That is only part of what makes up “Fiddler on the Roof,” a musical that features tales of traditions and relationships in a small Russian town at the turn of the century.

This weekend Regional Theatre of the Palouse will be putting on its production of “Fiddler on the Roof” at the Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum at Washington State University.

The show, which first debuted on stage in 1964 at the Imperial Theater in New York City, will feature a cast of nearly 65 actors, actresses and musicians from around the Palouse.

RTOP first held auditions for the show back in May and has been working on the show since Aug. 1.

John Rich, artistic and managing director, said he’s looking forward to the audience learning something about a culture they may not know much about.

“The story is about this Jewish family during the turn of the century and the three daughters are starting to become 20th century thinking women,” Rich said. “They’re breaking tradition and not having a matchmaker arrange their marriages.”

Tina McClure is a publicist for RTOP, musical director for the show and playing the role of Grandma Tzeitel. She said the Jewish community in the story is trying to survive the changes in the village and Tevye is desperately trying to hold onto the traditions they’ve had for so long.

The musical will feature live music from an accompanying orchestra, and McClure said the score is really wonderful.

“It will feature songs that some people may know well, like ‘Matchmaker’ and ‘Tradition,’” McClure said. “It’s a really fun show.”

Darin Mitchem, left, University of Idaho College of Natural Resources professor Lauren Fins, center, and Jessica Mitchem act out a scene from the play "Fiddler on the Roof" at the Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum in Pullman on Wednesday. Jake Barber/Argonaut

McClure said she loves the song Tevye sings to his daughter Chava which accompanies a small ballet sequence in the show, and that it’s beautiful.

She said the musical numbers tell the story and they are part of the dialogue. Without them, the story would not be complete.

“The first one that opens the show sets up the whole village,” McClure said. “You get to learn who the mamas are and what they do, and who the papas are and what they do. It really gives you a glimpse of everyone’s role in the village and how those roles are played out according to the traditions of the village.”

Rich said he is excited for the actors and actresses in the performance.

“We’ve cast some really excellent and professional leads,” he said.

Rich said that John Weiss, the actor playing Tevye, actually performed the role professionally on the east coast and Elena Panchenko, the actress playing Tevye’s wife Golde, is actually a professional musician from Ukraine.

“We have people from all over, from Tensed and Troy and Genesee,” he said. “In our little corner of the world that is Moscow and Pullman and the Palouse we have people who come from everywhere. It’s really cool.”

“Fiddler on the Roof” opens at 7 p.m. tonight at the Beasley Coliseum and will run through the weekend with Saturday’s show also at 7 p.m. and a matinee  at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are available in advance through the Beasley Box Office and TicketsWest for $10, $15 and $25. They will also be available at the door for $12, $18 and $30.

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