9th Shakespearean Monologue Scholarship Competition

Shakespeare in the Vines is proud to bring back our Shakespearean Monologue Scholarship Competition for SoCal high-school-aged students on Monday, April 22, 2024 at 6:00 PM.
Friends, Family, and Community Members are encouraged to attend this FREE EVENT to cheer on the student performers!
This event is co-sponsored by the Temecula Theater Foundation.

Full Details & Rules are below.

DETAILS:

On Monday, April 22nd, 2024, Shakespeare in the Vines, the Temecula Theater Foundation, and the Old Town Temecula Community Theater invite all Southern California high schools, high-school-aged homeschoolers, and others to take part in the 9th Annual High School Shakespearean Monologue Scholarship Competition.

To participate, high-school-aged students must perform two contrasting Shakespearean monologues of their choosing (one humorous, one serious). A panel of judges will select winners to receive cash prize scholarships:

  • *First Place = $400

  • Second Place = $200

  • Third Place = $100

There will also be up to four “Judge’s Choice” prizes of $25 each.
All competitors will receive a certificate of participation.

*The first place winner will also be invited to perform their monologues at our fundraising event The Bard Goes to Broadway on May 2nd and 4th.

RULES:

  • Each competitor must prepare and memorize two contrasting Shakespeare monologues. One monologue should be humorous/comedic and one should be serious/dramatic.

  • The student’s introduction plus the two speeches together must not exceed five minutes.

  • A teacher, parent, or staff member from the high school must sponsor each competitor. The sponsor must attend the event with the student.

  • Students may receive coaching/directing help from any source.

  • Monologues must be from the Shakespeare canon, not adapted from another source.

  • The Competition will consist of one round.

  • Each competitor will introduce their performance by stating their name and monologue titles. For example: “I am Jane Smith and I will be performing Juliet, from Romeo and Juliet, and Beatrice, from Much Ado About Nothing.”

  • Check-in begins at 5:00 p.m. Competition begins promptly at 6:00 p.m. and ends around 8:00pm. After the awards ceremony, publicity photos of all finalists will be taken.

  • Schools can sponsor up to, not exceeding, three (3) students for the competition**

The competition will be held at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater, located at 42051 Main Street, Temecula, CA 92590

For more information or any questions, please email Preston Helms (Artistic Director) at info@shakespeareinthevines.org.

To register, please fill out the online application form available {here}.

Registrations must be received by Sunday, April 14, 2024.

**Depending on available space, more student competitors may be permitted at the discretion of the event organizer. If you have more than three (3) students interested, please email Preston at info@shakespeareinthevines.org.