“All the world’s a stage,” so William Shakespeare tells us in “As You Like It.” The stage, in this instance, will be at the Rosenzweig Arts Center in downtown Columbus Oct. 15 as the Columbus Community Theatre (CCT) and Columbus Arts Council (CAC) host “Shakespeare Saturday: A Recitation Contest.”
The event for youth and adults is part of a worldwide celebration of William Shakespeare’s legacy, 400 years after his death. Festivals, exhibitions and performances in various countries are paying homage to “The Bard of Avon” throughout 2016.
Locally, the recitation contest hopes to inspire exploration of Shakespeare’s language and classic themes.
“This is Columbus Community Theatre’s nod to a huge celebration going on all over the country and the world,” said CCT member and contest facilitator Terry Coffey, a retired teacher of the gifted and high school English and biology. “I got bitten by the theater bug in high school at Lausanne School for Girls in Memphis, and in college at Mississippi State University’s Communication Department. I took oral interpretation of Shakespeare and had a ball.”
The contest
“Shakespeare Saturday” offers two age divisions: Youth ages 6-18 at 9 a.m., and Adults at 2 p.m. Participants may sign up to perform a monologue, or perform in a duet/ensemble, or both.
Participants are asked to select, memorize and present a passage from one of Shakespeare’s plays or sonnets. Monologue/sonnet selections should range from no less than one minute to no more than three minutes.
Duet/ensemble selections should range from five to seven minutes No costumes or props are permitted; entrants should dress completely in black.
Entry fee per person is $10.
Participants will get to exercise critical thinking and public speaking skills and increase self-confidence through reading, analysis and performance of Shakespeare, organizers said.
“My hope for CCT in this is to be able to offer an opportunity for us common folk to enjoy the Bard’s work that still lives, 400 years after the fact,” said Coffey.
“We wanted to work on a project that would involve both youth and adults,” remarked CAC Program Manager Beverly Norris. “We thought joining the worldwide Shakespeare celebration would be a great way to accomplish that.”
For more details and applications, visit columbus-arts.org or contact the arts council (closed Mondays) at 662-328-2787.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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