UIL One Act Play is the largest theatre contest of its kind in the world. 1,200 schools across the state of Texas enter, and 175 of them are in the 4A classification. On April 1st, Bridge City High School’s production of “These Shining Lives” received first place at their Area contest. Advancing to the Region Contest makes them one of the 24 schools still performing across the state in 4A.
Area Awards:
1st Place- Bridge City High School
2nd Place- Little Cypress Mauriceville High School
3rd Place- Hargrave High School
Others that competed were Hardin Jefferson, Shepherd, and Jack Yates High Schools
1st Place- Bridge City High School
2nd Place- Little Cypress Mauriceville High School
3rd Place- Hargrave High School
Others that competed were Hardin Jefferson, Shepherd, and Jack Yates High Schools
Best Actor in Area: Landon Luna, junior
All Star Casts: Avery Harris, senior and Bree Cloud, senior
Outstanding Technical Crew: Malayna Motomura
All Star Casts: Avery Harris, senior and Bree Cloud, senior
Outstanding Technical Crew: Malayna Motomura
Region Competition will be held this Friday, April 7th at Atoscocita High School. Bridge City will perform at 4:00.
About “These Shining Lives”, a true story
Narrated by one of the workers, Catherine Donohue played by Bree Cloud, These Shining Lives shows women getting a chance for a well-paying job in the 1920s and early 1930s, which was uncharacteristic for the time in the United States. The job, which seems easy enough to the four main characters, is painting the hour markings onto different sized watch dials using a radium compound which glows in the dark. The four main characters are played by Cloud, senior; Avery Harris, senior; Brianna Cross, senior; and Cheyenne VonderHeyden, sophomore.
The Radium Dial Company, that hires the women to do the painting, tells them that there is no evidence that radium is harmful, and even has health benefits. After a few years, the workers notice that their hands start glowing in the dark, but assume that it is just from the radium powder that is used to paint the faces. The ladies develop ailments, including jaw infections and bone pain, but several local doctors tell them that all they need is aspirin, which of course does not help.
The play also follows the fictional marriage of Tom (played by junior Landon Luna) and Catherine Donohue. The couple’s marriage begins young and then arcs into something deeper, depicting the true love that can only be found in a mature marriage.
After years of search, the four factory women find a doctor who is willing to put his name on the line and diagnose the women with radium poisoning. This in turn helps the four main characters decide to file a lawsuit against Radium Dial. An attorney, Leonard J. Grossman played by senior Zach Oceguera, agrees to take the case for free with Donohue as the lead plaintiff. They win, but Donohue succumbs to radium’s effects. The real Catherine Donohue died on July 27, 1938, shortly after testifying before the Illinois Industrial Commission.
CAST:
Catherine Donohue……………………………………………………..Bree Cloud
Tom Donohue…………………………………………………………..Landon Luna
Charlotte……………………………………………………………………Avery Harris
Frances……………………………………………………….…………..Brianna Cross
Pearl…………………………………………..…………Cheyenne VonderHeyden
Mr. Reed………….…………………………………………………….Kaleb Swarers
Dr. Dalitsch………………………………………………………….……Bryce Barlow
Leonard Grossman…………………………………..……………Zach Oceguera
Company Doctor/Judge………………………………..……….Dylan Garrett
Reporter 1…………………………………………………………. Kaylee Lambert
Reporter 2……………………………………………………………Kamri Swarers
Factory Worker 1……………………………………………..…..Marlee Bradley
Factory Worker 2………………………………………..…………..Katelynn Haynes
Factory Worker 3………………………………………….…………..Ohna Danna
Factory Worker 4…………………………….……………….. Abby Murchison
Crew:
Ashlynn Koons, Stage Manager
Ravyn Pilley, Sound
Hannah Huff, Makeup
Alex Hargrave, Makeup
Malayna Motomura, Lights
Khloie Brooks, stage crew
Katelynn Miller, stage crew
Alternates:
Keirsta Buysee
Brady Raggio
Dyllan Branshaw
Paige Smith
Bridge City High School Theatre is under the direction of Mrs. Stacy Webb
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