The ESU National Shakespeare Competition is a performance-based education program. High school students develop analytical and communication skills by performing Shakespeare at the school, community, and national levels. Since 1983 more than 425,000 students have brought the timeless works of Shakespeare to life. 2027 marks the 44th year the ESU New York City Branch has participated in the National Shakespeare Competition. 

The Competition helps students develop speaking and critical-thinking skills while they explore the beauty of the language and the timeless themes in Shakespeare’s works. By preparing a monologue and sonnet for public presentation, students bring Shakespeare to life in their own way and learn to express his works with understanding, clarity, and feeling. Approximately 600 teachers and 3,500 students in nearly 45 ESU branches participate each year.

High school students from the New York  City area (Grades 9-12) will be competing for First Place at the New York City Finals with the winner advancing to the National Finals in New York City in April 2027. Students perform and recite Shakespeare monologues and sonnets in three qualifying stages: school, branch, and National levels.

If you are a Theatre, English, Forensics teacher, or administer a home school program, we encourage you to enter to give your students an opportunity to participate in this exciting competition. If you are an interested high school student, please alert your teachers to this valuable program. 

2027 NYC Branch Shakespeare Competition 

Below are important dates and deadlines for this year’s NYC Branch Competition:

School Registration Deadline – Extended to November 15, 2026

School Winner Form Submission Deadline – January 29, 2027

As in past years, NYC Branch Semi-Finals will be held in 2 groups at ESU Headquarters at 144 E. 39th Street on the following dates:

Group 1 – Monday, February 8 – 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Group 2 – Wednesday, February 10 – 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm

(Groups will be assigned by the ESU on or before February 1, 2027)

NYC Branch Finals will once again be held at the historic Players in Gramercy Park on Tuesday, February 23, 2027.

Documents & Forms

All materials including the online school participation form, teacher and student handbooks, and packets of monologues and sonnets are located here.

Branch Contact

Contact New York City Branch Competition Coordinator Maryellen Liotta for questions: mliotta@esuus.org

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. It is the only national Shakespeare competition in the U.S. and the only such program exclusively for high school students.