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English and acting studies, and he entered his path for the future.

“I’m attracted to theater by the collaborative process and getting to engage with a different person by developing a character,” he said. “I’m always the most thrilled when I’m creating together with others. The art of theater speaks to me in a way that no other art form has.”

In working at JET, Keller also feels a connection to his Jewish roots explored only recently. He learned about some religious traditions through Hillel programs at Wayne.

Keller’s most recent professional acting work has been in High School Musical at the Ringwald Theatre in Ferndale and It’s a Wonderful Life at the Riverbank Theatre in Marine City.

Also a writer, he has had two plays produced through Wayne State programming: Something Gay: A Brief Hookup, which is about relationships and online dating, and Front of the House, which was a Zoom presentation about restaurant workers on the last day the restaurant is in business.

OUTDOOR THEATER

“The first time I actually directed and wrote was for the outdoors,” said Keller, whose day job has to do with freight forwarding, making sure that goods are handled according to customs regulations.

“I self-produced a new translation of Spring Awakening performed in a courtyard at Wayne State. It was part of my thesis, but it was not attached to the university. Doing outdoor theater is a fun experience because there are the elements that also need attention.”

The musicians setting the play to music appeared for JET’s production of Cabaret — Stacy White (keyboards), Lee Cleaveland (guitar), Kevin DeClaire (saxophone), Jake Andrzejewski (bass) and Sam Andrzejewski (drums).

“I’m excited to be outside for our first professional show since the pandemic and glad it is in conjunction with the Walled Lake Downtown Development Authority,” said Christopher Bremer, JET executive director. “What better way to end the summer than with community involvement?”

JET SCHEDULE

If it rains on Friday, audience members, asked to bring their own chairs, will be given tickets for Saturday. If it rains on Saturday, the tickets will be for Sunday. If it rains on Sunday, audience members can use their tickets for another upcoming production — The Rocky Horror Show (Sept. 30-Oct. 24), Same Time, Next Year (Nov. 4-28), The Full Monty (Dec. 9-Jan. 2) and Amadeus (March 18-April 10).

“It’s been incredibly difficult during the pandemic even with Zoom readings,” Bremer said. “Theater is meant to be live in front of people gathering and having a shared emotional experience.

“Still, we are very proud of one Zoom program we took to youngsters in other states who otherwise may not have the opportunity to ask questions about the Holocaust. It was an interactive experience with an actress portraying Anne Frank in hiding.”

As Bremer looks forward to a return to live theater and the music of Grease, he said, “I’m hoping people get up and dance.”

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OLYMPIC ROUND-UP

The Tokyo Games featured 22 Jewish athletes from the diaspora as well as the 90-member (Jewish) Israeli team. The individual Israeli medal winners are Artem Dolgopyat, gold in artistic gymnastics; Linoy Ashram, gold, rhythmic gymnastics; Avishag Semberg, bronze, taekwondo. The Israeli mixed judo team (men/ women) won a bronze team medal. Its “one medal,” but all 11 team members get a medal to take home. The Diaspora medal winners are Australia, Jessica Fox, gold in women’s kayak slalom, (and) bronze in women’s canoe slalom; Ukraine: Elina Svitolina, bronze, women’s tennis singles; United States: Sue Bird, gold, women’s basketball; Alix Klineman, gold, women’s beach volleyball; and Nick Itkin, bronze, team foil (fencing).

Do check out my articles on the Olympics posted on the Detroit Jewish News website on Aug. 5. (Meet the 2020 Olympic Members of the Tribe). I give credit to Jewish Sports Review, a print publication that shared its research with me.

Linked to my “Meet” article is an article about the Review. It explains why Jewish sports fans should subscribe to the Review, a “labor of love.” Flag Day opens in theaters on Aug. 20. It stars Sean Penn, 60, as John Vogel, a big-time con artist who has been busted. Penn’s real-life daughter, Dylan Penn, 30, has a co-starring role as John’s adult daughter, an artist who struggles to come to terms with her father’s criminal past. Sean’s other child, Hopper Penn, 28, has a much smaller supporting role. This film got so/so reviews when it played the Cannes Film Festival.

The White Lotus, an original, six-episode HBO comedy/thriller series, concluded last Sunday, Aug. 15. It got quite good reviews. It follows, over the course of a week, a group of rich folks vacationing at a swanky Hawaii resort.

Earlier this year, I noted that “newcomer” Fred Hechinger, 23, would follow his big roles in the Tom Hanks’ film News of the World and The Underground Railroad (an Amazon series), with a role in The White Lotus.

But, due to an oversight, I didn’t “flag” him and White Lotus before it began streaming. He has a major role in Lotus as (guest) Quinn Mosbacher, the socially awkward 17-year-old son of (guest) Nicole Mossbacher, the CFO of a Google-like company. (Real-life) comedian Lenny Bruce (1925-1966), who was a fairly prominent character in the first two seasons of the fictional Amazon hit series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, will return in the upcoming season 4. Filming has been completed, but no release date is yet set. The principal cast will all be returning. Jackie Hoffman, 60, an actress and stand-up comedian who often does Jewish-themed material, will appear in Season 4.

Linoy Ashram wins gold.

LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/TIMES OF ISRAEL