In Their Own Words
at Oakton High School

Reviewed on May 22, 2021

Catherine Kane
Falls Church High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

Most actors consider playing real people the hardest roles; trying to do someone else's story justice is an immense creative and performance challenge. Oakton High School's "In Their Own Words" put young performers up to this task. Students in the drama class at Oakton HS were charged with interviewing various people in their lives about their experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic and transforming their answers into an original, student-written script. "In Their Own Words" was a diverse mosaic of true stories from around the world realized in a documentary short film style.

Segments of interviews were transcribed, verbatim, into dialogue and monologues performed in various scenes. No hesitation, stuttering, filler words, or ramblings were cut; the imperfections of real people's speech was what made up the fabric of the show. Each character in the show was a real person played by an acquaintance of the actor; there were anxious college applicants, a preschool principal, a Hebrew teacher, a grandmother, and so on. Each scene had a theme; athletes were paired together, educators were side-by-side, and students were grouped. The similarities and differences of how each group experienced the pandemic was a highlight of the show; one could relate to every character, while also empathizing with the unique experience of every person.

The actors put on their characters like cardigans, slipping into their mannerisms, motivations, and experiences with ease. Jake Trible played Marybeth, a preschool principal who had to alter her school during the pandemic. Trible was seated in a rocking chair, swaying back and forth while describing how students and teachers were struggling. He paused a lot, his defeat and exacerbation evident. Lindsey Cliff portrayed Cecilia, a high school senior buzzing with anxiousness about the college application process during the pandemic. The fear in her eyes pierced the camera as she reflected on her nightmarish SAT debacle of cancellation after cancellation. Another standout performance came from Madison Shannon as Bert, a senior citizen whose monthly luncheon with friends had been upended. Shannon adopted the vocal inflections and speech patterns of Bert effortlessly, never wavering from her solid commitment to character and doing her interviewee justice. The portrayal of each person never involved mockery or stereotyping, the beauty of "In Their Own Words" came from its authentic and candid performance without exaggeration or ridicule.

The cinematography and editing of the show were all student done; it was minimalist but effective. Every camera angle and cut were done with precision and thoughtfulness to always accentuate and prioritize the storytelling and narrative of the show. Steven Labovitch and Elliott Frank filmed the scenes; they included pauses and silence throughout the show, advancing a continuous thematic and aesthetic vision.

It was clear that each performer had given copious amounts of time and effort to dig deep into their role, familiarizing themselves with and contextualizing the experiences of their character within the show. The student technical work elevated these efforts through seamless camera and editing finishes. "In Their Own Words" will surely not be the last show to portray the experiences of people during the Covid-19 pandemic; but if it is any indication of the thoughtfulness and quality of such shows to come, there is no doubt that theatre will return as strong as ever, resonating with audiences and reflecting the human experience.

Emilia Ermanoski
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

From one face to another, from one story to the next, Oakton High School's "In Their Own Words" presented a unique and detailed collection of interviews regarding people's experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In Their Own Words" originally began as a theatre project for the Drama 3 and 4 students in Oakton High School's Theatre department. For their "Verbatim Theatre" unit, the students set out to interview friends and family about their thoughts and feelings throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this assignment was to transcribe the interviews into monologues and perform them "verbatim," encapsulating the interviewee's exact mannerisms, tones, and expressions. Entirely student-made, the students utilized their theatre skills to bring this fascinating documentation of people's different views to life.

As a monologue-heavy production, script adaptors Abby Cortez, Carson Cullen, Vicky Coleman, Sarah Janson, and Lindsey Dann had the important task of taking the cast's transcriptions and weaving them together. The group diligently organized the order of the monologues, deciding that some should stand alone in a scene, while others should be paired together, allowing for fluidity and avoiding repetition.

With the intriguing assignment to present people and their stories as realistically as possible, the ways in which the students achieved this goal were especially noteworthy. The um's, uh's, and y'know's heard so often in daily life were included in the transcriptions, giving a new layer of depth to each character. Though we don't know the people represented personally, it was easy to understand and get to know their personalities and struggles through the actors' physical work and distinct articulation.

Ranging from high schoolers to elderly residents, the students portrayed a variety of different people with a broad scope of perspectives. One example of such a range was Ian Matthews' performance of Rita, a grandmother. Matthews depicted Rita by closely observing her slang and inflection. As this piece focused on faithfully characterizing each individual, Matthews presented her in a genuine, non-exaggerated manner. Along with her work as a script adaptor, Abby Cortez demonstrated her unique ability to discern even the smallest details in a person's behavior through her portrayal of Mrs. T, a high school English teacher. From hand gestures to quiet pauses, Cortez relayed her character's struggles with her father's doctor appointments with careful consideration towards physicality and tone. Another instance of such detail was that of Jonathan Geerdes' depiction of Madison, a musical theatre student. Whether it was smiling after a sentence or habitually rubbing his nose, Geerdes disappeared into his role as he presented his character's personality and mannerisms with charm and exactness.

As a production dedicated to precision, the same attention to detail was reflected in the making of the play. Filmed by Steven Labovitch and Elliott Frank, the cinematography beautifully illustrated each subject of the scenes with engaging composition and varying angles. Along with filming, Labovitch worked on the editing, carefully piecing together the vast amount of clips into the final product. Accompanying these technical elements was the careful consideration in costume choice. From college sweatshirts to Baskin-Robbins uniforms, each outfit added a new dimension to the characters.

Through their compelling piece, the students of Oakton High School allowed for people of all ages, occupations, and backgrounds a chance to voice their individual thoughts, struggles, and perseverance "In Their Own Words."

Alex Beach
Fairfax High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

Vacant schools, failing businesses and frail, sickly communities; over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the world into something straight out of a dystopian novel. People from all corners of the world, regardless of race, gender identity, or socioeconomic status experienced the detrimental effects of the virus. They have each attempted to cope in a variety of ways whether that be picking up a new hobby, frequent Zoom calls with loved ones, or even therapy.

Oakton High School's documentary-like production, In Their Own Words, shines light onto various perspectives from community members regarding their time in quarantine. Students in Oakton's Drama 3/4 course were given an assignment to conduct interviews with friends and family to learn about their experiences, and then, convert their verbatim responses into monologues.

The actors did a wonderful job of depicting those that they had interviewed in a genuine, realistic fashion, being careful to avoid playing off stereotypes or portraying the interviewees as caricatures. Beyond that, performers were given the difficult task of playing individuals that drastically differed from themselves in age, gender, or political alignment, most standout being Ian Matthews playing the role of Rita, a conservative grandmother who faced quarantine alone after the passing of her husband. Performers Rachel Rizzo and Julia Stein, respectively playing the roles of Joseph, a professional baseball player for the Seattle Mariners struggling with the indefinite delay of his season, and Jen, a Hebrew schoolteacher doing her best to accommodate her students in a remote setting, beautifully depicted their characters. Both demonstrated remarkable attention to detail, including specific speech patterns and quirks such as tongue clicking and hand gestures. Each of the twenty-one actors were able to successfully and respectfully introduce thought-provoking and unique perspectives, working together to demonstrate the plethora of ways in which people have learned to cope.

In addition to the stellar acting performances, the technical elements acted as the cherry on top, providing a sense of complexity and professionalism. Perhaps the most impressive element of In Their Own Words was the beautiful cinematography by Steven Labovitch and Elliott Frank. The pair worked together to film every shot of the production, ensuring top-notch video and audio quality through the entirety of the show. The production's editing, also done by Steven Labovitch, included descriptors of each character in the bottom left corner, making the storyline cohesive and easy to follow. Other technical elements such as sound and special effects took on a very minimalistic approach, minimizing distractions and allowing the themes of authenticity and empathy to shine through. Costumes and sets, provided by the actors themselves, subtly enhanced each scene, allowing viewers to get a sense for each character's personality and interests in the limited time spent with each.

In only thirty-five minutes, Oakton High School students were able to engross viewers in an authentic, dramatic production. By openly discussing vulnerable themes such as isolation, personal growth, and mental health, In Their Own Words emphasized the idea that there is no incorrect way to react to a hardship and that everyone's story is valid and worthy of being heard.

Clare A'Hearn
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Patch (Fairfax/Alexandria)

Conversations, candor, and COVID. The pandemic experience has varied from person to person and through poignant interviews told verbatim, Oakton High School's "In Their Own Words" artfully captured these differences.

In February 2021, Oakton High School's theatre students were tasked with interviewing individuals about their pandemic experiences and translating those experiences into monologues. These monologues were then compiled into an original production: "In Their Own Words." Students interviewed people from around the country and around the world, of differing ages, professions, and political beliefs. The range in interviews led to a realistic variety of pandemic experiences, but similarities were present and student monologues were thematically paralleled with complimentary accounts. "In Their Own Words," told COVID narratives from perspectives unknown and amplified, together creating a complete and honest documentary-style production.

Jonathan Geerdes portrayed Madison and Lindsey Cliff portrayed Cecilia, both positioned in a high school auditorium discussing the impacts of COVID on post-high school plans. Geerdes took on particular mannerisms and habits to depict Madison, a musical theatre student, and utilized verbal filler words, making the authenticity of the performance clear. By employing moments of silence, Geerdes exhibited the complexity of Madison's COVID experience and balanced hopeful positivity with heavy-hearted concessions. Cliff's depiction of Cecilia surrounded the struggle of test-taking, and she expertly maneuvered the frustration of college admissions enhanced by COVID. Cliff's performance exuded honesty and had a rawness that revealed the variety of struggles created by the pandemic.

Matthew Foltz and Elli Kirkland depicted Emily and Ian whose COVID experiences abroad were juxtaposed to mimic a virtual computer call. Foltz's performance as Emily, a Swedish resident, had contrasting moments of worry about the pandemic and flashes of brightness about hobbies adopted over the past year. The specific facial expressions utilized by Foltz told of the difficulty of the pandemic for those abroad and of the importance of hope. Kirkland's depiction of Ian, a young adult who spent quarantine in Scotland, had a tone of realness surrounding loneliness, especially abroad. The simple inflections employed by Kirkland enhanced such authenticity and added to the "down to Earth" feel.

Ian Matthews and Madison Shannon portrayed Rita and Bert, two grandmothers with differing reactions to the pandemic, paired in conversation. Matthews used a skeptical tone and disbelief while Shannon focused on hope and strength through a smile. Both were sturdy and committed in their portrayals and accentuated the age of those interviewees simply and without exaggeration. The contrast in the perspectives united Matthews and Shannon in performance and the genuine duo perfectly complemented each other.

The script's transcription from individual monologues into a cohesive production was led by Abby Cortez, supported by Carson Cullen, Vicky Coleman, Sarah Janson, and Lindsey Dann. The team aptly paired similar accounts and cut monologues to act as conversations. They employed the subtle themes of the various accounts and enhanced details to meld the narratives artfully. Steven Labovitch and Elliott Frank led the cinematography, filming, and editing of the production. The sound, lighting, and technical quality were flawless. Supporting the documentary feel were title cards for each individual with their name and qualifiers. The technical teams masterfully combined individual perspectives into a play that flowed and genuinely represented the challenges of the time.

With heartrending music accompanying the credits, audiences thought back to the words that began the show. "One word to describe COVID: lonely." But, one word to describe Oakton High School's original production of "In Their Own Words:" impactful.

Megan Hogan
West Springfield High School
Submitted for publication to Insidenova - Sun Gazette

Who thought surviving a pandemic was going to be hard? Well, everyone, but maybe not this hard. As the rest of the world was trying to cope with changing regulations and options of some normalcy, Oakton High School took this moment to reflect on the personal effect this pandemic has had on their friends and family. In their own student written, produced, and performed show, In Their Own Words, they outlined what it had been like living through this pandemic from the perspectives of different people from around the world and from different backgrounds. The students interviewed friends and family members about what this pandemic has been like for them. During these interviews, the students studied mannerisms, expressions, accents, tone, and other components of a person's speech patterns to try to recreate the speaker. Then they created monologues based off these interviews, in which the students played the person they interviewed. These students used subtlety and honesty to tell a story that resonated with frustrations that have been felt worldwide for the past year, and that truly reminds us how much the world has changed.

In Their Own Words goes through a series of written monologues that are grouped together by topic and/or the people who are giving the monologues. There is a group of high schoolers who talk about their experiences during Covid and how those experiences are affected by where they lived or what they did. Isaac Swanson, who played Andrew, talked of Texas's relaxed policies with a shrug and an open face, as he hesitantly decided if he liked the relaxed policies or not. While Jackson Smith, who played Zoe, furiously knitted her eyebrows and waved her left hand as she spoke of children and parents alike not wearing masks correctly while she worked at Baskin Robbins. They both were honest and precise in their delivery. They mimicked the interviewees as people, not caricatures. Ian Matthews and Madison Shannon, who played Rita and Bert, were exceptional in their portrayal of senior citizens. They maintained the posture and tone of the people they were playing but never made them cartoonish. The performers in this piece maintained dignity and a genuine tone throughout the play, showing respect for the interviewees and their thoughts and feelings.

What made In Their Own Words stand out was the genuine tone. It felt honest, without the flair that usually comes with theatre. This tone mostly came from the perfectly thoughtful cinematography (Steven Labovitch and Elliott Frank). The cameras were stationary in front of each actor, fixed at one angle. The placement of the cameras varied from monologue to monologue. Sometimes the camera got the whole person as they sat on the grass, sometimes it was only a view from the chest up. This added to the authenticity of the scene and made it feel like a one-on-one conversation. The backgrounds were wisely chosen to reflect the person that was being presented without looking too manufactured. Andrew (Issac Swanson), the student from Texas, sat in the back of a truck. Mrs. T (played by Abby Cortez), a teacher, sat at her desk in a classroom. These choices were reflective of the characters without being overly obvious. The cinematography that went into this play reflected a deeper honesty and thoughtfulness that was shown throughout the production.

In Their Own Words from Oakton High School was a beautiful testament to the humanity that humans forget they have. It highlighted the hardships and opportunities this year presented, while also giving hope for a better future.

Kylee Majkowski
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

It is a sure fact that everyone reading this has been affected by the global pandemic that swept our world in March of 2020. But how often do we take a look into the perspectives of others and what challenges they faced during this trying time? Oakton High School offered a look into the world of students, athletes, teachers, and many others affected by COVID-19 in "In Their Own Words", in which a series of interviews was translated into a truly gripping performance.

"In Their Own Words" was inspired by a class theatre assignment in which students were asked to interview someone about their experience through the pandemic, and perform a monologue utilizing their words and mannerisms. Due to the success of the project, a show was born. With personal accounts covering topics from mental health and sexuality to teaching and auditioning, "In Their Own Words" truly had something for everyone to relate to. Nearly every individual featured at least a phrase that struck a chord with the audience and reminded them that we are all going through this together.

The cast was tasked with the shockingly difficult task of portraying real people with real behaviors and specific mannerisms that make them unique. To attempt to highlight simply one actor in this magnificent troupe is nearly impossible. The striking opening scene performed by Carson Cullen as Jeremy and Lindsey Dan as Max perfectly encompassed the message the show was trying to capture with an extraordinarily real energy brought to the scene by the pair. Joseph (Rachel Rizzo) and Brigid (Abba Kodiaga) gave insights into the world of athletics while Madison (Jonathon Geerdes) and Celia (Lindsey Cliff) gave meta portrayals of how the pandemic affected those involved in theatre. Perhaps the most fascinating scene came from Julia Stein and Jacob Trible as Jen and Marybeth who are educators. Stein and Trible provided a riveting scene about the struggles of educating youth through such troubled times. The entire cast truly brought both themselves and their inspiration to their characters.

One of the benefits of a virtual show is the opportunities allowed with filming. These well shot scenes featured dynamic angles and various settings relating to each character filmed by Steven Labovitch and Elliott Frank. Additionally, all script editing of the actor's monologues was done by Abby Cortez, Carson Cullen, Vicky Coleman, Sarah Janson, and Lindsey Dann. The group excellently transcribed the words of the real people who inspired the show and put them into a theatrical form.

Through "In Their Own Words" Oakton High School proved that although COVID-19 may be lonely, we are not going through this alone.

Isabella Jackson
Fairfax High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Routine. Waking up early every morning to go to school or work, heading home, maybe hanging with a couple of friends, and eventually going to sleep. This is an example of a routine that many people fell into, all before the Covid-19 pandemic. As many are aware, the Covid-19 pandemic caused a rift in what we have considered "normal". Naturally, when such a global phenomenon occurs, people will have new perspectives and insights to share about it. Oakton High School's In Their Own Words delves into the intricacies that come with living through such a time.

Originally conceptualized by Oakton's Drama 3 and 4 students, In Their Own Words is a compilation of monologues based on interviews conducted by the students that questioned how these people had fared through Covid-19. The objective of the monologues was to perform the monologues accurately with the mannerisms of real people. Once the students realized there was more excellence in the pieces than they originally perceived, Abby Cortez, Carson Cullen, Vicky Coleman, Sarah Janson, and Lindsey Dann adapted the monologues into one coherent script. The authentic and pure portrayal of the idiosyncrasies that came with these individuals was what sold the production. A standout segment amongst the well-picked ensemble of monologues was between Ian Matthews (Rita) and Madison Shannon (Bert). Though they both portrayed older women, their characters juxtaposed each other as they had differing political opinions and overall outlooks on Covid-19. Overall, through subtle-yet-motivated gestures and meaningful perspectives, the cast sparked life into these characters.

Though the forefront of this production was focused on the characters and what they were verbalizing, the subtlety of the technical incorporations mustn't be overlooked. Though there wasn't an official costume team, the costumes were not forgotten. Whether it was the baseball player in a proper uniform, or a college student wearing a college sweatshirt, the small details added to the bigger picture. Alongside the costumes were the well-thought-out filming locations. Every grouping of monologues had different settings that contributed to the background of the characters. Teachers were seen sitting at desks, students were on school property, and the athletes were on their respective fields. All of these details came together to create a well-crafted ensemble of characters.

Since this was an all-virtual production, the editing and videography could have made or broken the impact of this piece. The filming by Steven Labovitch and Elliott Frank, and the editing by Steven Labovitch, put the finishing polish on this production. Throughout the show, the sound quality was even and clear, and the camera angles were beautifully shot. Every time a new character was introduced, a refined and simple title card would appear on the screen to give a concise descriptor of the person the audience was about to watch. The editing and videography not only polished the piece but made the production feel professional.

In Their Own Words was a showcase of different perspectives that melded together to create a unified masterpiece. The passion, time, and hard work put into this production solidified it as a standout piece, and a time capsule for future generations to look back on.