1st Place Winner – Elena Hollenbeak from Hawaii
2nd Place Winner – Casey Kerr from Central Florida
3rd Place Winner – Nicole Bevely Chien from NYC
The ESU is proud to announce that the 2024 National Shakespeare Competition Finals
will be held in NYC on:
Monday, April 15 at the Mitzi Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center!!
Our exciting weekend of events in New York City will begin Saturday, April 13 and will include:
A welcome reception
Acting workshops for contestants
An NYC Bus Tour
A Broadway Show…
and more!
The English-Speaking Union’s National Shakespeare Competition is a performance-based education program in which high school students nationwide read, analyze, and perform Shakespeare’s works. Students develop communication skills and an appreciation of the power of language and literature.
The ESU National Shakespeare Competition is aligned with modern educational practices. Participating students:
The ESU National Shakespeare Competition has been recognized by the Globe Center (USA), the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America and the American Academy of Achievement.
The program begins in classrooms nationwide each fall, culminating in school-wide competitions in early winter in which students memorize and perform a monologue.
The school competition winner advances to a community ESU Branch competition, usually held between January and March. Here students perform their monologue and a Shakespearean sonnet. The winner advances to the national competition held in New York City.
At the ESU National Shakespeare Competition (held in late April, near Shakespeare’s birthday on April 23), students perform their monologues and sonnets in New York City before a distinguished panel of judges as well as their fellow contestants from across the country. Based on their performances, seven to ten students advance to the final round. Finalists compete for cash prizes and the opportunity to attend a summer drama program.
1st Place Winner – Elena Hollenbeak from Hawaii
2nd Place Winner – Casey Kerr from Central Florida
3rd Place Winner – Nicole Bevely Chien from NYC
Maryellen Liotta
Manager, Shakespeare Programs
144 E 39th St
New York, NY 10016
(212) 202-5031 x 246