Josha Silk exclaims how she will fly a P-51 Mustang during a performance of "Invisible Soldiers," about black women during World War II, at Southland College Prep High School in Richton Park, Illinois, March 1, 2013. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Students perform "Invisible Soldiers," a theater-in-the-round about black women during World War II at Southland College Prep High School in Richton Park, Illinois, Friday, March 1, 2013. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Coretta Franklin (clockwise, sick soldier), Tiera Williams, Josha Mills, Charnnia Jones, Miya Hackett (nurse) and Kennedy Furnace are students portraying soldiers in the play "Invisible Soldiers." | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Miya Hacket drops to her knees, reacting to a letter telling her that her sister and fellow soldier died from tuberculosis during the play "Invisible Soldiers" at Southland College Prep High School in Richton Park, Ill. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Miya Hacket drops to her knees, reacting to a letter telling her that her sister and fellow soldier died from tuberculosis during the play "Invisible Soldiers" at Southland College Prep High School in Richton Park, Ill. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Josha Silk reacts in the cockpit of her P-51 Mustang during a performance of "Invisible Soldiers," about black women during World War II, at Southland College Prep High School in Richton Park, Ill. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Southland College Prep High School teachers Lauren Wells and Andrew Malone explain the theater-in-the-round rules to students before the play the duo wrote, "Invisible Soldiers," about black women during World War II. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Cheryl Frazier, director of speech and theater, talks about students' IHSA competition performance of "Invisible Soldiers," about black women during World War II, at Southland College Prep High School in Richton Park. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media