Fiddler on the Roof

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Creative Writing Proposal: Fiddler on the Roof in Contemporary Society”

In this activity, students will adapt the play for contemporary audiences in a creative writing assignment.

Imagine that you have chosen to direct a modern adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof for contemporary audiences. In a creative writing assignment, prepare a proposal to convince a potential funder of the necessity of your modern adaptation. Consider the following questions as you develop your proposal:

• Who is your target audience?
• What current issues seem particularly relevant to the text? How will you incorporate these issues in the text?
• What elements of the original musical would you keep? Would you rewrite any elements of the play?
• Would you keep all of the songs? Would you change any of the lyrics or the lines?
• Would you change the setting (i.e., year or place) of the play?

Finally, share your proposal with the class.

Teaching Suggestion: This activity encourages students to recontextualize the play in the context of contemporary society in a creative writing assignment. Although the play’s timeless themes keep the struggles relatable to a variety of audiences, musicals are frequently adapted to modern audiences in order to address issues in contemporary society. After students present their proposals, it may be helpful to invite the class to discuss notable patterns of similarities among their assignments.

Differentiation Suggestion: For advanced writers, consider revising the prompt to the following creative writing assignment focused on character development: At the end of the musical, the people of the town are forced to go their separate ways. Write your own narrative about a minor character or about a character who you think would fit into the world of the play. Imagine what happens after your character is forced to leave their village. Where do they go? What choices do they make? What is their reasoning and perspective? It may be useful for students to complete relevant research first, which may include topics such as daily life in the shtetl, the Jewish faith, and Yiddish culture.