The Fine Arts Department will be showcasing their winter musical Fiddler on the Roof this weekend. Showtimes will be at 7:30 p.m. for Feb. 15 and 16 and at 2:30 p.m. on the 17. Tickets will be sold up until two hours prior to showtime.

Many of the cast members find themselves in new and unfamiliar roles than the ones they have previously portrayed, but they are looking forward to demonstrating their talents for the audience.

“As the show approaches, I’m looking forward to playing a role so vastly different than anyone’s seen me in before. Chava, my character, is the middle child. She is shy, bookish, and very kind. That’s a complete 180 from any role I’ve ever played and I’m excited to surprise people with that. This entire show is so different and I’m excited for all of us to surprise the audience with something new,” senior Maggie Inman said.

Students have a few pieces of advice for those planning to attend regarding the message and the show as a whole.

“If I could tell the audience one thing before they see the show, I would choose to tell them two things. One, you need to go into this show with an open mind and an open heart. It’s a show with a strong message that demands to be heard, and you need to make yourself vulnerable to that. It also demands to be taken seriously. Be prepared to laugh in one scene and cry five seconds later. This show will take you on the emotional journey of a lifetime, and I encourage you to embrace it. Two, I would also inform those who haven’t seen the show that the first act is much longer than the second, so don’t leave at intermission thinking the show will be four hours long. Not that the first act isn’t amazing, it’s just 75% of the show,” Inman said.

While the story involves dramatic changes in tone, the message is applicable and relevant.

“The show is an emotional rollercoaster of joy and sadness and I believe it is such a relevant play to perform in this day and age. I think everyone can connect with an aspect of the play whether it be family values or the changing of the world,” sophomore Owen Payne said.

The attitudes and emotions of the audience will be major factors for the performers.

“I am most looking forward to seeing the audience’s reactions throughout the show, whether it be laughter or tears, I feel like they’re going to love the show and hopefully learn a lesson from it as well,” junior Caleb Baldwin said.

This years’ winter musical is a big change from the previous year’s The Addams Family.

“This show is a complete left turn from The Addams Family, and because of that, I can love them equally for different reasons. This show has a purpose, it tells the message of real people rather than comical caricatures. These characters are all very human. You will emotionally connect to these characters at many points in the show. The Addams Family sent a message of love and acceptance through a comedic lens. To me, the biggest difference is that because [Fiddler on the Roof] is based on history and not fiction it’s more glaring. You can’t ignore its message even if you tried,” Inman said.

The musical addresses controversial issues through the lives of its characters.

“This show allows the topics [of violent discrimination and anti-semitism] to reach the audience through the characters as they simultaneously struggle with progressivism changing their traditions. The fact that it can so deeply cover so many topics within two hours is amazing, and it’s a show that will change your life to see. I know it’s changed my life to be a part of,” Inman said.