UCF Celebrates the Arts is an annual, two week-long festival that highlights the creativity and innovation of students and faculty from the College of Arts and Humanities. The event inspires a collective celebration of the arts, with performances and exhibitions spanning the fields of music, theater, the visual arts and more. UCF Celebrates the Arts is held at the Dr. Philips Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Orlando from April 1-13.
This year, the festival spotlights the powerful connections between two influential art figures — the artist Marc Chagall and the composer George Gershwin — and an iconic musical Fiddler on the Roof.
The Connection Between Marc Chagall and Fiddler on the Roof
Chagall, a Russian-Jewish painter known for his dreamlike imagery and use of vibrant colors, drew inspiration from his childhood in a small Jewish village in Eastern Europe. The image of the fiddler repeatedly occurs in his work. Over time, the fiddler began to symbolize Jewish heritage and the preservation of tradition.
Notably, the image of the fiddler on the roof, demonstrated in a series of Chagall’s paintings, including his 1912 work Le Violoniste (The Fiddler), served as inspiration for the title and imagery of the musical Fiddler on the Roof. This production tells the story of Tevye, a Jewish father struggling with the changing traditions in the fictional Russian town of Anatevka. The production later became an Oscar-winning film in 1971 and has since become a beloved story by many worldwide.
“Fiddler on the Roof demonstrates that culture and family traditions are not fixed in time, but that they evolve, and it’s important to embrace that fluidity,” says Julia Listengarten, professor and artistic director of Theatre UCF.
Theater UCF chose to showcase Fiddler on the Roof at this year’s festival for its global appeal and artistic richness. The production’s themes of family values and tradition explore the challenges that occur when norms change.
George Gershwin: A Product of Cultural Change
George Gershwin, an American composer and pianist, was born in 1898 to Russian-Jewish immigrants in Brooklyn, New York. As part of the “new immigration” to the United States in the late 19th century, his parents were influenced by the changing political life of Eastern Europe. Growing up in a city that became a hub for Jewish immigrants fleeing political upheaval in his family’s homeland, Gershwin’s upbringing had an impact on both his identity and music. His work incorporates his Jewish heritage and the American experience, relating to the overall theme of adapting to evolving change. Perhaps his most famous piece, Rhapsody in Blue, combines both elements of the nascent jazz music he heard as a young man with traditional Jewish melodies.
The Benefit to UCF Students
UCF Celebrates the Arts provides students with hands-on experiences while also immersing them in cultural history.
Under the guidance of Debi Starr, associate lecturer of Studio Art, over 300 students from the School of Visual Arts and Design are bringing Chagall’s imagery to life through 3D sculptures.
“This is a subject matter the students would never have researched on their own,” Starr says. “Each group of students had to write a research proposal to understand the history behind their work. It’s been a great learning experience for them.”
Through this process, students have expanded their design skills by learning how to replicate Chagall’s abstract painting style, using tools like laser cutters to develop sculptures that closely mirror his work.
The benefits go beyond the visual arts department. Students involved in the production of Fiddler on the Roof are not just performing an iconic musical; they’re fully immersed in a narrative about Jewish identity, tradition and resilience.
“I’ve gained my historical perspectives through the shows I’ve helped produce and the research they have led me to,” says Michael Wainstein, director of the School of Performing Arts. “Being part of this production will give students a different perspective on how history shapes people today.”
A Celebration of Art and History
The festival will feature a special talk titled The Life and Work of Marc Chagall, presented by art historian and UCF School of Visual Arts and Design Assistant Director Keri Watson and theatre professor Listengarten, to discuss the artist’s impact and legacy. Attendees can look forward to a special lineup, including A Gershwin Celebration, a pre-show talk with Ken Hanson, UCF professor of Judaic studies, before the opening performance of Fiddler on the Roof on April 10, with additional performances through April 13. The festival also features Celebrating Chagall 3D sculptures displayed on the grand staircase of the Dr. Philips Center for the Performing Arts and much more.
UCF Celebrates the Arts 2025 promises to be an enriching experience for the Central Florida community. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the UCF Celebrates the Arts webpage.
