The English Speaking Union (ESU) celebrated its 43rd annual Shakespeare Competition at the Lincoln Center’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater between April 25 – 27.  Thirty-nine contestants, representing different branches from across the United States performed both their monologues and sonnets. On Saturday, there was a reception followed by a bus tour of New York City.  The Sunday festivities included an acting workshop and an opportunity to attend the Broadway play Maybe Happy Ending. The actual Shakespeare Competition took place on Monday morning from 10:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.  The morning judges chose the top ten finalists who then performed again for a new panel of judges that afternoon. The top three winners were: 3rd place – Spirit Waddell from Atlanta, Georgia receiving an award of $1000; 2nd place – Tristan Jenkins from Kansas City, Kansas receiving a scholarship to the American Shakespeare Center Theatre Camp in Staunton, Virginia; 1st place winner of the 2026 Shakespeare Competition is Andy Wallace from Louisville, Kentucky who will attend the British American Drama Academy Mid-Summer Conservatory Program at Oxford.

(Left to Right). Fay E. Cunningham (Shakespeare Chair, Charlottesville Branch), Olivia Ramirez-Weaver (Winner of the Charlottesville Branch), and Debbie Pruett (T-Lab Chair of the Charlottesville Branch)