Free and open to the public!

The Rochester English-Speaking Union High School Shakespeare Contest gives high school students a chance to strut their stuff by memorizing and presenting a Shakespearean monologue and a sonnet. Regional public, private, and parochial schools and homeschool associations send contestants. Winners receive prizes; grand prize is a trip to NYC for professional acting workshops and competition with a great group of teens from across the country.

The English-Speaking Union of the United States (esuus.org) is a non-profit, non-political, educational organization whose mission is to promote scholarship and advancement of knowledge through the effective use of English in an expanding global community. Since 1983, approximately a quarter million students from public, independent and parochial high schools have explored the beauty and scope of Shakespeare’s language through the National Shakespeare Competition. In this performance-based education program, high school students nationwide read, analyze, perform and recite Shakespearean monologues and sonnets in as many as three qualifying stages [school, ESU Branch (community) and national].

For more information, check out:

http://www.esuus.org/programs_shakespeare_competition.htm

or write to wendylow@rochester.rr.com

Shakespeare competition’s school participation deadline nears

2:18 PM, Jan. 12, 2012  |The 2012 English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition school participation entry deadline is Saturday, Jan. 28. Forms can be returned to the ESU-Rochester Branch via email in care of wendylow@rochester.rr?.com or mailed to Wendy Low, 84 Middlesex Road, Rochester NY 14610. continued….

Wilson High School’s DVC presents Eleemosynary by Lee Blessing

directed by Mario Savastano

Play synopsis:

Lee Blessing’s poignant play concentrates on words and emotions as it probes into the delicate relationship of three singular women: the grandmother, Dorothea, who has sought to assert her independence through strong-willed eccentricity; her brilliant daughter, Artie, who has fled the stifling domination of her mother; and Artie’s daughter, Echo, a child of exceptional intellect—and sensitivity—whom Artie has abandoned to an upbringing by Dorothea.  Can these three independent women come to accept their mutual need and summon the courage to try, at last, to build a life together after so many years of alienation and estrangement?

“It is a wonderful job of playwriting.”

-The Minneapolis Star and Tribune

“…a funny, perceptive and eloquently written play…”

-The St. Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch

Performance history:

Eleemosynary was performed on the stage at Wilson Magnet High School in 2006 as Drama/Video Club’s second full production.  It is with great excitement that we revive this show, which was such an important part of DVC history, at our new home at the MuCCC.

About the club:

Wilson Magnet’s Drama/Video Club, consisting entirely of Wilson high school students, is celebrating its 12^th year of bringing thought-provoking, challenging productions to audiences.

In keeping with the club’s mission to perform meaningful, socially-conscious theatre and “nothing you’ve ever seen on a high school stage”, DVC has performed shows such as No Exit, Necessary Targets, and The Freedom of the City, and club-developed original projects such as Something to Believe In and Invented: A Dracula-Inspired Goth Rock Opera and JUNK: the Musical.  DVC’s alumni offshoot, TLF, has performed The Shadow Box and STOP KISS.

Friday, March 2^nd at 7:30pm

Saturday, March 3^rd at 7:30pm

Sunday, March 4^th at 2pm

The show  is free, suggested donation is $5