Local high schools tackle Shakespeare Competition in Utah

Friday, Oct. 4, 2002 | 9:22 a.m.

Ten Southern Nevada high schools are competing in the 25th annual Shakespeare Competition at Cedar City, Utah today and Saturday.

More than 2,000 students will participate in the championship from a total of 65 schools from Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho and California, said Donna Law, marketing director for the Utah Shakespearean Festival.

The competition is open to the public.

"It's a busy week for us, but one of my favorites," Law said. "This is a chance to change kids' lives."

The competition gives students the opportunity to perform monologues and ensemble scenes from any Shakespeare play.

The performers present their choices during three rounds, with different judges each time. This year 35 professional actors and directors from across the nation will participate as judges.

Students from Boulder City, Coronado, Foothill, Indian Springs, Durango, Palo Verde and the Las Vegas Academy with White Pine from Ely, Lincoln County and Meadow Valley Middle School students from Panaca will participate, Law said.

The student competition was started in 1977 by Festival Founder Fred C. Adams and Ray Jones of Provo High School in Utah.

"The purpose of the competition is to expose students and teachers to the value and quality of Shakespeare's words and language in a positive and artistic manner," Adams said.

The two-day enrollment has increased in its 24-year span, Adams said.

Festival Education Director Michael Don Bahr called it "a monumental effort" to create such an opportunity for students.

"This is where minds and hearts are molded to love Shakespeare," Bahr said. "It's also an opportunity for our volunteers and actors to acknowledge their own roots and give something back."

Regular festival actors such as Brian Vaughn, Maren McLean and Tobin Atkinson attended the competition at Southern Utah University while they were in high school.

Bahr said he attended the university on a scholarship won during an earlier competition.

In addition to competing, students and teachers can participate in workshops including theater and acting, movement, stage combat and technical backstage work. University credit is available for those participating in the workshops and competition.

Many students will attend the festival's fall productions of "Twelfth Night," "I Hate Hamlet" and "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."

An awards ceremony takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday at the university. Cedar City is a three-hour drive northeast of Las Vegas on Interstate 15.