The Independent
Over 3,000 students and 118 schools will participate in the 38th annual Shakespeare Competition, hosted by the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Southern Utah University. From Oct. 9 to 11, student thespians from across the Intermountain West will compete as actors, dancers, musicians, and theatre technicians before panels of theatre, dance, and music professionals in the largest scholastic Shakespeare competition in the country.
“Since 1977, this event has shaped the cultural landscape of the Intermountain West,” said Michael Bahr, the festival’s education director. “Students have been exposed to dance, music, and theatre through the universal stories of William Shakespeare. Once a student is touched by his works, they will never be the same. Our organization is proud to sponsor this monumental event.”
Competitors range from sixth grade to high school seniors. Each participating school is invited to prepare up to three monologues, two duo/trio scenes, and an ensemble scene, as well as an interpretive dance, minstrel and madrigal music, and several presentations in technical theatre. Performing on festival stages and in many classrooms on the SUU campus, students are adjudicated by professionals in the field.
Every year, high school students put together a dance piece, either a duet/trio or ensemble piece, based on Shakespeare’s text, sonnets, or poems. The choreography can be in any style; however, it must be concert or performance dance. Dancers are adjudicated based on the use of space, rhythmic and timing, dynamics, technical ability, and originality of the piece.
“I go so students can see other students work; they learn more from other students than they ever will from me. Professionals in the industry also critique them, which is absolutely invaluable,” Andra Thorne of Davis High School said. “Students can finally understand why Shakespeare is a ‘big deal.’ They can feel it, and if they can perform Shakespeare, they can perform anything.”
