Video Transcript
Hello Chargers, welcome back to the Pin Oak Press. Our top story today is “Behind the Scenes of Theater UIL.” My name is Caroline Walton, and today’s focus is on how Pin Oak’s Advanced Theater brought their latest performance, To See the Stars, to life.
Pin Oak Advanced Theater performed To See the Stars for the University Interscholastic League (UIL) on November 9th and November 16th at Westbrook Middle School, competing against five other local schools. Pin Oak Advanced Theater secured second place overall in the competition, marking an impressive achievement in UIL Theater.
Ella Bibi, who played Anya Rosen, won the Best Actor award twice. Only two actors receive this award per competition, and because Pin Oak Advanced Theater advanced to the second round of competition, Ella had the chance to win it again. Now, let’s hear from Pin Oak’s theater teacher, Ms. Tiara Henry.
Henry: My name is Tiara Henry, and I am the theater director here at Pin Oak.
The key element for making a play successful, for me, is repetition. I like to have my students rehearse a lot. We hold two-and-a-half-hour rehearsals three days a week, as well as rehearsals during class. Another key element is having a strong ensemble—a group of actors who feel like they can depend on and support each other on stage.
I chose to put on To See the Stars because it deals with heavy themes that are still relevant today, such as women’s rights, immigrant rights, and workers’ rights. Since these issues are still present, I felt it was important to bring this strong story to our campus.
My favorite thing about putting on this show is seeing my students on stage. That’s what brings me the most joy—watching them enjoy themselves, feel proud of their work, and feel powerful.
The biggest highlight for us was ranking in the top two. When they announced our name, it felt like all our hard work had paid off. It was such a great moment for all of us.
In terms of acting, we focus on the basics—projection and articulation. We can’t tell a story if the audience can’t hear or understand it, so we work on those skills a lot.
Thank you, Miss Henry. Now, let’s hear from the award-winning Ella Bibi.
Bibi: My name is Ella Bibi, I’m in eighth grade, and I played the character of Anya Rosen.
To earn this recognition twice, I showed up to almost every rehearsal, memorized my lines, and worked hard to connect with my character.
To connect with a character, I think about the state they are in and try to relate it to something I’ve experienced. I use my own emotions to bring the character to life.
I memorize my lines by understanding the character and imagining how I would feel or act in their situation. Then, I layer in more emotion and refine my facial expressions as I go.
One thing I hope to improve on is making my characters feel even more realistic—giving them depth and emotion that helps the audience connect with them better.
Thank you, Ella. To See the Stars by Cynthia Mercati is about a group of girls who go on strike in 1909 because they work under extremely harsh conditions, laboring 12 hours a day and earning only $4 a week. Eventually, they win the strike, setting important standards for women’s rights.
Thanks again to Ms. Henry and Ella Bibi for their time. I’m Caroline Walton, and this is Pin Oak Press. Bye Chargers, and thanks for watching!
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