playbill vip

Director's Letter

      Tradition. Here at the Palmerton High School we certainly have our share of traditions. Year after year we feel the excitement of the start of a school year. We all have routines in our classrooms that help us get to know our students and we do our best to welcome parents to our meet-the-teacher nights. Our sports teams are introduced, games are played, we hold pep rallies, we hold holiday events, concerts, talent shows, kings and queens are crowned, leg battles are held, and we hold the beloved Mr. Palmerton contest. Of all our traditions, none means more to me than the spring musical. For over a decade now, I have been fortunate to be a part of this tradition and hope that you are as excited as I am to continue on tonight with Fiddler on the Roof.

      While our traditions are strong here, none could get past the shutdown brought on by COVID-19. So, when we set out to bring back a full year of Drama Club productions (Jr. Show, Fall Play, and Spring Musical) we felt that we couldn’t just pick any old show. This production needed to be something special to bring us full circle and finally reset our cycle of productions. Fiddler on the Roof has provided us with the opportunity to work with material that reflects quite a bit of the experience that we have here in our small school. Our traditions guide our students throughout the years that they spend here. But eventually, outside events, global pandemics, and time force us to decide which of our traditions we will hold on to and which we will leave behind. As we learned more and more about Tevye, his family, and his community, we started to realize that we have a shared experience in working hard to balance the old and the new in our lives, especially considering the events of the last two years. I hope that the students, directors, and our audience have had as rich of an experience with Fiddler on the Roof as I have. 

      To add to the depth that Fiddler has presented, it is set in Eastern Europe and sees persecution of the Jewish residents of Anatevka by an invading Russian force. We could never have predicted the events of this spring as Russia invaded Ukraine during the rehearsal period of Fiddler on the Roof. The cast and advisors spent quite a bit of time talking about the increased sense of responsibility we felt to portray the lives of these individuals as accurately as possible. The events that occur throughout the play sat much heavier as we watched accounts of present day Ukrainians being forced from their homes at the hands of an invading Russian military. Our hearts go out to those who have experienced the devastation and destruction of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

      We cannot thank you enough for coming out tonight for our production of Fiddler on the Roof. The cast and crew have worked an incredible number of hours to bring this production to life and hope that you enjoy your time with us. Please continue your support throughout the remainder of the spring as the band and chorus present their concerts in the upcoming weeks. I would like to personally thank Brandyn Miller, Resa Hall, and Chrissy Rehatchek for their help. None of this would be possible without them. I would also like to bid a fond farewell to our seniors in both the Stage Crew and the Drama Club. You have stuck with these clubs through the uncertainty of delays, closures, and shut-downs and made the absolute best of some very tough situations. You all inspire me every day.  Thank you for being a part of our traditions here in Palmerton.

Thanks again for all of your support. Enjoy the show!

Mr. Harris