Villa Maria Academy Students Perform for National Shakespeare Competition

Villa Maria Academy High School students had a new reason to brush up on their Shakespearian sonnets and monologues. Four students memorized and performed monologues for judges during Catholic Schools Week in the English Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition Jan. 27.

“It really is a wonderful opportunity because if the girls are dedicated and perform well, they could potentially be in the running to win a trip to New York City or even England,” competition advisor Elizabeth Donze said. She is an English teacher at Villa Maria Academy. “It’s also beneficial for high school students to memorize and interpret Shakespeare – it helps them exercise their minds.”

The Shakespeare competition focuses on developing students’ language skills through critical thinking and analysis; public speaking; and understanding Shakespearian English. Students can not only win great prizes, but exercise and enhance their abilities to learn.

Villa Maria Academy High School senior Carly Aquino was the winner with a performance of Ophelia’s monologue from Act 4, Scene 5 of Hamlet, where the character descends into madness. Now, she will move onto the regional competition in Philadelphia later this month where she will perform Ophelia’s monologue and a sonnet.

The competition ends in New York City at the Lincoln Center in April. The winner of the final performance will receive an all expenses paid trip to England to participate in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts young actors summer school.

“We’re excited to be part of the National Shakespeare Competition,” Donze said. “It will give our students opportunities beyond learning in the classroom.”

Over 15,000 high school students participate in the ESU Shakespeare competition each year. The ESU National Shakespeare Competition has been recognized by the United States Globe Center, the Children's Theatre Foundation of America and the American Academy of Achievement.

About Villa Maria Academy

Villa Maria Academy High School (Malvern, Pa.) is a private Catholic high school, preparing girls for college and beyond in the tradition of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. At Villa Maria, students are taught to be critical thinkers and confident leaders. These young ladies pursue a course of study that will continually reinforce analytical problem-solving skills, high-level thinking, and increasingly independent work. Villa Maria empowers young women to lead lives of spiritual growth, intellectual inquiry and Christian service. For more information, visit www.vmahs.org.