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.