Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: Accent

Media Credit: Matthew Montgomery Students from Box Elder High School wait outside the Adams Memorial Theatre to perform in the Shakespeare Compettion for high schools and middle schools.

More than 2,000 middle school and high school student thespians competed in the High School Shakespeare Competition at SUU Thursday though Saturday.

This was the 32nd annual competition and 95 schools competed. For 10 of the schools, it was their first time in the competition, according to a Utah Shakespearean Festival press release.

For each school students could prepare up to three monologues, two duo or trio scenes, an ensemble scene, an interpretive dance and presentations in technical theatre, according to the press release.

For the scenes, more than 50 entries performed William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, according to the release.

Mallory Mower, 15-year-old student from West High School in Salt Lake City, said she thought the competition went well.

Mower said one of her favorite parts was receiving criticism from the judges after performing.

Stephanie Welch, a 17-year-old student from Judge Memorial Catholic School in Salt Lake City, said she also enjoys the judges' critics.

"They help you improve your skills … and character," she said. "Actors can always use tips."

Welch said this was her first year competing and it was an amazing experience.

Welch said it was also enjoyable to meet students from other schools and watch them compete.

Fellow Judge Memorial Catholic School classmate Jake Evans, a 15-year-old, said he also enjoyed mingling with other schools.

"It's really cool to meet new people," Evans said.

Evans was too late to sign up for the competition and said he was there for moral support for his classmates.

Being at the competition simply for morale gave Evans the opportunity to watch his school perform its ensemble scene from William Shakespeare's King Leer.

"We did really good," he said.

Paris Moore, a 14-year-old from Willowcreek Middle School in Lehi, said she also enjoyed the competition, especially the workshop about stage make-up.

Moore said she has always been interested in stage make-up, and she is even more interested after attending the workshop.

Moore said she also enjoyed seeing the Utah Shakespearean Festival's production of Gaslight.

"(It was) way good," she said.

Along with enjoying the competition, the young thespians also enjoyed SUU's campus.

Moore said she likes the campus because it is not too hectic.

Evans said he also enjoys SUU.

"It is easy to find your way around," he said.

Miles Pratt, a 15-year-old from West High School, said he enjoyed seeing the different buildings around campus.

"It is really like each building has it's own personality," he said.

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