August 7- 17, 2025
45th Season
158th Production

Music Theater Works in association with Music Theatre International

KYLE A. DOUGAN
Producing Artistic Director

Presents
Fiddler on the Roof

Fiddler on the Roof
Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 
www.mtishows.com

Any video and/or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited

Fiddler on the Roof turns 60 this year—and somehow, it feels more timely than ever. It’s the story of one family, in one village, doing their best to hold onto what they love while facing a world that’s changing fast. That’s something we can all relate to. As James Joyce once said, “in the particular is contained the universal.” The more specific a story is, the more it speaks to everyone.

People often say Fiddler is about tradition—and it is—but it’s just as much about change. Tevye and his family are walking a tightrope between the comfort of the past and the uncertainty of what comes next. And they’re doing it with humor, heart, and a whole lot of love.

For this production, we imagined the story being told by a group of refugees—people forced from their homes, carrying only what they could, gathering around a campfire for the night. One pulls out a violin. Another starts to speak:

A fiddler on the roof…

The story unfolds not just for us, but for them. It becomes a way of remembering, of holding on, of finding connection. The props they carry become homes, tables, even gravestones. In telling Tevye’s story, they begin to reclaim a little piece of their own.

We’ve had such a meaningful time putting this version together. Theater is a powerful thing—it lets us walk in someone else’s shoes for a while. It reminds us how to be human.  I invite you to spend a little time with Tevye and the people of Anatevka. Laugh with them. Cry with them. And see a bit of yourself in their journey.

L. Walter Stearns, Director

As we present Fiddler on the Roof, a story centered on tradition, resilience, displacement, and the enduring spirit of a people, we pause to acknowledge the ongoing struggles faced by the people of Ukraine.

Set in the fictional village of Anatevka, Fiddler on the Roof draws its roots from the historical realities of Jewish communities in Eastern Europe—communities that experienced hardship, upheaval, and the loss of home. Today, those themes echo with painful clarity as millions of Ukrainians face the devastation of war and the challenges of forced migration.

We dedicate this performance to all those impacted by conflict and displacement, and we stand in solidarity with those who continue to fight for freedom, safety, and peace.

(Musicians are members of Chicago Federation of Musicians, Local 10-208)

Bill Kirchmeyer and Binny’s Beverage Depot, Javier Vega at Byline Bank, The Walder Foundation, Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Amanda Billings, Jamie Lynn Thome, Patrick Whalen at the office of State Senator Laura Fine, Ann Davis, Scott Stratton, Orlando Miranda, the staff at The Paul M. Angell Foundation, Annette Griffin and Alex Stanzione with Blackbaud Solutions, Jessica Schaffer and the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs