boosters. The board generously gave up many evenings to feed the cast and crew, stepped in to implement last-minute safety measures backstage, and Jen Cagle Gilmore, the Booster President, took on the responsibility of running sound for all four shows.
Fryar explained that she chose Fiddler on the Roof because it allowed for a large cast and offered material that would challenge the students. Although most of the students were unfamiliar with the story, they were quickly captivated by its powerful narrative of traditional values clashing with an ever-changing world. The actors poured their hearts into their performances, while the crew worked tirelessly to keep the production running smoothly.
“Proud isn't even the right word because it doesn't convey how much I love these kids and what they brought to the stage,” said Fryar. “They kept me going when I was exhausted, they brought me to tears with their voices, ideas, and passion for theatre and the story. There were so many moments where I was reminded that my heart is for teaching because witnessing my kids building this story with their talent, drive, and heart was my motivation to keep pushing them and to keep fighting for this show.”
The actors and crew put in countless hours outside school and other obligations to ground this production in tradition. The show captured audiences with its compelling story and intriguing dancing. The success of Fiddler on the Roof undoubtedly resonated with the audience leaving them waiting for the next production by Frenship Theatre.
Photos by FHS senior Abby Cluff