JULY 22 • 2021 | 39

D

uring 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, 
Sophia Bahnmueller, who composed 
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

continued on page 40

Berkley High grad writes and produces 
play debuting at Ridgedale.

Teen Angst,
 Set to Music

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Rebecca 
Feber

A rehearsal on the 
outdoor stage.

Designed 
by Emma 
Driker

THEATER

