This spring, Central’s Theatre Ensemble presents Fiddler on the Roof, a story about the internal conflict that arises when a person must choose between honoring family traditions and following their heart.

Milkman Tvye, played by Seattle actor Eric Jensen, is the protagonist, along with his wife Golde, played by Megan Tigue, freshman musical theatre major. The couple struggles to raise five daughters while attempting to maintain their Jewish roots, despite outside influences that are intruding upon their lifestyle.

Fiddler on the Roof rehearsals have been going on every weekday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. since early April. Rehearsals have been geared towards teaching dialect and dance, in order for the actors to recreate the lifestyle of Russian and Jewish people during the early 1900s.

Assistant Director Allison Price, sophomore theatre arts major, coaches the actors, directs scenes and provides character development tools for the actors.

This is Price’s second time directing at Central, after “The Duchess of Malfi” last fall.

“Theatre [gives us] another way to look at humanity,” Price said.

According to Price, the department adaptation intends to execute raw beauty and remain believable and fantastical at the same time.

Price said it was important for people to question the point in which people have to bend their traditions to allow themselves to experience genuine love.

The main theme of the show is the acceptance of love and denouncing of tradition. Aside from the theme, actors have been inspired by working with Jensen.

Kayden Oliver, junior musical theatre major, was impressed by the fact that Jensen, a professional actor, was willing to work with students.

James Tyler, sophomore musical theatre major, said that Jensen influenced the way students worked with one another and how they approached their careers.