2014 National Shakespeare Competition Set for Lincoln Center, 5/5

This past year, over 16,000 high school student competed to become a regional finalist, and win a chance to come to New York City. 55 regional high school finalists from 28 states across America will descend on NYC to compete for the grand prize of attending the Summer Training Program at the Royal Academy of Dramatic of Arts in London.

The Semi-Finals begin on Monday, May 5, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. (all 55 Regional Finalist perform), with Finals (the top ten contestants) and awards from 4 to 6 p.m. It all takes place at Lincoln Center/Vivian Beaumont Theater (Broadway and 65th Street)

Why Shakespeare? Ten percent of the most quoted lines either written/spoken in the English Language were written by Shakespeare, and he is the second most quoted writer in the English language. The British Arts Council in conjunction with the World Shakespeare Festival in London, report that 50 percent of the world's children study Shakespeare in school. Shakespeare is the most produced playwright globally.

The National Shakespeare Competition is sponsored by the English Speaking Union (ESU) http://www.esuus.org/newyork/about/. It is the largest and most regarded national performance-based-education/competition program for high school students. Since the ESU began the program in 1983, over 250,000 students from every state in the Union have participated and benefited from this highly regarded and respected national program.

Matt Harrington (the 1999 National Shakespeare Competition Winner) is a Finalist Judge, He was the only American actor in the Globe's ensemble's double bill.

Photo source.