Stage, set, lights, dancers, props, actors, music, costumes. All essential to musicals, plays and dramas, these components of theater usually conjure up images of Broadway not English projects. But for a few Phoenix students, these drastically different concepts are combined to create a memorable Independent Study Project.

For their ISP seniors Jessie Riley, Ashley Middleton and Colton Weinman joined together to produce their own musical, “Writer’s Block,” a story about a teen’s struggles with writing a song, love, and everything in between.

“Every time I go to a theatrical performance, I always walk away wishing I had been a part of putting it together,” Middleton said.

Friends since childhood, the three of them had been planning and thinking about this musical since their sophomore year because it seemed fun and exciting, Weinman said.

“We had been discussing it since sophomore year, but when we got the assignment, we decided we actually wanted to [go through with it],” Weinman said.

Although they faced discouragement by those telling them the project was too big and that they wouldn’t be able to do it, Riley said they faced the project head-on.

“I think if we had listened to them, we wouldn’t have had as much fun,” Riley said. “This way we can push ourselves. [Otherwise], I don’t think we would’ve been as proud.”

Riley, Middleton and Weinman have each brought their own talents and interests to the table in order to make the project a success, Phoenix IV teacher Jayne Creelman said. The three decided to divide the work and set boundaries for each other to ensure every detail was covered.

“I was originally going to do all the choreography to all the songs, Jessie was going to do all the music, and then Ashley was going to do all the stage work and set,” Weinman said. “But we had to switch some of it as time went on. We realized Jessie and I both needed to work on music, and we both needed to work on choreography, so it’s just like a collaborative effort.”

As Riley wrote the melodies and Weinman wrote the accompaniment, Middleton took care of directing the actors, designing the set and designing costumes. All three wrote the script, held auditions and directed rehearsals leading up to the final production of “Writer’s Block” on March 13 at Ereckson Middle School.

“When you get [an] opportunity, don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do it,” Riley said. “What you’re capable of just depends on how much you want to work for it.”