Sunday, March 1, saw the gathering of several Seattle Branch members, high school student competitors, their parents and friends at the Women’s University Club (WUC) for the 2026 Shakespeare Recitation Competition.
We were fortunate to have Brian Alkire from a long established Shakespeare Reading Group serve as chair of the judges panel. Daniel Nye, formerly on the board of Intiman Theatre, and Anna Klein from Union Arts Center’s Seattle Shakespeare Company formed the rest of the panel.
Teacher Daniela Melgar from Mercer Island High School led the students through warm-up voice and physical exercises prior to the competition.
Each of the eight students acted out a chosen monologue and a sonnet.
When it was all over, student Claire Jones from Skyline High School (Sammamish) took first place; Ayaan Kohli from Inglemoor High School (Kenmore) took second place; Allie Beeman (Inglemoor) and Aaliyah Ghotra (Skyline) tied for third place. So teachers Elaine Wagstaffe from Skyline and Emily Blackburn from Inglemoor had the distinction of having both of their student competitors win prizes.
Claire Jones acted out the scene from Hamlet where Hamlet hesitates about the proper time to dispatch his uncle to a “damned and black” death. Claire and her mother will travel to New York City the last weekend in April so that Claire may compete in the National Competition at Lincoln Center. We wish Claire the best of British luck, and congratulations to all of this year’s contestants!
There were many branch members who helped to make this Competition happen. Loveday Conquest secured the WUC and parking for the afternoon. President Julie Pheasant-Albright printed the posters to advertise the competition, got the judges, and provided refreshments for the intermission. She also emceed the event, as Loveday was recovering from a case of laryngitis. Lori Ann Reinhall provided the programs, and Alan Waggoner served as photographer. Treasurer Fred Kleinschmidt had the happy task of handing out checks to the winners and cash to the judges and participants.
Our branch extends its gratitude to the volunteers and to those who attended to support the event. You all made the day a special one for the competitors, their teachers, parents, and friends. Until next year!
—Submitted by Loveday Conquest; photos by Alan Waggoner