Teen Angst, Set to Music

THEATER

A rehearsal on the outdoor stage.

Designed by Emma Driker

Berkley High grad writes and produces play debuting at Ridgedale.

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

During the pandemic, Rebecca Feber used a biographical story from the past to inspire plans for favorite activities, and the Ridgedale Players Theater in Troy is showcasing her creative approach with the help of many others.

Feber combined an intense science leaning as a senior at Berkley High School with a devotion to theater and decided to write and produce a teen musical comedy to be staged for post-pandemic outdoor audiences. The script builds on knowledge soon to be expanded through engineering studies at Michigan Technological University in Houghton as well as stage experiences in community productions.

Biology the Musical is based on what her calculus teacher, Todd Fadoir, said about Sir Isaac Newton’s discoveries during the Great Plague of 1665, and it centers on advanced placement biology students and their teacher as they prepare for exams.

The creative team, cast and crew — except for Fadoir as the teacher — are entirely made up of teens. Their show will run July 24-25 outside the Ridgedale Players Theater in Troy as a fundraiser for the theater company.

“As a senior during the pandemic, I was really upset to be missing out on all the traditions of senior year, especially my shows,” said Feber, 18, also a director and actress who was in the choir at Temple Emanu-El.

“Theater has been a big part of my life, and not knowing if I would be able to have a senior musical, I wrote this one. Each member of the production has been helpful and uplifting.”

Feber, of Huntington Woods, became interested in community theater through her parents, Lisa and Kevin Feber, who have been longtime members of the Ridgedale Players.

Her stamina also is expressed through participation on the track and field team and the cross-country team at Berkley High. “The play takes place in a week of the life of the students,” Feber said. “I think everyone can relate to the characters. I’ve always liked writing, and I learned a lot about the process of writing by working on this play.” Feber also entered into the way lyrics are incorporated into a script. She collaborated with her friend, Rebecca Sophia Bahnmueller, who composed Feber the original music using GarageBand software. Together, they outlined the message of each song before Bahnmueller filled out the words. During the shows, recorded GarageBand instrumentation will be heard.

LOVE OF STAGE

Feber, who takes the role of Josie, has enjoyed roles in Peter Pan, Child of Eden

Outdoors on the grounds of the Berman Center for the Performing Arts

6600 W Maple Rd, West Bloomfield Township, MI 48322

For years, this fun, family-friendly, Tony Award-winning musical has charmed audiences across the country with its wit and humor. Featuring a fast-paced, wildly funny story and fresh and vibrant score, this bee is unforgettable!

Forticketinfoandsales, visit nicelytheatre.org orcallortextthe Bermanboxofficeat(248)406-6677.

ARTS&LIFE

THEATER

Details

Biology the Musical will be performed outdoors at 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, July 24-25, alongside Ridgedale Players Theater, 205 W. Long Lake Road, Troy. $15; bring chairs. Tickets: ci.ovationtix. com/35604. (248) 988-7049.

continued from page 39 and Elf the Musical among many Ridgedale young people’s productions. Shaya Schreiber, 15, a Berkley High 10th-grader who also wants to be an engineer, takes the role of Josh and becomes a character very different from himself.

“It’s a challenge for me to take this role because Josh is confused, disorganized and not school-minded,” said Schreiber, of Huntington Woods. “I’m the opposite, and I learned my lines with the help of flash cards and practicing with another person.”

Schreiber, the son of Lynne Golodner and Avy Schreiber, learned about musical performance from his dad, a singer-pianist who entertains at local events. The younger Schreiber has performed in community theater, and his favorite role has been Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls.

“I knew Becca, and she asked me to be in her play,”

said Schreiber, who attends services at Congregation Beth Ahm and Young Israel of Oak Park and enjoys participating in soccer and track. “Becca knew that I like theater, and I think the audience will be very surprised by the ending of Shaya Schreiber this play.” To enhance promotional materials, Feber asked Emma Driker to come up with a logo Emma Driker for the musical. Driker, 18, also of Huntington Woods and a senior, is heading to Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., for the fall semester. “I’m good friends with Becca, and she knew I liked to draw,” said Driker, who has won a drawing award in competition for the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills. “I think this production will be very impressive because of the way students did it. It’s been exciting and fun because it draws from real experiences. That makes it valuable.”