Dobie students use play to broach knotty issues facing teens

Performers in Dobie High School recent production of “Wilderness” include Caitlyn Woitena, left, Elyssa Armenta, Kayla Newsome, Nick Keel and Stephanie Horton. The play includes issues facing teens such depression, mental and physical abuse, addiction and sexual identity. “I think everyone knows at least one person in their life that has gone through (some of these issues),” Armenta says. “No matter where you come from or what your background is, we can all relate to it.” less Performers in Dobie High School recent production of “Wilderness” include Caitlyn Woitena, left, Elyssa Armenta, Kayla Newsome, Nick Keel and Stephanie Horton. The play includes issues facing teens such ... more Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Dobie students use play to broach knotty issues facing teens 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A play proved to be a catalyst through which Dobie High School theater students believe they helped broadened awareness of issues facing teens such as depression, mental and physical abuse, addiction and sexual identity.

“I think everyone knows at least one person in their life that has gone through (some of these issues),” said senior Elyssa Armenta, one of the lead actors in “Wilderness,” the school’s entry in a University Interscholastic League one-act play competition in April. “No matter where you come from or what your background is, we can all relate to it.”

Dobie theater teacher Juliet Weigand chose the play by Seth Bockley and Anne Hamburger as the school’s UIL entry to challenge her students, the audience and parents.

“I felt very strongly (about the play) because it does speak so much to today’s society and the struggles adolescents are going through,” Weigland said. “These are things people don’t want to talk about.”

Emotional rehearsals

“It’s been so powerful, and its been a very difficult process,” Weigland said. “There have been times when we had to stop rehearsals because it was too emotionally hard.”

Part of that reason, she said, is that most students know someone who is dealing or has dealt with some of these issues.

‘Wilderness’ concerns a group of young people in a wilderness therapy camp who are dealing with a range of issues including depression, bullying, self-injury, sexual assault and homophobia and trying to find answers together in group therapy.

Dark themes for a high school play, but also true to life, said Armenta, who portrayed a character who injures herself and is dealing with cyberbullying and sexual manipulation.

Dobie junior Stephanie Horton portrayed a teen suffering the fallout of divorce and dealing with a bipolar, abusive mother.

“I think anyone will be able to relate and connect to something (in the play),” Horton said.

“Wilderness” is a fictionalized account of actual experiences. and the characters were delving into some uncomfortable territory.

For instance, Armenta’s character ends up in the therapy group after she cuts herself so severely she is sent to the hospital.

As performers, Armenta said, the students had to understand the characters’ thought processes, but this was not an exercise in method acting.

The students, she said, were working in a safe space.

Weigland and her actors spent most of the year on the production. Because of the subject matter, there was a consistent dialogue between school counselors and the performers in the production.

“I think it would have been hard for anyone to just go in, but we had an amazing support system — friends, teacher and counselors — and we did so much research beforehand,” Armenta said.

The students had to learn to draw a line between the character and real life, Horton said.

“We had to learn how to approach these subjects safely without hurting ourselves,” she said.

Hoping to spark conversations

In addition to competing to win in the UIL competition, the cast also sought to truthfully represent peers and the issues they face. Dobie’s production was chosen as alternate in the contest.

The play also was presented to an audience of Dobie students.

“We knew we were playing these parts for a reason,” said Armenta, “and it wasn’t just for ourselves, but for the people in the audience who may be going through some of these things. Knowing that really helped us, and it turned this experience into something beautiful and powerful.”

To Weigland, Armenta and Horton, “Wilderness” is also about sparking a conversation.

“The issues brought up in the play are considered taboo and not talked about because maybe because they were raised that way or that’s what society says,” said Horton. “I think if kids see this play, maybe they will be inspired to reach out for help.”

yorozco@hcnonline.com