Wichita Community Theatre, director breaking tradition with ‘Fiddler on the Roof’

For Wichita Community Theatre, staging “Fiddler on the Roof” is a rare chance to produce a large-scale musical.

For its director, it’s an opportunity to branch out from her own theater.

And for its lead actor, it’s a chance to get back on Wichita mainstages.

The classic musical opens next week for two weekends of performances.

With a handful of exceptions – “Fun Home” in 2018, “[title of show]” in 2016 and “A My Name is Alice” in 2010 – WCT has not produced musicals, much less one on the scale of “Fiddler.”

“People were passionate about ‘Fiddler,’ and we decided, why not,” said Mary Lou Phipps-Winfrey, publicity chair and a member of the play selection committee. “We have looked at other musicals and thought about other musicals over the years, but we’re trying to keep in mind budget and royalties and value of the show.”

The play selection committee, Phipps-Winfrey said, believed the beloved musical had enough of a following that it would draw audiences to WCT.

Misty Maynard, owner and producer of Kechi Playhouse for the past 40-plus years, is directing the WCT musical.

“I love to direct other places, it just doesn’t always happen because I have a pretty limited window of availability,” said Maynard, who auditions Kechi performers beginning in April and doesn’t close down the former church until the last show in October.

“There’s a lot of competition for these directors’ positions,” she added. “It’s fun and it’s exciting and it’s an honor and it’s creative. It’s good for me to work in a different space.”

Maynard said she’s not sure how long it’s been since she directed a musical.

“I’m wondering if I was insane to say yes,” she said with a laugh.

Directing “Fiddler” is a sentimental choice for Maynard. As a student at Southwestern College, she was cast in the musical as daughter Tzeitel by its New York guest director, despite the misgivings of her own college director, she said.

“It kind of gave me the confidence to hang in there with theater when I knew it was an insane choice,” she said. “It gave me a lot of chutzpah or something.”

Maynard cast Mike McDowell as Tevye, the dairyman and father of five daughters seeing his world change around him as traditions fade.

“It’s a role I’ve always wanted to play,” McDowell said. “I think I can relate very well to the character, where I am in my life and what’s going on with me and my life’s journey. This is my opportunity to express that in a way that’s fun and exciting.”

McDowell was active in the Wichita theater community in the 1990s, in the early days of Mosley Street Melodrama as well as the Crown Uptown and Music Theatre Wichita and grew up performing in Wichita Children’s Theatre.

He and his wife moved to Kansas City in 2000, where he abandoned theater, and returned to Wichita in 2020, to watch after his mother after the death of his stepfather and to take over the family business, Dan’s Heating and Cooling.

McDowell appeared in two shows at children’s theater, “Children of Eden” and “Little Shop of Horrors,” and was elected as president of its board of directors.

He enjoys the role of Tevye for “the challenge of growing up with a very rich, tradition-laden family and lifestyle and culture, but having to exist in a world that constantly challenges that.”

McDowell and 27 other actors are on stage for “Fiddler,” making it one of the largest casts on stage.

“My philosophy is that you can have scenery or actors, so we’re having limited scenery. It looks like we’ve got a lot of scenery when we don’t,” she said, crediting set designer Mark Shobe.

“When you’ve got a lot of bodies on stage, the electrical charge of the bodies on stage coming off on the audience is so exciting,” Maynard added. “I think that’s worth everything.”

The orchestra, with music director Elisa Balleau, will be positioned in the balcony.

Maynard said she’s heard interest not only in the show but volunteers asking how they could help behind the scenes.

Phipps-Winfrey said the 2025-26 season hasn’t been determined yet, nor whether “Fiddler” will start a new tradition.

“We are talking musicals,” she said, “but not as huge.”

‘FIDDLER ON THE ROOF’

When: Jan. 23 to Feb. 2; 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: Wichita Community Theatre, 258 N. Fountain

Tickets: $18, with discounts for students, seniors and military, at 316-686-1282

This story was originally published January 18, 2025 at 6:23 AM.