Jordan Fein’s outdoor adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof moves with both speed and elegance, beautifully paced by the late-day sun, which is setting as the show begins. The musical premiered in 1964—music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, direction and choreography by Jerome Robbins—and it takes place in 1905 in a small Ukrainian village, where a family of Russian Jews clash on matters of tradition, marriage, and religion before fleeing tsarist pogroms. The musical’s themes of oppression and emigration feel particularly charged in today’s political climate—a reality Fein has considered throughout his creative process. But while some recent adaptations have added monologues nodding to contemporary issues, Fein sticks to tradition. “It’s a piece about people forced from their homes by political forces beyond their control,” he says. “That’s heartbreaking, but that’s still happening around the world. I think this story should be told now.” —Jeanne Malle