CALEB NICKERSON
SHAWVILLE May 9-11, 2018
Last week, staff and students at Pontiac High School (PHS) performed an enthralling take on the 1960s classic Fiddler on the Roof for three sold-out shows.
Running from May 9 to 11, more than 40 staff and students took part in various capacities, resulting in a charming production that elicited much laughter and applause from hundreds of attendees.
The plot follows the tribulations of a poor Jewish milkman and his family in early twentieth century Russia. Originally released in 1964, it won nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, and became one of the longest-running musicals in Broadway history.

Director Gordon Graham explained that this is the first time the school has put on a full-length musical in about 20 years, and he was excited for the return of such performances, having participated himself when he was a PHS student.
“It’s been in the works since last year, before Christmas,” he said. “But we’ve been working on it intensively since around mid-February.”
Graham added that last year’s play, Ghosts of Musicals Past, was a kind of “mini-musical” to ease everyone into a full-length production.
He said he chose Fiddler on the Roof because the casting lined up well with the group of students that he had.
“It’s a classic too so everyone knows the songs,” he said.
The funds raised by this year’s performances will go towards the school’s drama program, to be able to put on more musicals in the future.
Graham had high praise for the group of students and staff that came together to make the play happen.
“They’ve all worked really hard on this,” he said.