Sterling College presents its fourth production of “Fiddler on the Roof” as its 2026 Homecoming musical. The theatre will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2nd, and Saturday, Oct. 3rd and will have a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee on Oct. 4th at Culbertson Auditorium on the Sterling College campus.

The musical is directed by Lesa Brown and choreographed by Alina Strobel. Set and lighting design is by Stephen English. Sterling College student Rory Oberle, from Hutchinson, has the privilege of being stage manager for this production.

“Fiddler on the Roof” has the title of the first Broadway production to surpass 3,000 performances and has won 9 Tony Awards. Its popularity extends to Sterling, as this is the fourth time the college has performed “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Tevye, played by Philip Starnes of Wellington, is a Jew living in Russia in the early 20th century. In “Fiddler on the Roof,” Tevye, a Jewish dairy farmer, experiences conflict between his Jewish tradition, poverty, and his uneasy relationship with his wife Golde, played by Kassia Lopez of Lyons, and the marriage arrangements of his five daughters, played by Bree Pickerell of McPherson, as Tzeitel; Casey Dykstra of Wichita, as Hodel; Makenzy Carter of Haysville, as Chava; Claire Norris of Wellington, as Shprintze; and Ellie Prichard of Sterling, as Bielke.

When the village matchmaker, Yente, played by Kimberlie Skirvin of Emporia, tells Golde that the wealthy butcher Lazar Wolf, played by Chandler Reiman of Kinsley, wants to marry her eldest daughter Tzeitel, Golde jumps on the chance.

But what she doesn’t know is that Tzeitel is in love with her childhood friend, the tailor Motel Kamzoil, played by Brennan Blake of Cambridge, Minn.

Tevye doesn’t know this either, so he makes the marriage arrangements with the butcher. This is when their troubles begin, and we follow a narrative that is famously supported by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick’s songs “Tradition,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” “Matchmaker,” and “Sunrise, Sunset.”

Gavin Frazier from McPherson plays Perchik, while Alexander Goepfert from Derby plays Fyedka. Grandma Tzeitel is played by Violet Epp from Hesston, and Fruma is played by Sarah Willa Bryant from Lyons, as Lazar Wolf’s late wife. Daniel Hawkinson from Hutchinson plays Fiddler and the Rabbi’s son, and Mordcha/Innkeeper is played by Payton Becker from Pratt.

Taggart Reiss from Hutchinson plays the Rabbi, and Austin Hetitt from Hugoton plays Avram. Abi Sawin from Washington plays Yussel, and Hannah Ellis from Cunningham plays Shaindel. Nachum is played by Christian Vargiu from London, England, and Hallie Warner from Hutchinson plays the Villager. Community members Bryson Brownlee, Macy Brownlee, and Mackenzie Sterling, all from Sterling, are playing Constable and Villagers/Dancers, respectively.

Tickets for “Fiddler on the Roof” are $15 for adults and $10 for students and are available at www.sterling.edu/arts, as well as at the door before each show.