C LASSIC P H OTOGRA PH Y MI

Left to right: Jen Weinger of Franklin, Leah Pernick of Huntington Woods,

Nicole Feygin of Oak Park and Eric Gelb of Huntington Woods

Middle School Musical

Play, by and for teens, examines peer
pressure, popularity and more.

Leena Ghannam, Noura Ghannam and
Sakina Toure. The logo design is by
L.J. Whalen.
Eric, the son of Sherri and Richard
ric Gelb is using some of his
bar mitzvah money to test out Gelb, approached Tina Sexton, youth
librarian in Huntington Woods, to
his career goal — marketing.
use the facility at no charge and was
Eric, 13, is marketing a play with
assisted by his mom with the initial
script and music by friend Ryan
contact.
Hurley and a cast and crew that spot-
"This is the first time we're having
light fellow students, friends and even
this kind of production',' Sexton says.
himself.
"Eric and Ryan gave me a copy of the
Project X: The Musical, a play about
script, and I liked the coming-of-age
four youngsters entering middle
story.
school, will be staged Thursday eve-
"I also thought it represented the
ning, Nov. 10, and Saturday afternoon,
work of a great bunch of kids who
Nov. 12, at the Huntington Woods
could bring their age group into the
Public Library.
library. It was very refreshing to see
"This play is by teens and for teens,
young people with the maturity to put
but we're sure families also will enjoy
all of this together."
seeing this:' says Eric, a Huntington
The play will be staged in the art
Woods resident who describes his
gallery of the library, where 50 seats
interest in theater as "serious:'
are available.
The story has to do with two sets
"The issues of bullies and cliques
of friends who have conflicting loyal-
are
addressed, and those topics are so
ties as they meet new youngsters in
important now',' Sexton says. "The kids
middle school. Their choices make
change sets and props, which are all
up the plotline that tackles issues of
popularity, peer pressure, betrayal and easily moveable."
Eric became interested in theater
personal values.
when
he was about 4 years old and
"The idea for the play came up as
saw
productions
at the Marquis
kids read their journals',' explains Eric,
Theatre
in
Northville,
where he also
co-director and an eighth-grader at
attended
drama
camp.
He celebrated
Norup International School in Oak
his
bar
mitzvah
at
Temple
Emanu-El
Park. "Ryan wrote the script around
in Oak Park.
those ideas and came up with the
"We were very glad to go along with
songs. The lyrics will be sung to prere-
this
project," says Sherri Gelb. "We think
corded music:'
it's
very
creative, and my son lives and
Eric and Ryan asked kids to audi-
breathes
shows. We love him and are
tion for parts and chose eight cast
extremely
proud of what he's doing." II
members and five others for the tech-
nical crew.
While Eric takes several roles (Scott,
Project X: The Musical will be
Mr. L, Mr. Q, Waiter) and Ryan por-
staged 6:30 p.m. (doors at 6
trays Max, other performers are Will
p.m.) Thursday, Nov.10, and 2:30
Shulak (Brenton), Nate Shaw (Ricky),
p.m. (doors at 2 p.m.) Saturday,
Nicole Feygin (Trish), Leah Pernick
Nov.12, at the Huntington Woods
(Beth), Jen Weinger (Becky, Ms. M,
Public Library, 16415 Scotia,
Hostess), McKenzie Murphy (Marci,
Huntington Woods. No admission
ensemble) and Izzy Cruz (principal,
fee.
To reserve seats, call
ensemble).
(248)-543-9720.
Assisting behind the scenes are

Suzanne Chessler

Contributing Writer

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