March 21, 2011

Hilton High School Freshman competes at Shakespeare Competition playing Emilia from Othello

Hilton Drama Club Member Becca Hebing competed in the English Speaking Union [ESU] Shakespeare Competition on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at the Multi-Use Community Cultural Center in Rochester.  A member of the Hilton High School Drama Club member, Becca competed in the Rochester Branch Competition performing both a Shakespearean monologue and a sonnet: Emilia from Othello, Act IV, Scene 3, lines 86-103 and Sonnet #1, "From fairest creatures."

"Becca was the winner of the Annual Hilton High School Shakespeare Competition that was held on December 20,"  said Hilton HS Drama Club advisor Leah Oltean.  "She competed against the school winners from five local high schools.  Although she did not place, Becca represented Hilton well with her moving portrayal of Emilia.  She is a featured actress in this year’s Drama Club production of Fantastical Friends*, which will be performed in the high school auditorium at 7:30 pm on April 8 and at 1 pm and 7:30 pm on April 9. Tickets are $7.00 and seating is general admission."  Fantastical Friends features dramatizations of the classic works of Lewis Carroll, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Bram Stocker, Mark Twain and more.

The ESU Shakespeare Competition requires students to participate in three qualifying stages at the school, branch and national levels. Hilton HS competition judges were Drama Club Director Leah Oltean and English teachers Kara Penna and Jon Emerson. The judges awarded first place to Becca Hebing, second place to Tori DePalma, and third place to Daniella Scarantino. 

Every year around Shakespeare’s birthday, the winners of the local Branch Competitions come to New York City to take part in the ESU National Shakespeare Competition held at Lincoln Center.  In the semi-finals, all of the contestants perform a monologue and a sonnet on stage. In the last phase of the competition, those students selected as finalists present a cold reading in addition to their monologues and sonnets. The Branch Competition winners will compete at the ESU National Competition on May 2, 2011 in New York City at Lincoln Center.  Previous distinguished ESU National Competition judges have included Sarah Jessica Parker, Christopher Reeve, Phylicia Rashad, and Blythe Danner.  The winner of the ESU National Shakespeare Competition receives a full tuition scholarship to study acting in Shakespeare’s homeland, England. The runner-up receives a full tuition scholarship to attend the American Shakespeare Centre’s Theater Camp in Staunton, VA. The third place winner is awarded $500 by The Shakespeare Society.  

For more information about the ESU High School Shakespeare Competition or about Drama Club’s performance of Fantastical Friends* please contact Leah Oltean at 585-392-1000 ext. 2359.  *Fantastical Friends by Billy St. John is produced by special arrangement with Eldridge Publishing Co.