Hope Academy Student Takes First Place in PPT Shakespeare Contest

Last night, Hope Academy students, Sam Gardner and Charlotte Bush, competed in the Pittsburgh Public Theater's 17th Annual Showcase of Finalists for the Shakespeare Monologue and Scene Contest. It was a wonderful evening of theater, filled with laughter, tears, suspense, sword fighting and seduction. Sam Gardner wowed the audience with his comedic portrayal of Launce and Charlotte Bush charmed them with her Hermia. Pittsburgh Public Theater Artistic Director, Ted Pappas, told the audience that not only are all of the students in the finals winners, but all of the students who prepared for the contest, memorized the lines and now carry a little piece of Shakespeare in their hearts. He then went on with Pittsburgh Post-Gazette theatre critic, Chris Rawson, to present the awards to monologue and scene winners in both divisions... and Sam Gardner took first place for his monologue!

Congratulations to Sam, Charlotte, all of the finalists and the other forty-two Hope Academy students who now carry a bit of Shakespeare in their hearts!

 FROM TODAY'S PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE

Shakespeare winners listed

Monday, February 14, 2011

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

In its 17th year, the Pittsburgh Public Theater's Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest attracted some 1,100 entrants from throughout Western Pennsylvania. Monday night's O'Reilly Theater finals saw the awards for best monologues and scenes, grades 4-7 and 8-12, go to Hermione, Antony, Launce, the duo of Cleon and Dionyza and a gaggle of pub-dwellers led by Falstaff and Prince Hal.

More specifically, those winners were, in that same order: Emily Kolb (CAPA), Elfonzo Williams (Langley), Sam Gardner (Hope Academy), Dominic Skeele and Emily Appel (Slippery Rock Area Elementary) and the team of Andy Guthrie, Jason Michalenk, Micah Carleton, Chris Tyson and Josh Bostanic (Beaver County Christian).
More details in Wednesday's newspaper.