Tradition, family and resilience take center stage as Cody Community Theatre (CCT) presents “Fiddler on the Roof,” running two back-to-back weekends, Sept. 12-14 and 19-21, at the Wynona Thompson Auditorium.

Beloved worldwide for its timeless songs including, “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” and “Sunrise, Sunset,” “Fiddler on the Roof” tells the story of Tevye, a poor milkman struggling to maintain his Jewish traditions while raising five daughters in a rapidly changing world.

CCT’s Taylor Reeder is making her directorial debut in the production and said as the group continues to recover financially from Covid, they saw the show as one that could be cost effective while maintaining the large-scale musical feel.

“It’s a show that is near and dear to my heart having also done Fiddler in high school,” she said. “I played the role of Chava. It was kind of like riding a bike. For my debut directorial show, it was familiar, warm and inviting for this season of my journey in theatre production.”

Reeder said the show is still relevant, such as for parents watching their children grow up and leave home, a major theme of the show. It was also popular amongst thespians, 50 of whom she said showed up to audition. Of those, 70% were new to CCT.

“That’s 50 personalities and 50 different talented people from all walks of life and experience levels. In hindsight, the most challenging part of this job ended up being the most rewarding,” Reeder said. “Seeing those people and families come out of their shell and learn the basics of theater and our veteran members continue to excel in this environment and also nurture the ‘newbies’ themselves, is all we wanted for everyone involved. Truly everyone has been so kind to everyone and we’ve become one large family.”

One of the newer members of the family is Cameron Carlson, playing Teyve, who he said grapples with his relationship and devotion to his family and his God. It’s been a chance for Carlson to be welcomed back to Wyoming after years living elsewhere.

“This theater company has felt much more like a family than other experiences I have had in a while. In many ways, community theater builds community and unites and connects people from all different backgrounds that make up the community as a whole,” he said. “Most surprisingly, relationships continue to develop and change throughout the rehearsal experience. This has been by far the longest process from audition to production. As a result, relationships within the company have a much deeper and personal commitment. As a recent transplant back to Wyoming, I feel welcomed by those involved in CCT.”

Reeder said everyone in the show adds a bit of magic to the perfomance, which she hopes shows a glimpse of what it’s like to be a refugee or a migrant in an unstable world.

“The stage lights dim, the curtain rises, for a few magical hours, everyday life fades away. That’s the power of community theatre — a place where neighbors become actors, volunteers become set designers, and audiences are transported by the hard work and heart of their own community,” said CCT President Donn-Lynn Murray.

Cody Community Theatre was established in 2005 and has produced one to two shows every year, dedicated to creating a space where people connect, collaborate, and discover talents they didn’t know they had. Murray said CCT has produced shows in the style of Broadway musicals, dinner theatre and improv, and are always striving to create new and dynamic works that appeal to a wide audience.

The impact reaches beyond the stage. Ticket sales support future productions and fund scholarships for high school students continuing on with their education. Businesses pitch in as sponsors, local associations provide grants for expensive equipment, volunteers donate their time, and families come out to cheer on friends and neighbors. It’s a cycle of creativity that strengthens the whole town.