Fiddler on the Roof Field Trip

Fiddler on the Roof

On January 3, 2024, MMS 6th-8th grade students visited the renowned local theater, the Papermill Playhouse, to see the acclaimed musical, Fiddler on the Roof. Prior to seeing the performance, students talked about the background of the production with their teachers and classmates, from its origin to its literary themes. Students learned more about the setting and time period (eastern Europe, early 1900s), the original writer (Sholem Aleichem), and the people involved in the creation of the musical, which was later produced for the screen. After spending a day at the Papermill Playhouse, many classes also discussed the importance of the performance and the various ideas about culture, tradition, and family conveyed in it.

Overview and History

Fiddler on the Roof, set during World War II imperial Russia, was based off of the work of Sholem Aleichem (1859-1916), a writer skilled at integrating both the pathos and humor of 19th century Jewish life into his works. The musical debuted on Broadway in 1964, and was the first musical theater production to surpass 3,000 performances. Fiddler on the Roof paved the way for more serious musicals, as the play itself brings up conflicts of poverty, persecution, and the struggle to maintain tradition and faith in an ever changing world. Fiddler on the Roof was known for being the universal musical about Jewish culture prior to World War II that could resonate beyond Jewish audiences and expand upon ideas of religious discrimination in the 20th century.

The musical features the five (of the original seven) daughters of Tevye, a poor milkman. As the musical progresses, it depicts the increasing inner conflict within Tevye as his daughters continue to defy tradition and encourage cultural change. Additionally, the play opens up about the struggles of many Jewish communities as they were forced to relocate due to Russian oppression. Tevye, simultaneously wanting his daughters to be happy and traditions to live on, ultimately depicts to students the results of the inevitable change within a progressing society.