2024 National Shakespeare Competition Weekend in NYC
Schedule of Events (Subject to Change)

Saturday, April 13 

2:00 to 3:00 pm –  Arrival and registration at the English-Speaking Union National Headquarters located at 144 East 39th Street between 3rd and Lexington Avenues.  Sandwiches and soft drinks will be served in the library.

3:00 to 3:30 pm – Greetings and welcome from Karen Karpowich (ESU Executive Director) and Dr. E. Quinn Peeper (ESU Board Chair). Short presentation by past NSC winner.

3:30 to 4:30 pm – Orientation for the students in the lower lounge.  Parents and guests may enjoy refreshments, or stroll the Murray Hill area (walking maps provided).  Parents and “adult package” holders can then make their way to the Bus Tour (one block away).  The tour begins at 5:00 pm.

5:00 to 7:00 pm  – Guided Double-Decker Bus Tour of Manhattan. 

7:00 pm – Buses return to headquarters and the students are checked out by their authorized parent or guardian.

 

Sunday, April 14

11:00 am – Students and parents arrive at the English-Speaking Union National Headquarters for brunch.  Tickets for the matinee of Kimberly Akimbo will be distributed to parents and “adult package” holders.

12:00 noon to 1:00 pm – Students participate in an acting workshop in the Garden Lounge led by Broadway veteran and Pace University drama professor Erin Dilly. 

1:00 pm – Parents/guardians meet their students and walk to the Booth Theatre at 22 West 45th Street (between 7th and 8th Ave.)  The matinee begins at 2:00 pm.

2:00 pm to 4:30 pm –  Kimberly Akimbo matinee 

4:30 pm – Students leave the theatre with their parent/guardian.

 

Monday, April 15

7:30 to 8:00 am – Students and parents check in at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at 150 W. 65th St.  This is a ticketed event.  No walk-ins will be permitted. Names of contestants and ticket holders will be at the front reception table.

9:00 am to 1:00 pm The Semi-Final Round – all 44 contestants will perform their monologues and sonnets.  The performances will be broken into two 90-minute sessions with a half-hour break in between.

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm – Parents and guests leave for lunch on their own.  Judges deliberate to choose Top 10 Finalists.  The students will be taken to the Juilliard cafeteria for lunch.  After lunch they will walk to the Lincoln Center fountain for a group photo shoot.

3:00 pm – Students return to the theater where names of the Top Ten Finalists will be posted outside the theater doors.  

3:00 pm to 4:00 pm – Top ten finalists will be given time to practice for the final competition.

4:00 pm to 6:00 pmThe Final Round – The Top Ten Finalists perform.  Judges then deliberate for approximately 30 minutes.  All students will be recognized and given certificates by ESU Chairman Dr. E. Quinn Peeper.   First, second and third place winners will be announced and presented with their awards.  Branch coordinators and teachers will be recognized. The competition ends and everyone will exit the theater.

6:00 pm – Competition Weekend Concludes 🙁