Hillcrest Theatre: "O for a muse of fire, that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention!"

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

"O for a muse of fire, that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention!"

Hillcrest's 2012 Ensemble Scene

Are you ready? Everyone agrees that being on Hillcrest's Shakespeare Team is one of the (if not THE) greatest experiences you will have your entire high school career. I am dedicated to providing an even more amazing experience this year. But it will all depend on you. How much heart will you put into the team this year? Come help us defend our 3-time Sweepstakes Championship and 6-time Ensemble Championship. Every year, the schools get better and better...and so we need to get better as well. Rest assured, defending our crown will NOT BE EASY this year. The pressure is on. Are you ready to deliver?

The centerpiece of a Shakespeare Team is the 10-minute ensemble scene. Hillcrest's ensemble scenes usually use as many kids as we can fit onto the bus (between 50-55). This year's ensemble scene will be announced soon, but I can tell you that it will require more from the ensemble than any piece we've ever done before.

Our 2012 team performing at the end-of-competition showcase

In addition, various duo/trio scenes and monologues will be cast to compete to be selected as one of Hillcrest's individual events on this year's team. This year, the duo/trio scenes and monologues will work in the Theatre 3 class, so in order to be considered for one of those pieces, you must audition for the Ensemble Scene AND be in the Theatre 3 class. However, as always, ANYONE can audition and possibly be cast in the Ensemble Scene...even if they're not in any theatre class at all.

The 2012 team rehearsing in "our" field before the competition.

Auditions will be held on Wednesday, August 21 (yes, that's only one month away) and will be open to any 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade student attending Hillcrest High. The audition sign-up sheet will be up on the first day of school on Mr. Long's door (room C-202). This year to audition, all you need to do is come prepared with a 30-60 second monologue from one of Shakespeare's plays. It is preferred, although not required that your monologue be memorized. That's it. You can cut your own monologue...or if you'd like, you can find a bunch of options at www.shakespeare-monologues.org

Now in its 37th year, the Utah Shakespearean Festival's annual High School Shakespeare Competition gathers students from more than 110 schools in 9 states, and is the only inter-state drama competition in the area.

The Adams Shakespearean Theatre
where we will be competing this year

Team members benefit not only from being adjudicated by professional actors and directors from across the country, but are also given the opportunity to see professional theatre. In the last 6 years, Hillcrest has had 15 students walk away with scholarship awards. In addition, workshops in dozens of areas related to the theatre world are offered. There is honestly, nothing else like it. Don't miss your chance!

The competition will be held October 3-5, 2013 in Cedar City, UT. The trip will cost approximately $200 per participant and includes transportation, hotel, some food, team hoodie, play tickets, and entrance fees. Fee waivers do not apply. There is no GPA minimum this year to participate.

Rehearsals for the ensemble scene are held on Saturdays and some evenings throughout the month of September at HHS.

In the past, some of the honors and awards Hillcrest has won at the competition have included:

*1st Place Sweepstakes (2012, 2011, 2010)

2012 Best Actor scholarship winner Sam Spainhower

*1st Place Ensemble Scene (2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007)

*Larry Lott "Best Actor" Scholarship (2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007)

*1st Place Duo/Trio Scene (2011, 2010, 2008)

*1st Place Monologue (2011, 2010)

*In addition, Hillcrest's ensemble scene was the first scene to ever be asked to perform in front of the thousands of competitors at the competition's Closing Ceremonies in 2008.

As you can see, you have a strong legacy to live up to this year. Will you step up? I'm ready if you are. Please spread the word to all of your friends (especially 9th and 10th graders who are new to all of this) about auditions. They are the first week of school. There is no time to lose!

Start working on your auditions now! There are many schools who have already been working on their pieces since May. Don't get behind!

See you next month :-)