November 14-16
The St. Johns High School Theater Department is pleased to present a classic musical, “Fiddler on the Roof,” in the 50th anniversary year of its Broadway debut, featuring music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick.
The show is set in Tsarist Russia in 1905 and is based on the story of “Tevye the Milkman” by Sholem Aleichem. The story follows Tevye, a father of five daughters, as he tries to uphold tradition in an ever changing political and social landscape. During a period of change for Russian Jews, the family learns to cope with the decline of Tsarist Russia and the tough laws enforced on the family and the village of Anatevka.
The popular production has played to audiences around the world, and was the first Broadway show to play for over 3,000 performances with the original production running for almost 10 years. Familiar musical numbers include “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Tradition,” and “Do You Love Me?”
The SJHS production is under the direction of Barry Palmer, Josh Heethuis, Nichole Eller, Dawn Flynn and orchestra director Justin Valla. Student director is Gwen Gaffney; choreographer, Meredith Robbins.
Cast members include Mitchell Gazda as Tevye; Hannah Wells as Golde; Isobella Medina as Yente; Joe Dershem as Lazar Wolf; Erika Sturgis as Tzeitel; Jacob Bendele as Motel; Jamie Hibbler as Hotel; Nick Stahl as Perchik; Mikayla Bramble as Chava; Will Palmer as Fydeka; Gwen Gaffney as Shprintz; Emily Tahvonen as Bielke; Matthew Kelley as the Constable; Remy Patterson as the Rabbi; Brandon Petrak as Mendel; Jacab Kaczander as Mordcha; Carson Gill as Avram; Chance Timm as Grandma Tzeitel; Mary McCoy as Fruma-Sarah; Annie Thelen as Nachum; Ben Holmes as Yussel; Skyler Glass as Shandel; Zack Shoup as the Priest; Villagers: Brynn Balogh, Madelyn Bones, Wenda Dexter, Alyssa Elms, Gracie Gifford, Madison Jackson, Kelsey Karasek, Lauren Quaderer, Kara Warnke; Russians: Cody Smith, Dancers: Amulya Jain, Aruna Jain.
Performance times are 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14-15, with a 2 p.m. matinee, Sunday, Nov. 16.
The box office opens Monday, Nov. 3. All seats are reserved and tickets are $10 each.
To make reservations, call the box office at (989) 227-4112.
“Fiddler” cast during voice rehearsals