While Advanced Theater has earned attention for its UIL victories and award-winning performers, Intermediate Theater is stepping out of the shadows. Their latest production, “Game of Tiaras,” highlights their dedication and potential. 

Directed by Pin Oak’s theatre teacher, Tierra Henry, “Game of Tiaras” was performed on Thursday, Dec. 17, in the Black Box Theater. Lead performances by Ella Mukoka and Smaera Duvey brought this fantasy tale to life alongside the ensemble cast.

During rehearsals, the cast focused on developing fundamental acting skills, including blocking, line memorization, and stage presence. This process required them to further enhance their individual skills and learn to collaborate as a team. Looking ahead to next year’s UIL competition, Henry explained her focus on building a strong foundation

“So with intermediate, I’m really preparing them for UIL next year, so really the basics of acting. How do we project? Are we vocally loud? Do we have enough tone? Are we moving? Do we have movement physicality basics? Because I know they’re going to be analyzed next year,” Henry said. 

Henry’s approach motivates students to address complications as performers while also encouraging them to find their voice as individuals working together. Despite her responsibilities with the Advanced Theater Company, Henry remained certain that intermediate theater delivered a stellar performance.

“I would say the biggest challenge we’ve had for this show is that we were also currently working on UIL with advanced theater at the same time,” Henry said. “So I was missing a good amount of class time while I was working with the UIL cast and performance.” 

Despite these obstacles, Henry stayed confident in the abilities of the intermediate theater group and their dedication. With this successful production behind them, the Intermediate Theater program is poised for an exciting spring season.