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ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE Captivating audiences with their performances of a sonnet and scene from Shakespeare, 60 high school students from all over the United States competed in the 2008 National Shakespeare Competition, sponsored by The English-Speaking Union of the United States. The competition was held on April 28th at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater in New York City for winners of ESU Branch competitions nationwide.
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The English-Speaking Union’s National Shakespeare Competition is a school-based program to help students develop their speaking and critical thinking skills and their appreciation of literature as they explore the beauty of the language and timeless themes in Shakespeare’s works. |
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In three progressive competition levels, students memorize, interpret, and perform monologues and sonnets in their own schools, at ESU Branch sponsored community competitions, and at the National Shakespeare Competition. Inaugurated in 1983, the program has engaged more than 250,000 young people. The winner of a local English-Speaking Union Branch Competition was awarded the trip to New York City for the final stage of the Competition. The ESU National Headquarters provided the finalists with three full days of activities, including a performance of the blockbuster new Broadway musical, In The Heights, an acting workshop at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and tours of New York City. Perhaps best of all for these teenagers was the opportunity to spend three days with other students who share their love of theatre and, particularly, Shakespeare, “the Bard.” 60 national finalists in front of Broadway theater.
First prize winner, Bronwyn Reed of Los Angeles, won a full tuition scholarship to the British American Drama Academy ’s Midsummer Conservatory Program in Oxford, England. Deaon Pressley, representing the Ft. Lauderdale Branch, was runner-up, receiving a $1000 prize from the English-Speaking Union. Christian Pineda, representing the San Diego Branch won third place and $500 from The Shakespeare Society. Among the distinguished judges for this year’s Competition were Shakespeare scholar Maurice Charney, Rutgers University Professor of English; Directors Barry Edelstein, of the Public Theater Shakespeare Lab, and Michael Sexton, The Shakespeare Society; Joseph Giardina, Education Director of the Theatre for a New Audience; Manhattan Theatre Club Casting Director Nancy Piccione; Actor Peter Francis James; Louis Sheeder, Director of the Classical Studio, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University; and Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Margo Jefferson. |
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The English-Speaking
Union of the United States 144 East 39th Street New York, NY 10016 Tel: 212-818-1200 Fax: 212-867-4177 Email: info@esuus.org Web: www.esuus.org |
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