Finding a Shakespearean Monologue
You will select one Shakespearian monologue to study and perform for class. This should be from a work that you have not worked on previously, or currently, for another project or class.
Once you have chosen your monologue, you can sign up for it. Please check the sign up list to make sure that you're not signing up for a monologue that has already been claimed (scroll to the bottom of this page to see that sign up list). You will need to know play name, character name, act, scene, and line numbers, and monologue number.
Make sure that the monologue and sonnet are not in red on the list (selections in red are not allowed to advance to the next levels of competition).
***Everyone's monologue needs to be chosen from the list below.*** (If you want to compete in the school competition and have a shot at moving on to the branch & national competition, you MUST choose a monologue from the ESU's approved list.)
Click here for the approved monologue list
***To compete at the branch competition (or higher), you must also prepare and present a Shakespearean sonnet from the ESU approved list.
Click here for the approved sonnet list.
The winners of the in class competition will receive an invitation to compete in the school competition in the spring, and the winner of the school competition will continue on to compete in the branch competition. The winner of the branch competition will receive an invitation to compete at the National Competition.
Click here to view videos of past National Shakespeare Competitions (playlists of individual years include the national top 10 finishers from that year)
*To access the full plays, open http://www.folgerdigitaltexts.org/
These monologues will be graded on the basics of monologue work (projection, diction, physicalization, characterization).
A few notes from the ESU website:
Students should speak naturally. We urge them to use their own voice rather than affect a British accent. (no accents will be allowed for the class project)
Students should not wear costumes or use props of any kinds; including chairs, hair clips, jewelry, hats or any other added costume pieces (basic daily clothing, nothing that gets in the way of acting).
You should identify the selection before you begin.
To access the ESU’s website:
http://www.esuus.org/esu/programs/shakespeare_competition/
Once you have chosen your monologue, you can sign up for it. Please check the sign up list to make sure that you're not signing up for a monologue that has already been claimed (scroll to the bottom of this page to see that sign up list). You will need to know play name, character name, act, scene, and line numbers, and monologue number.
Make sure that the monologue and sonnet are not in red on the list (selections in red are not allowed to advance to the next levels of competition).
***Everyone's monologue needs to be chosen from the list below.*** (If you want to compete in the school competition and have a shot at moving on to the branch & national competition, you MUST choose a monologue from the ESU's approved list.)
Click here for the approved monologue list
***To compete at the branch competition (or higher), you must also prepare and present a Shakespearean sonnet from the ESU approved list.
Click here for the approved sonnet list.
The winners of the in class competition will receive an invitation to compete in the school competition in the spring, and the winner of the school competition will continue on to compete in the branch competition. The winner of the branch competition will receive an invitation to compete at the National Competition.
Click here to view videos of past National Shakespeare Competitions (playlists of individual years include the national top 10 finishers from that year)
*To access the full plays, open http://www.folgerdigitaltexts.org/
These monologues will be graded on the basics of monologue work (projection, diction, physicalization, characterization).
A few notes from the ESU website:
Students should speak naturally. We urge them to use their own voice rather than affect a British accent. (no accents will be allowed for the class project)
Students should not wear costumes or use props of any kinds; including chairs, hair clips, jewelry, hats or any other added costume pieces (basic daily clothing, nothing that gets in the way of acting).
You should identify the selection before you begin.
To access the ESU’s website:
http://www.esuus.org/esu/programs/shakespeare_competition/