 Well diversity takes center stage in one traveling production of Fiddler on the Roof. For this week's in focus, Mel Meyer gives us a peek at a Minneapolis Theater group's take of Fiddler on the Roof. 10,000 Things has been performing offstage for over 25 years. Off the stage because they travel to underserved areas, usually foregoing lights, makeup, or formal seating. The audiences really use their imaginations, I think even more fully than you would in a big fancy Broadway show. They perform for prison inmates in retirement homes and homeless shelters for people who might have little or no theater experience. They are very honest. They don't care about theater etiquette. They don't care that they have to be quiet. They'll shout if they want to shout and they'll react which is the most the most transparent reaction to theater. The company is as diverse as the audiences they serve. In this adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof, the cast plays multiple roles across age, gender, and race. 10,000 Things offers that opportunity whereas I would never be cast probably as a Jewish person in any other theater so this is new for me too. It's something that Joy Dolo enjoys going from a male innkeeper to the milkman's daughter. When Hava is doing her thing, she's very much like me myself and then when work comes out, he's got the belly and his shoulders always look like he's tired. The cast says the audience can connect with the many different aspects of the musical as it delivers a timely message. All that extra stuff gets out of the way and you really kind of realize what a powerful emotional story there actually is at the heart of this musical. The themes are very timely right now and it's a little bit eerie actually so a lot of people, it hits them. All day long I pity, pity, pump if I were a wealthy man. In Grand Rapids, I'm Mel Meyer, Lakeland News. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.