Pittsburgh Public Theater Presents
The 25th Annual Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest
Pittsburgh Public Theater in 2019 celebrates a quarter-century of the Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest, a program offering students in grades 4-12 the opportunity to experience the excitement of performing on The O’Reilly stage while learning the works of William Shakespeare. The Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest is generously underwritten by the EQT Foundation.
More than 1,000 students will compete in the preliminary rounds, taking place February 4-5, 7-8 & 11-15 at the O’Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater’s home in the heart of Downtown’s Cultural District. During this time contestants will perform monologues and/or scenes they’ve chosen from the works of William Shakespeare. Teams of judges will evaluate each participant and those with the highest scores will progress to the Showcase of Finalists on Monday, February 18 at 7 pm. Audiences are welcome to attend, free of charge. At the Showcase of Finalists winners in several categories will be chosen. Grades 8-12 compete in the Upper Division and grades 4-7 compete in the Lower Division.
This year the competition will take place on the epic set of William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest, adapted and directed by The Public’s Artistic Director, Marya Sea Kaminski. The Tempest runs January 24 – February 24. Organized by The Public’s Director of Education and Community Engagement Shaun Hall, this anniversary year features an online event called the 25 Days of Shakespeare Celebration, which includes trivia, fun, games, and prizes. Check it out at facebook.com/PPTShakespeare. Also available at the theater during the run of the contest is exclusive 25th anniversary merchandise.
“Over the last quarter-century, Pittsburgh Public Theater has invited a multitude of students from the Pittsburgh region and beyond to compete on our stage in the annual Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest,” Hall says. “This program gives students the opportunity to learn not only about Shakespeare, but about themselves, by building self-confidence, dedication, and teamwork. Incorporating more than 90 schools each year, a very special thank you must go to all those who make this event possible. So, to the teaching artists, judges, PPT staff, donors and especially, the passionate school teachers whose continued support of arts education is the reason our Shakespearean legacy has thrived – Thank you! Cheers to another 25 years!”
Additional funding for the Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest is generously provided by A.D. and J.W. Wilson Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation, The Grable Foundation. Henry C. Frick Educational Fund of The Buhl Foundation, Jack Buncher Foundation, Dollar Bank, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group Inc., Fine Foundation, Hefren-Tillotson Inc., Kinder Morgan Foundation, Levin Furniture, William V. & Catherine A. McKinney Charitable Foundation, Richard W. Moriarty, M.D., Lewis and Donna Patterson Charitable Foundation, PNC Foundation, and UPMC Health Plan.