"A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But in our little village of Anatevka, you might say every one of us is a fiddler on the roof, trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn't easy. You may ask, why do we stay up there if it's so dangerous? We stay because Anatevka is our home... And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you
in one word... Tradition."
I have been waiting most of my theatrical career in order to produce this musical. Fiddler on the Roof was the first show I was in as a young Jr. High student and it has stuck with me since.
To me, Fiddler on the Roof is a show all about tradition and faith. It looks at the thin line between righteous rituals and foolish traditions of our fathers. It brings us back full circle with our ancestors. Additionally, watching this show helps us to feel empathy for our ancestors and the trials that they went through in their lives. It helps us to understand mistakes that they have made and why.
Being Jewish myself, this show has done more to turn my heart to my fathers than anything else. As you watch this show tonight, we ask that you think about your own ancestors and the stories they told and think about the individual lessons you can learn from them.
I was going to write another paragraph here about how the show ends, however I began to cry thinking about it and don't know how to put it in words. So I will just say that I hope this show and these 50 students on stage will touch you as much as they have touched me and that you will leave our little village tonight a better person.
"Come children. Let's leave this place."
Thank you for supporting the arts and their uncanny ability to touch people and change lives here at Liahona.
Jordan Long
Director
