By Brian Jones

Those who thought nothing could top Skyline High School’s production of “Hello Dolly” last fall have another thing coming. Theater teacher and director Joe Rogan and Skyline’s performing arts department are upping the ante this year with their November production of the beloved classic ‘Fiddler On The Roof,’ which will play Nov. 19, 20, 21 and 23 at 7 p.m. in the Skyline High School auditorium. 

The ambitious production will feature a professional set donated from the Pioneer Theater Company and a regular cast of 56 student actors, with Alex Miller, a senior in Skyline’s International Baccalaureate program, playing the lead. Along with the cast, Skyline’s concert choir and orchestra will provide the music, nearly doubling the number of performers. In addition to the regular cast, crew and musical contributors, there are four student performers from local junior high schools playing the roles of younger characters. Something else to watch for is a handful of cameos by faculty members, according to Rogan.  

Everyone involved is proud and excited about what Rogan said is a leap forward for the school’s performing arts department. “The department has been growing the past few years. ‘Hello Dolly’ was a real success, and we think ‘Fiddler On The Roof’ is only going to build on that success,” he said. The department is thrilled with the addition of new dance teacher Megan Brown, who is charged with reproducing the choreography for the show, and Rogan said there are a few other exciting secrets he wasn’t quite ready to spill. In particular, though, he said, “we have some really fun surprises planned for the dream sequence.”   

With auditions being held the last week of August, and the cast and crew in the midst of rehearsals since the first week of September, the entire production is working hard to be ready for opening night. 

“We’re incredibly excited about the production, but right now we’re in the thick of it. There’s still lots of work to do,” Rogan said. He hopes the surrounding community will come out and strongly support the performance. The school auditorium’s sound system having just received major upgrades, Rogan and the rest of the department expect the production values for the show to be exceptionally high. 

“We’re incredibly excited, and hope everyone will come out and support the students,” he said. “I don’t think they’ll be disappointed.”  

Skyline high is located at 3251 East 3760 South. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.showtix4u.com or by calling 866-697-8167, and are $9 for adults and $7 for students. Anyone seeking additional information can contact Joe Rogan at [email protected].