CHESHIRE, Mass. — Hoosac Valley High School's Performing Arts Department will bring "Fiddler On The Roof" to the stage this weekend.

 

Music Director Jacob Keplinger said they decided to do something more dramatic this year. 

 

"We chose this because we have done a number of comedies in the past and were looking to do something a bit more serious," Keplinger said. "Also, when we looked at who might audition, we felt we could fill the roles with the kids who were interested, and it has worked out great."

 

Set in the Pale of Settlement of Imperial Russia in 1905, the musical follows Tevye (played by Dominic Acquista), his wife Golde (played by Marina Fortier), and their five daughters. 

 

As Tevye's daughters marry he tries to maintain his Jewish religious and cultural traditions as outside influences affect his family's lives.

 

Local matchmaker Yente (played by Breanne DeLuca) arranges a match between Tevye's eldest daughter Tzeitel (played by Sophia Acquista) and the old widow butcher Lazar Wolf (played by Doug LaDoucer). But Tzeitel is in love with the poor tailor Motel Kamzoil (played by Jackson Keplinger) and ultimately marries him after receiving permission from her father.

 

Tevye's second daughter Hodel (played by Kris Wilczak) marries revolutionary student Perchik (played by Aidan Koczela) but Perchik is arrested by the Czarist troops and sent to Siberia. Hodel follows. 

 

Tevye's third daughter Chava (played by Jackie Case) decides to get married to a Christian, Fyedka (played by Ian Cappiello). Tevye does not accept and disowns Chava. Meanwhile, the Czarist troops evict the Jewish community from Anatevka. 

 

Keplinger said there are more than 40 students from Grades 8 through 12 involved. This includes the cast, the pit band, stage crew, and the tech crew. 

 

"It's great to get so many kids involved," he said. "It's challenging for a number of reasons. First, the music is tough both for the kids singing and the pit playing it. Secondly, it is a more dramatic show which is more difficult to present."

 

Keplinger said he hopes the students not only learn more about their craft and production but pull something from the story itself.

 

"Hopefully the students will gain a better understanding of acceptance of people that are considered outcasts in society and that they see the relevancy in the historic nature of this show in the present," he said. 

 

The musical opens Friday at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. There are also showings Saturday at the same time. The directors are teachers Nancy Pedercini-Acquista and Jonathan Rowe.

 

"It's a great show and we are proud of how well the students have grasped the concepts of the show and how well they are performing it," Keplinger said. 

 

Tickets are $8-$10 and can be purchased here or at the door.