About the Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest
Pittsburgh Public Theater’s Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest is a time-honored tradition that began more than 30 years ago with just 75 students. Now, hundreds of students participate from schools across the region! At the heart of the Shakespeare Contest remains a steadfast dedication to instilling a love for theater and appreciation for Shakespeare into the lives of young people.
Students in grades 4-12 are invited to participate as part of their school or an activity group with a monologue or scene from one of Shakespeare’s plays. Students are split into the lower division (grades 4-7) and upper division (grades 8-12) for judging purposes. Participating groups receive a free workshop with one of our talented teaching artists and a contest T-shirt.
Preliminary rounds will continue to be held live and in person at Pittsburgh Public Theater. We will also make every effort to accommodate those who absolutely need to stay remote via video submissions to maximize accessibility. A panel of independent judges will determine which students are invited to participate in the Showcase of Finalists, which will be held Monday, February 24, 2025 at 7 p.m. on the O'Reilly Theater stage.
During the Showcase of Finalists, our panel of judges will select a winner from each category. Each winning school or organization will receive a $300 cash prize from Pittsburgh Public Theater.