TORRINGTON – Goshen County high schoolers will be putting on a production of Fiddler on the Roof, a popular musical based on the book by Joseph Stein, with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. 

The musical premiered on Broadway in 1964, and a film adaptation was released in 1971. The titular fiddler symbolizes the central theme of the musical – the delicate balance of maintaining faith traditions in a changing secular world.

The students are eager to showcase their hard work to family and friends. This is the first musical senior Kay Reed has acted in, and she also contributed to the set design. She says the cast has been rehearsing diligently since January and is excited to share the performance. “It’s a very deep story,” Reed said, “And it makes you think about current events as you try to convey the emotions of the characters.”

 “As we were digging into the story, it reminded me that sometimes traditions need to be broken,” Allen Rose, who plays Perchik, agreed with Reed, said.

Rose also noted the musical is complex and learning the lines was challenging, making the performances a culmination of their hard work.

Performances are open to the public with no tickets required. Showtimes are at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, and Friday, March 28, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, at Torrington High School.