Park Center High School's 1977 Production of
"Fiddler on the Roof"

In November 1977, Park Center Senior High School (pictured), located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, staged a production of Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick's classic musical, "Fiddler on the Roof."

"Fiddler" is based on the short story, "Tevye and His Daughters," by Sholom Aleichem. It was one of the first musicals to defy Broadway's established rules of commercial success. It dealt with serious issues such as persecution, poverty, and the struggle to hold on to one's beliefs in the midst of a hostile and chaotic environment. Criticized at first for its "limited appeal", "Fiddler" struck such a universal chord in audiences that it became, for a time, the longest running production in the history of Broadway.

Set in 1905, "Fiddler" takes place in Anatevka, a small Jewish village in Russia. The story revolves around the dairyman Tevye and his attempts to preserve his family's traditions in the face of a changing world. When his eldest daughter, Tzeitel, begs him to let her marry a poor tailor rather than the middle-aged butcher that he has already chosen for her, Tevye must choose between his own daughter's happiness and those beloved traditions that keep the outside world at bay. Meanwhile, there are other forces at work in Anatevka, dangerous forces which threaten to destroy the very life he is trying to preserve.

"Fiddler" opened on September 22, 1964, with Zero Mostel in the leading role. It ran for 3,242 performances at the Imperial Theatre, and opened the door for other musicals to deal with more serious issues. The 1971 screen version featured Norma Crane, Molly Picon, and Topol (right).

Post-reunion note: I have promised copies of the videotape of the production to a couple of people that I haven't delivered on yet. Please know I haven't forgotten about you!

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L'Chaim!

--Kevin Slator