The high school monologue and scene competition is just one of the many great productions and services that Georgia Shakespeare provides the state. Along with several main stage productions and workshops for students and adults, Georgia Shakespeare at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia, sponsors a scene and monologue competition each year at the end of February. Oglethorpe University’s classical flavor and Georgia Shakespeare’s well-run competition make for a winning combination and a great afternoon of Shakespeare for participants and audience members.
Competition Guidelines
High school students (grades 9-12) participate in scene and monologue competitions for prizes, recognition, conservatory scholarships, and fun. Students are allowed to participate as individuals or as part of their high school organizations. The twenty-dollar ($20) entry fee allows students to take part in both competitions if they choose, and it includes lunch at Oglethorpe University's dining hall.
Students may participate in the monologue competition and the scene competition if they choose for the same twenty dollars. They are certainly not obligated to compete in both, but they have the opportunity. The scenes and monologues must meet several requirements.
Monologues must be
- no longer than two minutes,
- written in verse,
- and written by William Shakespeare.
Scenes must be
- no longer than seven minutes,
- constructed so that the two-person team can use it,
- and written by Shakespeare in verse or in prose.
The Performance Process
Students present their monologues and scenes at several well-marked locations throughout the Oglethorpe campus. All of the locations are well within walking distance of each other, and the organization provides a map for each competing student. Since each student is allowed to compete both as an individual (monologue) and within a pair (scene), the organizers make sure that students are not scheduled for multiple events at the same time. This takes a lot of organization, and the event planners have done a great job of scheduling students without conflicts for at least the last couple of years.
Students will travel in small groups and present their competition pieces three or four times for separate judges. These judges, who are members of Georgia Shakespeare's acting ensemble, will offer suggestions for students and, if time permits, will even allow students to re-work scenes and monologues. Students then move on to their next scheduled event.
For the most part, these adjudications have been truly helpful and educational for student actors. Although winning is always fun, the competition itself takes on more of a workshop feel than a cut-throat audition.
The Prizes
The competition is divided into four categories:
- best male monologue,
- best female monologue,
- best scene,
- best overall school.
Winners in the best monologue competitions also earn scholarships to Georgia Shakespeare's high school conservatory, usually held in the summer. Schools that register at least five contestants become eligible for the best overall school "sweepstakes."
The most fun part of the competition happens during the awards ceremony. Judges identify various scenes and monologues during adjudication as being noteworthy. Students then present their pieces for the entire group of participants, peers, audience members, and high school directors. Although the entire day of individual performances are enjoyable, the noteworthy performances take place on the bigger stage, and actors perform for a much larger audience. The competition pieces that are considered noteworthy are not necessarily the winners or even the ones being considered for the prizes, although the monologue and scene winners are usually among the noteworthy group.
Recommendations for Attending and Enjoying the Event
If workshops are offered, students and directors should take part if they have time. Workshops have been offered for the last two years on topics from Shakespearean stage combat to the general audition process for actors.
Students who are nervous about the competition will see early that the presentations feel more like a workshop where students learn from each other and adjudicators share their passion and knowledge for the craft and for Shakespeare's texts. Younger and less experienced students can attend the event without having to perform if they simply want to see what the competition is like. For five dollars ($5), students can watch, participate in the workshops, and eat lunch.
Come prepared to meet people, enjoy the day, and be flexible. This is not a highly stressful, competitive event; it's a fun day of performing, sharing, and learning.
Related Websites
- Registration and Competition Information
- Shakespeare Online provides access to plays and study guides to help the actors.
- A Shakespeare Tutorial for Actors
Jon Blackstock - Blackstock has taught and directed theatre productions for almost twenty years and wishes Suite101 could be typewriter compatible.
