Grand Rapids Players’ production of “Fiddler on the Roof“.

Editor’s note: This article is from the Grand Rapids Players’ newsletter and is reprinted here with permission. Grand Rapids players will be our hosts for MACT*Fest 2027 at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids in February of 2027.

What an audience might not realize about the play they are enjoying, is that there is so much more going on than just what is seen on the stage. It is about connection, shared purpose, and the stories that bring people together. This spring, the Grand Rapids Players are proud to see that spirit alive and well in our production of Fiddler on the Roof, where an extraordinary number of local families, including young children, are stepping onto the stage together.

In a production that centers so deeply on family, tradition, and the differences between generations, it feels especially significant that our cast and crew reflect those same themes in real life. Fiddler on the Roof has become more than a show. It has become a shared family journey. Few musicals capture the complexities of family life as powerfully as this one. The world of the protagonist, Tevye (pronounced TEV-yuh), revolves around his daughters, his wife Golde, and the traditions that have guided their community for generations. Tevye wrestles with balancing tradition and change as his daughters grow and choose their own paths. Similarly, many of our theatre families are navigating their own versions of that journey while encouraging independence and staying deeply connected.

Night after night at rehearsal, we see parents helping run lines in the lobby, siblings cheering each other on from the audience seats and parents patiently helping a child practice choreography. We see teens encouraging parents who are nervous about returning to the stage, siblings celebrate each other’s successes during rehearsal and families sharing the unique experience of building something together. One of the most beautiful aspects of this production has been watching life imitate art. These small moments mirror the heart of Fiddler on the Roof. Family is not about perfection. It is about showing up for one another.

This spring, we are thrilled to highlight the many families who are making Fiddler on the Roof a true community affair. Over fourteen families are featured in this production. We are led by father-son directing team, Jim and Josh Cagle who are also sharing the stage with Jim’s sister/Josh’s aunt, Mary Cagle; cousins Jake Anderson and Janelle Benson share the stage once again, Teran Germscheid gets the chance to share the stage with her young daughter, Ava; Katie Benes with her two oldest daughters Addie and Willa; Micah Labovitch with his sons Gabe and Levi; Shannon Seeba with her daughter Karolynn; Kailoni Rhodea with three of her daughters Chavalah, Annie, and Allie; Chavalah also gets to share the stage with her fiancé Seth Barton; Scott Carlson with his daughter Megan; and Rachel Newman with soon to arrive Baby Newman!

Not all families will be on the stage together but are still sharing this experience in other ways. Lucas Aalto shares the stage with his father, Dan, who is our Fiddler, and mother Mandie and brother Isaac who are playing in the pit; Desiree Schneider with her son Fox, and her daughter Avrielle who is playing in the pit; Lauren Kostiuk with her sister Sophie who is taking photos; Eric Ljosenvoor with his daughter Maggie who is helping in the back stage crew; and Rob Lepak with his wife Kathy who is working on our costumes and props.

Each of these families brings their own story, energy, and heart to the production. Some are theatre veterans. Others are brand new to the stage. All of them share a common thread: the desire to create meaningful memories together. For many parents involved in the show, community theatre offers something increasingly rare: intentional and creative time together. Theatre gives families a place to collaborate and support one another. Through this rehearsal process children gain confidence, teamwork skills, and strengthen creative expression. Collaborating so closely with parents and other adult mentors, young performers are learning professionalism and stage etiquette by watching their parents and other adults. Parents rediscover the joy of play and performance, energized by the enthusiasm and fearlessness of the kids. Together, families build memories that last far beyond closing night.

If you ask the families involved what they will remember most, the answers often have little to do with the final performance. It is the car rides home after rehearsal. It is the kitchen table line runs. It’s the nervous excitement before stepping on stage together. These are the moments that turn a production into a family milestone. That sentiment captures exactly what makes community theatre so powerful. While audiences see the polished final product, the families involved know the deeper story, one of teamwork, growth, and shared accomplishment.

This shared learning experience reflects one of the core missions of the Grand Rapids Players: to create theatre that welcomes all ages and experience levels. Community theatre is one of the few spaces where a child can share the stage with a parent or even a grandparent and entire families can contribute their unique talents. That kind of environment does not just produce good theatre. It builds stronger community bonds.

As a nonprofit community theatre company in Northern Minnesota, the Grand Rapids Players depend on the passion and participation of local families. Productions like Fiddler on the Roof remind us that the arts are strongest when they reflect the community they serve. In a busy world full of competing schedules and digital distractions, these families are choosing something wonderfully old-fashioned, making art together in person as a team. It is, in many ways, exactly what Fiddler on the Roof celebrates.

We invite the entire community to come witness the heart, humor, and harmony these families are bringing to the stage. Show times are March 6th-8th and March 13th-15th in the Wilcox Theatre at the Reif Center. Friday/Saturday evening shows at 7pm and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Adult tickets are $27 in advance/$32 at the door. Student tickets are $22 in advance/ $27 at the door. Tickets and other information for Fiddler On The Roof can be found online at https://www.grplayers.com/fiddler.

When the curtain rises on Fiddler on the Roof, you will not just be watching a beloved musical. You will be seeing Northern Minnesota families living its message in real time. Because in the end, whether in Anatevka or Grand Rapids, one truth remains: Tradition is strongest when it is shared.