Maddie McGovern, Junior
The town of Anatevka comes alive this Spring at Palisades High School! A lively story with elaborate sets and even more intricate characters takes the stage for only a mere three performances Friday, March 1 at 7:00pm, Saturday March 2 at 7:00 pm, and Sunday March 3 at 2:00pm. Come cheer on and sing “Tradition!” with this hefty cast of fifty-three students across the student body who have been chosen after auditions to be apart of the show. This show particularly circulates around the theme of preserving tradition through difficult situations.
“Fiddler on the Roof” is undoubtedly a critically-acclaimed classic Broadway musical rich in engaging music compositions and dance choreography but why is this an important story to put on, especially with a cast full of high school students? In a fast-paced society, change and development to just day-old technology or customs can seem ordinary. Moreover, when it comes to teenage students, stressing about the newest assignment or looking forward to the latest Netflix series can seem like a daily endeavor. It is for this very reason that the spirit and theme present in “Fiddler on the Roof” is significant to teach students.
The cast and crew of “Fiddler on the Roof” are determined to live up to the results of last year’s performance of “Beauty and the Beast,” nearly selling out all three performances! A sophomore in the musical, Oliver Olmstead states how passionate he is about this year’s performance: “‘Fiddler on the Roof ‘inspired a sense of creativity and passion for something I previously had not known I had a passion for. It inspired me to continue my theater career at Palisades High School!”
In addition to Oliver, I got the opportunity to also speak to some of the other cast members to get their insight on the musical’s progress these past two months. Joseph Worthington, a Junior at Palisades High School, will be starring as Tevye, the leading role in Fiddler on the Roof and had this to say about the upcoming performance this Friday. “The cast and I have been working with great determination to make sure every little detail looks perfect for show night. I take a lot of pride in this show and so does everyone else involved [...] we really hope that everyone has a great time on show night to experience this great musical.” The senior and junior classes have certainly been able to step up as leaders and role models for the underclassmen, especially featured soloist, Erin Hooper. Receiving a featured soloist ensemble role her junior year has lead Erin to accentuate her leadership skills and become an inspiration for the nervous underclassmen, who have now blossomed into skillful performers prepared for the show. Erin confirmed, “We’ve put countless hours into this production and I care for this cast a lot!”
This show could not be at the level it is at showtime without the dedicated crew. Under direction of Mrs. Carolyn Williams, a musical education teacher at the high school, and alumnus of Palisades High School, Zach Carty, the cast has been singing and acting to their fullest potential. Choreography is taught by Mrs. Gina Giarratana, mother of Matt Giarratana, who will be starring as Motel in this weekend’s performance. Dancing and movement were, at first, a challenge to most of the cast members; however, the students were able to retain and execute the dance movements flawlessly by the time of dress rehearsal thanks to Mrs. Giarratana. Mr. Maldonado, a band and orchestra teacher at the high school, will conduct the mixed orchestra of student and adult instrument players. From the emotional ballad “Little Bird, Chavaleh” to the upbeat, makes-you-want-to-dance-in-your-seat “L’Chaim!” this show is rich in beautiful yet complicated music. Costuming was perfected by Mrs. Laurie Thoman, mother of Nathan Thoman, who will be playing Avram, a local villager in the town of Anatevka. Lastly, Mr. Jan Doddy and his team of students have worked to provide the show with lighting and microphones to make these performances come to life.
This group of students and staff, in particular, are incredibly hardworking. Putting in nearly four hour long rehearsals every weekend leading up to the show, these performances are anticipated to be breathtaking. It is not a performance you want to miss!
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