'Fiddler on the Roof' opens at IU Auditorium

It’s all about family in the musical “Fiddler on the Roof.” The musical, which focuses on tradition and family, opened at the IU Auditorium Tuesday with one more performance today.

“It’s a classic,” sophomore Benjamin Newton said. “The themes of family, brotherhood and traditions apply to everyone.”

“Fiddler” originally opened in 1964 and is one of the longest-running shows on Broadway. The show also had a film adaptation in 1971, which made the musical accessible for everyone.

“As I walked through the crowd I noticed there were people who had seen the musical many times, and some that have never seen the musical before,” said Maria Talbert, IU Auditorium events manager.

With popular songs such as “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Tradition” and “Matchmaker,”
many people who had never seen the musical already knew the music from pop culture.

The songs all deal with different aspects of life, family and love, which are the main themes of the musical.

“I think there are so many endearing scenes in ‘Fiddler,’” said actress Lauren Nedelman, who plays the daughter Tzeitel. “Especially with the three different daughters.”

The set of the play was very transformable, making room for big dance numbers with the entire cast possible.

The play opens with the fiddler gently drawing a bow over his fiddle, allowing the audience to travel to a different time. All the while Tevye, the father, explains how their traditions are embedded in their lives. Because of tradition, everybody has a job and a place, from the butcher to the matchmaker.

Tevye also explains how he doesn’t know where his traditions started, but they follow them because it’s tradition. The blind following of tradition and desire to change is
what drives Tevye’s three older daughters.

“This show will always be relevant to our society because it’s about change and dealing with change,” Nedelman said.

This constant change is what has made the play so popular over the years, Talbert said.

Talbert said the musical is specifically geared toward the Jewish community, as the musical takes place in 1901 Czar-ruled Russia, but she said it’s relevant to all cultures.  

As the music was playing, some were singing the tunes with the show, while others were introduced to a cultural and musical classic.

“It’s so fun to see the people you know reflected in an art form,” Talbert said. “It gives you great appreciation for who you are and where you’re from.”