M’TOWN: HIGH SCHOOLERS ‘SPEAK THE SPEECH’
Press release from English-Speaking Union of Monmouth County
On February 28, a dozen high school students each took the stage of the Middletown Arts Center and, without scenery, costumes or props, brought William Shakespeare’s words to life. It was the 25th annual Shakespeare Competition for high school students, sponsored by the Monmouth County Branch of the English-Speaking Union, and the stakes were high.
Each of the contestants had practiced and prepared, each had studied and rehearsed, and all of them performed wonderfully. Despite the competition, the atmosphere among the students was mutually supportive. Their audience included teachers, parents, and members of the ESU, as well as five theater professionals who served as expert judges. Each student presented a sonnet and a short monologue.