Classic Broadway musical marks final production for Wendy and Garry Grice

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Indiana University Kokomo's Spring musical offering gets underway this week with the striking and colorful Fiddler on the Roof, April 3-6 at Havens Auditorium at the IU Kokomo campus.

Directors Wendy and Garry Grice will be helming their last show at IUK since they will be retiring from IU after Spring semester.

Fiddler on the Roof first opened on Broadway in 1964 and held the claim of the first musical theatre run to have more than 3,000 performances, along with holding the record for the longest running Broadway musical for 10 years until the musical Grease bested the record.

Fiddler's story is set in Imperial Russia about 1905 in a rural Jewish settlement. Tevye the milkman has daughters who reject the traditional contract marriages made by village parents, "matchmaking" to get husbands, and instead want to be guided by love in their marital choices.

IU Kokomo senior Chloe VanWinkle, who plays Tevye's younger daughter Hodel, noted the differences between the culture of the Russian villagers and modern marriages.

"It's interesting that the play shows both sides,” said VanWinkle. “It's funny how things have evolved. You get to marry whoever you want, and it's no big deal as long as you love them."

Senior Clarrissa Kepner, who plays older sister Tzeitel, noted that in the production, "We wanted to tell the story as accurately as possible, like trying to learn the motions for the Sabbath Prayer ... We all want to present the story and do it justice."

Wendy Grice admits this last show gives her bittersweet feelings, but despite moving to West Virginia, she and Garry will come back periodically.

“We have been wanting to do this one for years,” she said.

Grice is hoping that other faculty, local artists, and students will pick up the mantle and keep IU Kokomo musical theatre going.

IU Kokomo Theatre presents Fiddler on the Roof, April 3-5 at 7 p.m., and April 6 at 3 p.m. in Havens Auditorium, 2300 S. Washington Street in Kokomo. Ticket prices are $10 for general admission, $5 for IU students and children 7-12 with children 6 and under free. Tickets will be sold at the door.