CEDAR CITY, Utah—Drama students from across the country received awards and scholarships at the 33rd annual High School Shakespeare Competition. The competition, hosted by the Utah Shakespearean Festival and Southern Utah University, is the largest scholastic Shakespeare competition in the country. Over 2,000 students from 91 schools across the United States participated in or observed the competition. Students came from junior high and high schools in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, and California.

During the competition students competed before numerous arts professionals. The competition provides opportunities for education and recognition in five areas: acting, dance/choreography, music, art, and technical theatre. At the conclusion of the competition selected students received trophies and scholarships to study with professionals at Southern Utah University and the Utah Shakespearean Festival.

"There really is nothing like the High School Shakespeare Competition, said Michael Bahr, education director for the Festival. “The competition provides young people an outlet to share their passion and excitement for the arts, while also cultivating the future generation of arts professionals.”

This year’s event included a new category of competition in the art form of music. The music competition included Minstrels (ranging from soloists to small ensembles) and Madrigals (large choral groups) interpreting music of the Renaissance. The music competition was held as a partnership with the SUU Music Department and was judged by faculty and resident artists.

The competitions were conducted October 8 through 10 on the Festival’s stages and at numerous other venues on the SUU campus. Judges consisted of arts professionals with strong literary and performance background. The judges came to Cedar City from across the country, including New York and Los Angeles, and not only judged the competition, but provided critiques of performances and offered feedback to the young artists.

Students were also able to attend Festival shows for half price, contributing to a sold out weekend of the productions “The Woman in Black,” “Tuesdays with Morrie,” and “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged).”

The competition was divided into six divisions: Buckingham (for schools with enrollment of 2,001 or more), Oxford (enrollment of 1,701 to 2,000), Cambridge (enrollment of 801 to 1,700), Westminster (enrollment of 800 or fewer), Stratford (junior high and middle schools of any size) and Essex (schools or groups which are not members of state high school associations).

Acting Competition

For the acting portion of the competition, students were able to compete in mono-acts, duo/trio scenes and ensembles. Mono-act competitors presented for the judges a two- to four-minute monologue from a Shakespeare play or sonnet. In the duo/trio competition, two or three actors presented a three- to five-minute scene from a Shakespeare play or sonnet. In the ensemble competition, a group of students from a school presented a six- to ten-minute Shakespearean scene.

In addition, first, second and third place overall sweepstake prizes were awarded to the school in each division with the most total points from all categories.

Also, several scholarships were presented in the acting competition:

—The first place finishers in the mono-acts competition received the Ray Jones First Place Monologue Award, which includes a scholarship to SUU if the winner is a graduating senior. Ray Jones, a long-time Provo High School theatre teacher, was co-founder of the competition, along with Fred C. Adams, Festival founder and executive producer.

—The highest scoring juniors in the mono-acts or duo/trio scenes from each division were recognized with the Barbara Berrett Award and received $500 scholarships to the Festival’s Actor Training Program next summer. Berrett, an outstanding theatre educator and the Festival’s first education director, volunteered hundreds of hours traveling back and forth from Phoenix to implement class projects and enlist teachers in various educational projects.

—In conjunction with the ensemble competition, judges annually recognize the best actor in an ensemble scene in each division with the Larry Lott Acting Award. The recipient of this award received a trophy for his or her accomplishments and, if a senior, a $1,000 scholarship to SUU.

Acting Winners

Buckingham Division

Sweepstakes First Place: Lone Peak High School; Highland, Utah

Sweepstakes Second Place: Davis High School; Kaysville, Utah

Sweepstakes Third Place: Bingham High School; Bingham, Utah

Ensemble First Place: Jim Smith; Lone Peak High School; Highland, Utah

Ensemble Second Place: Christina Vail; Hamilton High School; Chandler, Arizona

Ensemble Third Place: Michelle Wilden; Bingham High School; Bingham, Utah

Duo/Trio First Place: Trevis Thomas and Michael Hess; Lone Peak High School; Highland, Utah

Duo/Trio Second Place: Phillip Hall and Ann Wilding; Red Mountain High School; Mesa, Arizona

Duo/Trio Third Place: Madison Curtis and Brent Arthlur; Bingham High School; Bingham, Utah

Ray Jones First Place Monologue Award: Joshua Redfield; Highland High School; Salt Lake City, Utah

Mono-Acts Second Place: Matthew Baxter; Riverton High School; Riverton, Utah

Mono-Acts Third Place: Micah Schow; Lone Peak High School; Highland, Utah

Larry Lott Acting Award: Bryce Revelli; Lone Peak High School; Highland, Utah

Oxford Division

Sweepstakes First Place: Pleasant Grove High School; Pleasant Grove, Utah

Sweepstakes Second Place: American Fork High School; American Fork, Utah

Sweepstakes Third Place: Orem High School; Orem, Utah

Ensemble First Place: Neal Johnson; American Fork High School; American Fork, Utah

Ensemble Second Place: Stewart Shelley; Pleasant Grove High School; Pleasant Grove, Utah

Ensemble Third Place: Katie Thames; Brighton High School; Cottonwood Heights, Utah

Duo/Trio First Place: Dallin Major and Kara Woodbury; Pleasant Grove High School; Pleasant Grove, Utah

Duo/Trio Second Place: Chris Weaver and Alsion Best; American Fork High School; American Fork, Utah

Duo/Trio Third Place: Maren Wilson, Maddie Hall and Mary Kate Steward; Provo High School; Provo, Utah

Ray Jones First Place Monologue Award: Madeline Weinberger; Brighton High School; Cottonwood Heights, Utah

Mono-Acts Second Place: Connor Padilla; Weber High School; Pleasant View, Utah

Mono-Acts Third Place: Elizabeth Miller; American Fork High School; American Fork, Utah

Barbara Barrett Award: Julie Riding; Orem High School; Orem, Utah

Larry Lott Acting Award: Cavel Tregeagle; Orem, Utah; Orem, Utah

Stratford Division

Sweepstakes First Place: Theatre Arts Conservatory; Salt Lake City, Utah

Sweepstakes Second Place (tie): Spanish Fork Junior High School; Spanish Fork, Utah; and Willow Creek Middle School; Lehi, Utah

Ensemble First Place: Colleen Lewis; Theatre Arts Conservatory; Salt Lake City, Utah

Ensemble Second Place: Kristina Holley; Spanish Fork Junior High School; Spanish Fork, Utah

Ensemble Third Place: Richard Hill; Hurricane Middle School; Hurricane, Utah

Duo/Trio First Place: Grace Fojtik, Mallory Benson and Alexis Smith; Theatre Arts Conservatory; Salt Lake City, Utah

Duo/Trio Second Place: Sheridan Underwood, Megan Librizzi and Chloe Bruderer; Theatre Arts Conservatory; Salt Lake City, Utah

Duo/Trio Third Place: Blake Alanis, Mary Sperry and Kalie Hiatt; Spanish Fork Junior High School; Spanish Fork, Utah

Ray Jones First Place Monologue Award: Allen Jones; American Fork Junior High School; American Fork, Utah

Mono-Acts Second Place: Zoe Freeman; Karl G. Maesar; Lindon, Utah

Mono-Acts Third Place (tie): Clare Wilson; Theatre Arts Conservatory; Salt Lake City, Utah; and John Way; Tesseract School; Phoenix, Arizona

Larry Lott Acting Award: Quinn Lewis Humlicek; Theatre Arts Conservatory; Salt Lake City, Utah

Westminster Division

Sweepstakes First Place: Karl G. Maesar; Lindon, Utah

Sweepstakes Second Place: Salt Lake City School for the Performing Arts; Salt Lake City, Utah

Sweepstakes Third Place: Rockwell Charter High School; Eagle Mountain, Utah

Ensemble First Place: Jared Larkin; Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts, Salt Lake City, UT

Ensemble Second Place: Cam Cahoon; Karl G. Maesar; Lindon, Utah

Ensemble Third Place: Kathy Jo Tucker; White Pine High School; Ely, Nevada

Duo/Trio First Place: Bailie Breaulet, Bobby Cavalier and Aly Dowe; Salt Lake City School for the Performing Arts; Salt Lake City, Utah

Duo/Trio Second Place: Tamela Daley, Mackenzie Brown and Matthew Fee; Karl G. Maesar; Lindon, Utah

Duo/Trio Third Place: Dylan Glenn and Danielle Leavitt; Karl G. Maesar; Lindon, Utah

Ray Jones First Place Monologue Award: Mimi Hamblin; Karl G. Maesar; Lindon, Utah

Mono-Acts Second Place: McKay Johnson; Rockwell Charter High School; Eagle Mountain, Utah

Mono-Acts Third Place: Mary Palmer; St. Joseph Catholic High School; Ogden, Utah

Barbara Berrett Award: Mimi Hamblin; Karl G. Maesar; Lindon, Utah

Larry Lott Acting Award: Bailie Breault; Salt Lake City School for the Performing Arts; Salt Lake City, Utah Cambridge Division

Sweepstakes First Place: Tuacahn High School; Ivins, Utah

Sweepstakes Second Place (tie): Box Elder High School; Brigham City, Utah; and Lehi High School; Lehi, Utah

Ensemble First Place: Joshua Long; Hillcrest High School; Salt Lake City, Utah

Ensemble Second Place: Andy Hunsaker; Tuacahn High School; Ivins, Utah

Ensemble Third Place: Melanie Day; Box Elder High School; Brigham City, Utah

Duo/Trio First Place: Heather Oram, Taylor Holbrook and Natalie Spangler; Tuacahn High School; Ivins, Utah

Duo/Trio Second Place: Emalee Van Orman and Josh Valdez; Lehi High School; Lehi, Utah

Duo/Trio Third Place: Whitney Rawlins and Stephen Tullis; Lehi High School; Lehi, Utah

Ray Jones First Place Monologue Award: Alexis Williams; Desert Hills High School; St. George, Utah

Mono-Acts Second Place: Mackenzie Larsen; Box Elder High School; Brigham City, Utah

Mono-Acts Third Place: Paul Van Bloem; Lehi High School; Lehi, Utah

Barbara Barrett Award: Mackenzie Larsen; Box Elder High School; Brigham City, Utah

Larry Lott Acting Award: Alana Smith; Timpanogos High School; Orem, Utah

Essex Division

Sweepstakes First Place: Theatre Arts Conservatory; Salt Lake City, Utah

Sweepstakes Second Place: SCERA Youth Theatre; Orem, Utah

Sweepstakes Third Place: Take Note Troupe; Loomis, California

Ensemble First Place: Colleen Lewis; Theatre Arts Conservatory; Salt Lake City, Utah

Ensemble Second Place: Laurel Barham and Alex Ungerman; SCERA Youth Theatre; Orem, Utah

Ensemble Third Place: Laree Florence; Take Note Troupe; Loomis, California

Duo/Trio First Place: Nevin Parry, Roman Amici, and John Humiston; Theatre Arts Conservatory; Salt Lake City, Utah

Duo/Trio Second Place: Kylie Maurrin and Chris Rukavina; Theatre Arts Conservatory; Salt Lake City, Utah

Duo/Trio Third Place: McKenzie Kehrer, Demarie Anderson, and Barrett Penrod; SCERA Youth Theatre; Orem, Utah

Ray Jones First Place Monologue Award: Ben Jacob; SCERA Youth Theatre; Orem, Utah

Mono-Acts Second Place: Rachel Hodgson; Take Note Troupe; Loomis, California

Mono-Acts Third Place: Lucy Sue Herron; DaVinci Academy; Ogden, Utah

Barbara Barrett Award: Lucy Sue Herron; DaVinci Academy; Ogden, Utah

Larry Lott Acting Award: Andrew Scott James; SCERA Youth Theatre; Orem, Utah

Dance/Choreography Competition

For the dance portion, students were able to compete in duo/trio or ensemble groups. In the duo/trio competition, two or three dancers presented a three to six minute interpretation of a Shakespeare play or sonnet. In the ensemble competition, a group of dancers from a school interpreted a three to four minute Shakespearean play or sonnet.

Dance Winners

Buckingham Division

Ensemble First Place: Jim Smith; Lone Peak High School; Highland, Utah

Ensemble Second Place: Elizabeth Hansen; Riverton High School; Riverton, Utah

Ensemble Third Place: David Gardner; Mountain View High School; Orem, Utah

Duo/Trio First Place: Jeni Bowman and Taylor Herd; Riverton High School; Riverton, Utah

Duo/Trio Second Place: Whitney Bezzant, Hannah Braeger and Ally Davis; Lone Peak High School; Highland, Utah

Duo/Trio Third Place: Anthony Mitchell and Ellie Tucker; Davis High School; Kaysville, Utah

Oxford Division

Ensemble First Place (tie): Melanie Clifford; Ben Lomond High School; Ogden, Utah; and Ariel Hortin; Provo High School; Provo, Utah

Ensemble Third Place: Janica Hayes; Westlake High School; Saratoga Springs, Utah

Duo/Trio First Place: Wess Valdez and Katie Williams; Provo High School; Provo, Utah

Duo/Trio Second Place: Olivia Mabey, Jasmine Jones and Cayel Tregeagle; Orem High School; Orem, Utah

Duo/Trio Third Place: Katika Jones and Kathleen Fotheringham; Westlake High School; Saratoga Springs, Utah

Cambridge Division

Ensemble First Place: Cheryl Allgaier; Lehi High School; Lehi, Utah

Ensemble Second Place: Jennifer Dail; Tuacahn High School; Ivins, Utah

Ensemble Third Place: Emily Newell; Timpanogos High School; Orem, Utah

Duo/Trio First Place (tie): Mica Litelwood, Stefani Schramm and Kylie Wright; Pine View High School; St. George, Utah; and Shelby Ogden and Brianna Lees; Tuacahn High School; Ivins, Utah

Duo/Trio Third Place: Aubrey Madsen, Elizabeth Jones and Leann Allred; Mountain View High School; Orem, Utah

Westminster Division

Ensemble First Place: Bethany Hansen; Salt Lake City School for the Performing Arts; Salt Lake City, Utah

Ensemble Second Place: Sharon Wall; Richfield High School; Richfield, Utah

Ensemble Third Place: Chadwick Taylor and Paula Kavmark; Rockwell Charter High School; Eagle Mountain, Utah

Duo/Trio First Place: Marissa Hodges, Jasmine White and Ashley Robinson; Salt Lake City School for the Performing Arts; Salt Lake City, Utah

Duo/Trio Second Place: Tarran Sue Sowder, Destiny Allen and Jessica Streadback; Morgan High School; Morgan, Utah

Duo/Trio Third Place: Eryn Shumway and Elizabeth Curtis; Karl G. Maesar; Lindon, Utah

Stratford Division

Ensemble First Place: Ashley Leonard; Timberline Middle School; Alpine, Utah

Ensemble Second Place: Wendy War and Morgan Hansen; Spanish Fork Junior High School; Spanish Fork, Utah

Ensemble Third Place: Michelle Black; Mt. Nebo Junior High School; Payson, Utah

Duo/Trio First Place: Jessica Hammond and Michelle Mower; Timberline Middle School; Alpine, Utah

Duo/Trio Second Place: Aubree Head, Jenna Grass and Michelle Jones; Spanish Fork Junior High School; Spanish Fork, Utah

Duo/Trio Third Place: Jace Knuteson, Nick Winn and Jared Rasmussen; Mount Nebo Junior High School; Payson, Utah

Essex Division

Ensemble First Place: Brianna Berensen; Take Note Troupe; Loomis, California

Duo/Trio First Place: Brianna Berensen, Blake Magda, Eric Hooper; Take Note Troupe; Loomis, California

Duo/Trio Second Place: Clarissa Hoddy, Wesley Valdez, Brodee Ripple; SCERA Youth Theatre; Orem, Utah

Fine Arts Competition

Chosen themes for the Fine Arts Competition were tied to the Shakespeare Competition and allowed students to submit work from their existing portfolio or create new works that exemplify this theme. Faculty from Southern Utah University’s Art and Design Department adjudicated submissions.

Fine Art Winners

Best of Show: Kyler Braunberger; Snow Canyon High School; St. George, Utah

People’s Choice Award: Kristi West; Hurricane High School; Hurricane, Utah

Honorable Mention: Megan Schwahn; Pine View High School; St. George, Utah

Honorable Mention: Trevor J. Braunberger; Snow Canyon High School; St. George, Utah

Honorable Mention: Kristin A. Wankier; Juab High School; Nephi, Utah

Music Competition

The music competition encouraged students to explore and develop a relationship with the music of the Renaissance (music prior to 1650). Students were encouraged to utilize creative combinations of instruments, however no instrumentation was required.

For the music competition, students were able to compete in Madrigals and Minstrels. Madrigals (a minimum of five people) presented six to ten minutes of Renaissance music. Minstrels (one to four people) presented three to seven minutes of Renaissance music.

Music Winners

Madrigal Competition

First Place Award: Box Elder High School; Brigham City, Utah

Second Place Award: Morgan High School; Morgan, Utah

Third Place Award: Bear River High School; Garland, Utah

Minstrel Competition

First Place Award: Amanda Marks, The Rebel Army, Las Vegas, Nevada

Second Place Award: Box Elder High School; Brigham City, Utah

Third Place Award: Mountain View High School; Phoenix, Arizona

Technical Theatre Competition

The final competition was in the technical theatre area for students who work behind the scenes creating sound, lighting, props, scenery, and costumes.

In the portfolio area, students were given the chance to have their technical and/or design portfolios evaluated by professionals in technical theatre. The best portfolio per division was honored, and the best overall portfolio was awarded a $1,000 scholarship to SUU.

In addition, technical theatre students were able to compete in Tech Olympics, with a $50 gift certificate from General Theatrical Supply awarded to overall team winners in each division, based on timing, execution, and accuracy.

Portfolio Winners

Oxford Division

Portfolio First Place: James Holladay; Pleasant Grove High School; Pleasant Grove, Utah

Westminster Division

Portfolio First Place: Kristen Hair; Morgan High School; Morgan, Utah

Buckingham Division

Portfolio First Place and Overall Winner: McKenzie Ottley; Lone Peak High School; Highland, Utah

Tech Olympics Winners

Buckingham Division

East High School; Salt Lake City, Utah; time of 13:39

Oxford Division

Orem High School; Orem, Utah; time of 15:12

Stratford Division

Lakeridge Junior High School; Orem, Utah; time of 18:31

Westminster Division

Richfield High School; Richfield, Utah; 16:31

Cambridge Division

Mountain View High School; Orem, Utah; time of 15:40

Essex Division

SCERA Youth Theatre; Orem, Utah; time of 16:19

Overall Winners

The Bronze Boot Third Place Award: Mountain View High School; Phoenix, Arizona

The Silver Light Second Place Award: Riverton High School; Riverton, Utah

The Golden Screw Gun First Place Award: East High School, Salt Lake City, Utah; awarded a tool box from General Theatrical Supply

The Utah Shakespearean Festival and the Theatre Arts and Dance Department host this event on the campus of Southern Utah University. It is sanctioned by the Utah High School Activities Association and sponsored by KSL Channel 5.

Media Contact: Anna Marie Wilharm, 435-865-8482