Homefront
at Tuscarora High School

Reviewed on November 7, 2020

Dagny Scannell
Bishop Ireton High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

With Veteran's Day just around the corner, Tuscarora High School's video production Homefront reminded audience members of the immense sacrifices service members and their families make all year long. The performance provided a glimpse into the lives of veterans, military dependents, and soldiers themselves, and it explored the heartache that often goes along with serving one's country.

Homefront was a collection of monologues and short scenes from these differing viewpoints. The show began with a woman (Bailey Vigil) who was grappling with the reality that her fiancé (who was a prisoner of war) may never make it home. Vigil's characterization and ability to convey this painful experience was striking, and it set the tone for the rest of the show. There were a number of other notable performances, like Eliza Noyd as a girl reunited with her father after his deployment, and Kylie Coggins as a service woman whose personal loss inspired her to join the military and help others. Even though each scene in this show was based on a different situation, they all depicted the frustration, heartache, and pain that often accompanied the sacrifice that members of the military made for the greater good.

Students from Tuscarora seamlessly transitioned to this virtual format, and their behind-the-scenes elements were just as strong as their performances "onstage." The script was written by students, and most performers were able to devise their own monologues. This added touch not only gave the students the unique opportunity to broaden their theatrical skill sets, but it also added a level of authenticity to the production as a whole. Other tech elements, such as costumes, were used effectively (especially considering the restrictions due to COVID-19). Camouflage, a boy scout uniform, and a onesie were all used, and each unique outfit further emphasized the different perspectives that each character had.

Overall, Homefront conveyed meaningful messages through a new online format. The proceeds from this production go towards the Veteran's Affairs Covid-19 Fund, so not only will it be a moving performance, but it will also benefit the very people the show honors.

Jack Child
Falls Church High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

It is tough for anyone to be away from loved ones. But for military families, it is normal to go through the heartache and grief of separation for months at a time. Tuscarora High School set out to tackle this issue and other issues facing military families in Homefront, an original, virtual work of devised theater. The night was marked by strong acting and creative choices to adapt theater to a socially distanced setting.

As a collection of monologues and dialogues, Homefront did not have leading and supporting characters. Rather, each actor had only a short scene to make their contribution to the show. Standout performances included Patrick Hensley and Riley Steinkirchner as Dustin and Dustin's Dad and Stephanie Reed as a Granddaughter. Hensley played a teenager harboring feelings of resentment towards his father, who was stationed overseas. He demonstrated mastery over his character by employing well-timed sighs, nuanced inflections, and heavy beats. As Dustin's Father, Steinkirchner expertly captured the despair of a man who had missed his son growing up and was desperate for reconciliation. Their Zoom call was one of the most moving parts of the evening. Stephanie Reed's performance as the Granddaughter was also impressive. Reed's animated demeanor and outstanding storytelling ability kept her scene interesting and lively.

Homefront should also be commended for its technical aspects, especially considering the limitations put in place due to the pandemic. The choice to do devised theater worked well for a virtual setting. Actors were able to write and record their individual scenes, which could be smoothly stitched together. One area where creativity was evident was the costumes, designed by Bailey Vigil. In particular, Tyler Steeprow's Boy Scout uniform and Kylie Coggins' military jacket added a realistic touch to the characters that they embodied.

Tuscarora High School's Homefront was a poignant, well-executed, and entertaining reflection on the hardships endured by members of the military and their families. The message sent by the show will resonate with all who see it through this Veterans' Day season and beyond.

Laurel Gilbert
Falls Church High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

Schools around the country are adapting their theatre programs to accommodate social distancing guidelines. Tuscarora High School is no different, and they were certainly successful in adapting their theatre program. Homefront is a devised video production about the emotional impact deployment has on military families. Tuscarora's production provides an authentic window into the struggles that military families experience.

Homefront worked hard to provide a diverse group of voices. There were monologues from the point of view of children, spouses, and deployed military personnel. The stories took place as video calls, soliloquies, and pre-recorded videos. All of the scenes were monologues, except for a single two-person scene that showed a video call between a deployed father and son. And not all of the personnel were soldiers- an especially memorable scene displayed a wife mourning her lost husband, who was a medic.

An especially commendable part of the production was the actors' ability to play different ages. Jaidan Braddock, who played Military Child, did a fantastic job at playing a younger child. Riley Steinkirchner, Stephanie Reed, and Eliza Noyd also played younger characters. The work done to make the younger characters seem authentic was commendable and stood out as a highlight of the production.

There was a good balance of tragic and heartwarming stories. While some monologues were stories of loss, many of them were joyful. A standout scene was one in which Jaidan Braddock portrayed a dog waiting for its master to come home. The fantastic creativity shown in this scene helped to set the show apart.

Homefront is a well-researched and eye-opening look into the lives of military families. If you are looking for a way to honor our veterans, a viewing of Homefront is a great way to do so. The production will air on Veterans' Day, and proceeds will go to the Veterans' Affairs COVID-19 Fund.

Sarah Giusti
Falls Church High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Now

COVID-19 has had an indescribable impact on all our lives, not least those who engage in theatre and the performing arts. Many shows were put on hold, then cancelled, as the gravity of quarantine sunk in. Now, with the beginning of a new school year, theatre programs must get creative. Is it even possible to put on a show when the actors are not allowed to leave their homes? Tuscarora rose to the challenge, creating a show that felt like a window into the characters' lives, an effect that can only be achieved when a show is performed virtually, making online theatre unique and engaging.

Homefront is a devised theatre piece, written by the students themselves, about the lives of military families. Each scene was separated by a narrator, who would give statistics and provide a smooth transition to the next monologue. Being a member of the military is not only hard for those who are serving, but it affects everyone around them, and Tuscarora made sure to represent a diverse group, including family members of all ages and relations, and even a scene from the perspective of a dog. In this way, the cast was able to balance the frustrations and sadness of a parent being overseas with happier, lighthearted moments of reuniting and of serving our country.

Acting to record instead of acting to a live audience is a difficult feat, but the cast of Homefront was able to keep good pacing and energy. Particularly memorable was a scene between Dustin (Patrick Hensley) and Dustin's Dad (Riley Steinkirchner), who were talking through a Zoom call when Dustin confronted his father about not calling and missing important milestones in his life because his father was deployed. Hensley was able to convey his bitterness and quiet anger at his father through the emotion in his voice. Both scene partners worked well together, pausing at appropriate times to make the scene more dramatic as they worked through Dustin's built up emotions.

Another impressive scene was performed by Jaidan Braddock, who portrayed a young child waiting for her father to come home. Actors will often act as if young children are babies, but Braddock was able to accurately portray the thoughts of a young kid without accentuating the baby talk. As Braddock was musing about what she would talk about with her father when he returned, she said, "I'll tell him about all the people who came to my birthday party. I wonder how many people came to his birthday party." This line is an excellent example of the way children talk. She was aware that her father was away from home, but ignorant to what he was doing while deployed. The costumes in this scene, done by designer Bailey Vigil, also served to characterize Braddock as a child through the use of a cute outfit style that adults would not normally wear. By making this costume choice, Vigil drew the audience into the scene, increasing its believability and emphasizing Braddock's performance.

Homefront tugged at the heartstrings as the audience experienced loss, heartbreak, and unbridled joy through snippets of the actors' worlds and thoughts. Tuscarora successfully provided a wider perspective of what it was like to know someone in the military, asking the question: Is serving your country worth the sacrifice? There is not a concise answer, but Homefront encourages thought-provoking conversation on the topic from which everyone could benefit.

Nathaly Gomez
Clarksburg High School
Submitted for publication to Loudoun Times-Mirror

Sacrifices are made every single day. They are made by parents, spouses, siblings, sons, and daughters. A common sacrifice is that made by our veterans. Those who leave the comfort of their homes and families to fight for their country. On November 11th, the production of Homefront by students at Tuscarora High School, and this country will pay tribute to those who chose to fight and to their families.

With Veteran's Day around the corner, Tuscarora High School presents a tribute and fundraiser to raise money for the Veteran's Affairs COVID-19 Fund. Using a combination of unique stories from the perspectives of veterans and their families, students at Tuscarora created an emotional piece that gives viewers an inside view to the sacrifices made by military families. Homefront varies from stories of a young woman and her fiancé to a soldier calling home, to a message from a young daughter to her father.

This beautifully composed work is written by the students themselves. Both actors and technicians worked to produce a piece that excels in emotion and portrayal. Regardless of the impediments set by today's situation, the production was incredibly successful in diversity and use of materials. Homefront is appealing visually and emotionally and leaves a lasting impression on its audience.

The stories within Homefront had viewers completely enveloped in joy, sadness, or frustration. One of the stories was that of Dustin and his father. These two characters had such emotional and understandable development throughout the short scene in which they were on a zoom call. The portrayal and writing of both, Patrick Hensley who plays Dustin, and Riley Steinkirchner, who plays Dustin's Dad, takes readers on a heartfelt rollercoaster. Each actor completely encapsulates the anger, frustration, and sadness that military families experience, while also allowing pride in the work being done.

Another character whose wonderfully composed story stands out is the Gold Star Mom. This scene, written and performed by Abbie Domingue, proved to be impressive in maturity and emotion. Domingue's actions were smooth and combined seamlessly with the words directed at her husband. Her anger and sadness were apparent in her emotive voice and actions. The story's deep meaning and execution made it a story that viewers will remember on this Veteran's Day.

Technicians in the production had the most noticeable change in execution from a usual high school production, yet their presence in Homefront was not any less important. What may seem as small details such as backgrounds and lighting had a big influence on the success of this play. The difference between family and soldiers was evident in their costumes, done by Bailey Vigil. The soldiers throughout the show were dressed in plain t-shirts and uniforms in green and white colors, meanwhile, family members wore colorful cardigans, sweatshirts, and onesies. Hair and makeup were organized by Emily Geissman whose decision to keep a natural look on most characters helped their facial expressions be more apparent.

Tuscarora High School's Homefront is a collection of stories from the perspective of veterans and families, even dogs. It makes for the perfect showing of appreciation and understanding of veterans and acts as a wonderful fundraising event.