Nick Johnson as Tevya, the humble milkman, sings of his troubles as a man facing change in a world of tradition he’s known all his life.

— Photographs by Wayne Thomas

It is 7 p.m. in the Nelson Performing Arts auditorium and the stage is all a hustle and bustle. The cast members of the Northwest College spring musical, Fiddler on the Roof, prepare for one of many dress rehearsals this week.
In front of the stage is a back-lit pit in which the Northwest Civic Orchestra conducted by Jan Kliewer sits. They tune up their instruments ranging from violins to clarinets as the cast finishes putting their costumes on. The men of Fiddler on the Roof sport beards, trousers, hats and boots while the ladies’ fashion consists of handkerchiefs atop the head with long dresses and aprons.
The three parts of the set are dragged onto stage and complete the scene of an old farmhouse. Microphones are checked and background worker, James Lo, yells for stage light. Once each cast member is situated, the curtain closes and the light dims.
Kliewer keeps time with finger snaps and starts up the orchestra as the curtain rises and a red glow backlights the stage. An introduction to the play is performed and soon the rest of the cast comes out onto the stage and begins the scene with song and dance about tradition.
The well-known Broadway musical and later motion picture tells the story of poor Russian Jew and his struggle with change as his daughters prepare to wed and leave him. It’s apparently the first musical on the NWC stage since the 1986 production of The Pajama Game.
The Fiddler on the Roof cast members continue to rehearse and sing as though performing for a live audience. Soon it will be time for the musical to premiere at Northwest.
Fiddler on the Roof ran April 6-April 8.