The hit musical Fiddler on the Roof is coming to the Morris Hills auditorium, and will feature leads Michael Colasurdo, Theresa Caso-McHugh, Hannah Ferguson, Vanessa Hartkopf, and Sneha Ranade, as well as many other Morris Hills students.  Directed by Mrs. Calzone, the talented cast and crew will proudly present their production in mid-March.

Set in the early 1900s, the play opens with Tevye, a Jewish middle-class dairyman in the village of Anatevka, Russia, along with his five daughters and Golde, his wife, who are all preparing for the Sabbath dinner. When they are visited by the village matchmaker, who announces that Lazar Wolf, an old wealthy butcher of the village, wants to marry Tzeitel, one of the daughters, everyone is overjoyed. However, Tzeitel feels upset, since she wants to marry Motel, a poor tailor. Through his clever thinking, Tevye is able to give his daughter what she wants and protect the family when danger strikes. The play features the songs, “Matchmaker,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Sunset Sunset,” “Wedding Dance,” and many others that will have the audience clapping along.

Hannah Ferguson, who plays Tzeitel, said that the cast is making amazing progress. “It’s coming along great! We’re actually pretty ahead of schedule in our work,” Ferguson stated. “Thanks to everyone’s commitment, Fiddler on the Roof will be a great show.” The cast has been working hard on not only learning lines and  songs, but also choreography and staging. In the midst of their hard work, they have grown closer. Hannah says that her favorite part about being in the musical is working with her peers. “I’m so glad I have such awesome people to work with,” she said. Hannah, along with the rest of the cast from Fiddler on the Roof, is excited for the audience to experience their hard work. Not only does the musical feature an interesting plot, but “you’ll leave singing ‘Mazel Tov!’”.

“I wanted to do a classic broadway show,” said Mrs. Calzone, the musical director, who has directed three musicals in the past. “I did it myself in middle school, and it was a very memorable experience”. This musical stands out to her because of its important message of  “change, and being true to who you are, but also realizing the need for change.” She feels that the audience will be able to connect easily with the characters. “Even though it’s set in the early 1900s and in Russia, it’s relatable for all, and something that still happens.” People are forced to do things they don’t believe in and abide by certain rules that they don’t agree with. Despite its underlying conflicts, the musical has many grand dance and song numbers, especially Mrs. Calzone’s favorite: the wedding. Come to the Morris Hills Auditorium on March 15-17 at 7pm and see for yourself the tradition, humor, and love in Fiddler on the Roof. It will have you tapping your feet and humming along!