Fiddler On The Roof Educates Highland Actors

Theater teacher Alexie Baugh is bringing a religious figure to bring her students into character for their upcoming play Fiddler On The Roof. Bringing a Rabbi is not your daily class activity but is a necessity to make the play a success and bring a historical realness and understanding to the play.

The actors were not sure of the history of the play and to broaden their education on the topic they soon learned that it took place pre world war two and one. Baugh decided history teacher Mr. Braken could better explain it, and after the actors had a class period with Braken they understood the true tragedy that had taken place in the play that they are performing.

Baugh wanted students to “understand and connect to them even if I don’t believe their beliefs i can connect to their hope or that they want to serve their community, or that they have a connection to family, whatever it is I hope it creates a connection”

To further the connection she contacted a more modern style Rabbi and had him go through traditional shabbat (friday night dinner) to bring a realness to the play. He was very open to the students questions, and concerns, and even said they could contact him with any questions they may have had. Having such a strong connection with the Rabai made students realize the realness of what they were about to perform, and this is a real problem that took place, and even continues to take place in other countries.

Baugh also hopes students remember when “The Rabbi came and it was a good experience, and to be afraid or intimidated or nervous of other people’s beliefs,”

In the bigger picture Baugh truly wanted students to be prepared not only for the play, but for life and to feel a relationship to everyone through the similarities they may have  and be able to relate what others may be going through. The Play is coming up around the corner, and people will surely enjoy the realness brought to the stage by highland actors.