APRIL 4 • 2024 | 55
J
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ARTS&LIFE
THEATER

C

hildren of Eden, a musical 
production that goes over 
stories of biblical families, 
has two members of a modern 
family in the cast.
The production, presented now 
through April 21 by Stagecrafters 
in Royal Oak, spotlights a brother 
and sister from the Bigelman 
family of Bloomfield Hills. 
Both attend Hillel Day School, 
are members of Temple Israel 
and have a special interest in 
supporting theater.
Ari Bigelman, 14 and interested 
in theater since he was 5, has 
appeared in many plays and 
has been in the audience of 
productions staged around Detroit and 
New York. Among the plays casting him 
have been A Christmas Carol at Meadow 
Brook Theatre and Picnic at the Berman 
Center for the Performing Arts.
Amelia Bigelman, 11, has attended 
professional theater productions around 

Detroit, watched her brother have fun 
with his appearances and decided to try 
out to be a performing member of this 
play with music and lyrics by Stephen 
Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin and Godspell) 
and book by John Caird.
Brother and sister are both having a 
good time as they rehearse and tighten 

up their school and activity 
schedules. Their roles are part of 
telling the stories — musically — 
of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel 
and Noah’s flood responsibilities. 
The many songs include “Father’s 
Day,” “The Mark of Cain” and 
“The Flood.”
“I play Seth, the third child of 
Adam and Eve,” Ari explained. “I 
play a role in the transition from 
Adam and Eve to generations 
to come. I love the music, and I 
appreciate the spiritual nature of 
the role. It’s nice appearing with 
my sister and being able to guide 
her a little bit.”
The cast of 39, chosen from 
auditions of about 80 people, were 
selected by director Erica Valimont, 
who has a special interest in this show 
because it was the first musical she 
appeared in while attending Stevenson 
High School in Sterling Heights.
“I have a special connection to this 

continued on page 57

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Hillel students have roles in 
Stagecrafters’ Children of Eden.

Brother and Sister 
 Team Up on Stage

Ari and Amelia 
Bigelman

A scene from the 
production of 
Children of Eden

