By Rick Palsgrove
Groveport Editor
Groveport Madison High School Theatre Director Erin McLaughlin performed at the recent State of the Schools event as a character from “Fiddler on the Roof.” The Cruiser Theatre Company will perform “Fiddler on the Roof’ on April 7-10 at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday matinee in the Groveport Madison High School auditorium, 4475 S. Hamilton Road.
The Groveport Madison High School Cruiser Theatre Company will perform the classic musical, “Fiddler on the Roof,” this spring.
The performances will be on April 7-10 at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee). All performances will be in the Groveport Madison High School auditorium, 4475 S. Hamilton Road.
“We chose this show because we feel that ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ tells a timeless, powerful story that audiences can relate to,” said Groveport Madison High School Theatre Director Erin McLaughlin. “We could never have foreseen, back in May 2021 when we picked our season, that current events in Ukraine and Russia would in any way parallel the show, but that situation has made ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ even more powerful and important than it would be otherwise.”
McLaughlin said the Cruiser Theatre Company has not brought a musical to the stage since 2019.
“The only students involved in this show who’ve performed a musical before are the seniors,” said McLaughlin. “Musicals are larger and more complex productions than plays generally are, and a lot of students participating in the show have had trouble adjusting to the sheer volume of material – music, lines, lyrics, choreography – to learn.”
McLaughlin highlighted some of the student performers and the characters they will portray:
•Tevye – Gavin Prifogle, junior. “Tevye is a larger-than-life role, painfully realistic showing a wide range of emotions and moods, and Gavin has stepped into the role and brought it to life in a way that pays homage to those who have performed it before him and still puts his own unique spin on it,” said McLaughlin.
•Golde – Olivia Chaney, sophomore. “Olivia sings well, is kind and compassionate, and plays off of her scene partners beautifully, making her a good fit for Tevye’s wife and a mother of five daughters,” said McLaughlin.
•Hodel – Valery Liew, senior. “Valery has a sweet singing voice and mannerisms with a lot of wit and humor, and Hodel is a spunky romantic lead – it’s a perfect match,” said McLaughlin.
•Motel – Kayla Bandy, junior. “Kayla is an excellent performer in every aspect and has found a lot to relate to in Motel, a tailor with big dreams who has trouble standing up for himself,” said McLaughlin.
•Perchik – AJ Gacnik, senior. “AJ is an experienced actor who is highly intellectual in real life–not unlike his character, who is a radical university student,” said McLaughlin.
McLaughlin said this show is live audience only. There will be no livestreamed or recorded performance.
“So that all attendees are safe, we are requiring that audience members wear masks for the show, and we will be operating at less than full capacity to allow for social distancing of family groups,” said McLaughlin.
Tickets are available online: at www.onthestage.tickets/show/groveport-madison-high-school/fiddler-on-the-roof-11246/ticket. Ticket prices are $7 for students and seniors and $10 general admission. Tickets will also be available at the door at $9 for students and seniors, $12 general admission). Cash and credit cards are accepted.
