St. Viator performs “Fiddler” in school’s largest student activity

St. Viator High School will present performances of “Fiddler on the Roof” this weekend at the Arlington Heights school.

Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. All tickets are $10. For ticket reservations, call 847-392-4050, ext. 243.

This is the third time students at St. Viator, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, have mounted the popular show. It takes place in 1905 in the small Jewish village of Anatevka, Russia and revolves around the lives of Tevye, a dairyman, his wife, Golde, and their five daughters trying to cope with their harsh existence under Tsarist rule.

From the cast to crew members to pit orchestra musicians, the performance involves more than 200 students — about 20 percent of the student body — making it the single biggest activity in terms of student participation at St. Viator.

Lead roles include seniors Matt Filstead of Arlington Heights and Andy Gusmano of Cary sharing the part of Tevye. Other principal actors include: Tori Botsford of North Barrington; Molly McMahon, Katie Anderson, Maddie Kelly, Sara Fecko, Christina Aiello, Danielle Giovannetti, Danny Wolfe and Brian Hansen of Arlington Heights; Regina Aiuppa of Itasca; Alyssa Michels, Ciara Collins and Jack Nuelle of Mount Prospect; Sarah Castaldi of Wheeling; Melisande Aiello of Barrington; Janelle Knippen of Des Plaines; Allie Vitale of Elk Grove Village and Steve Munroe of Prospect Heights.