Don Engerdahl is branching out. The Hinton man, who runs the town’s arts and culture department, also happens to be the driving force behind the Break A Leg Theatre’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof”. The musical is the second that the group has mounted in as many years, something that Engerdahl admits has taken some getting used to.

“Our cast is nearly 50 people, and then with the musicians and all the crew, I’d say we have 65 to 70 people involved altogether,” Engerdahl said over the phone from his Hinton office. “I’m used to dealing with a cast of eight and a crew of five!”

Fiddler follows on the company’s smash success last season — a production of “Oklahoma!” that brought more than 1,000 people in to see the show over five nights.

“We had such a great success that we decided that we kind of want to bring back the community musical. It’s also our tenth season and we wanted to do something for that.”

If marking an anniversary was one of their intentions, Fiddler was a logical choice. Several cast members were involved the last time the show hit the stage in Hinton, some 25 years ago. Bob Udell will reprise his role as Tevye, and if the basso profondo he uses in conversation translates well to the stage, he’ll be something to see (and hear).

“It’s easier to grow the appropriate beard at this age,” Udell joked during an earlier interview.

It wasn’t hard to find Udell and others interested in the production, according to Engerdahl.

“It’s such a wonderful show, with a great storyline and it really resonates in modern times,” he said. “We held three auditions to fill the places, and that’s all it took.”

After years of producing dinner theatre, the Break A Leg company is stepping out in new directions this year, having mounted their first Christmas show in the winter. But they’ll not be forgetting their roots.

“We started out with a comedy show in our first year, just about went bankrupt, and then came back doing dinner theatre shows,” Engerdahl said. “They’ve been our bread and butter. People love them. It’s food, theatre and fellowship all in one place.” Puns too, apparently.

With almost 20 dinner theatre productions under his belt (my turn), Engerdahl said he still finds many first-time audience members each and every time out.

“It’s amazing how many people have never heard of us before,” he said. “It’s nice to see that interest is growing.”

The interest is hardly confined to the Hinton town limits. Jasperite Monika Schaefer will be the eponymous rooftop violin player in this show, and the lighting director also hails for Jasper. There are performers and crew members from Edson and several other small locales in the region.

“It’s great to have these people integrated into our company because we can promote what we do in their communties and perhaps down the line we’ll be able to do a show in Jasper.”

The Break A Leg players have performed here before, three years ago as part of a benefit performance organized by Andy Walker. It’s an experience Engerdahl remembers well.

“We were treated like royalty,” he recalled. “I remember thinking, are they really that deprived of theatre there, and you’re not, but the audience was just very enthusiastic.”

If early ticket sales are any indication, the viewing public is similarly eager to catch a glimpse of the Fiddler on the Roof. Engerdahl expects both Friday and Saturday night performances to sell out in the 260 seat Roxy Theatre, and encourages people to get their ducats now.

“People missed out on Oklahoma and they were kicking themselves all year,” he said.

The show will run from June 6 to 10, starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students, but they aren’t being sold at any Jasper locations. They can be picked up in Hinton at the  King Valley Drug Mart or the IDA Pharmacy. Alternatively, Monika Schaefer can provide a local hookup if people are interested in attending but can’t make it to Hinton before the show. Call her at 852-4608.