[ot-caption title=” Juniors Tara Schulman (left) and Noey Boldizsar (right) performing a scene in Shakespeare Out Loud. (via Rachel Rutstein, junior)”]

The 6th annual Shakespeare Out Loud performance took place Wednesday, April 13th here at Pine Crest. The festivities included songs, performances, and cakes all dedicated to the English poet and playwright William Shakespeare. Shakespeare wrote around 37 plays and 154 sonnets, leaving a large legacy behind him. His artful language and creative ideas inspire events that honor his work like Shakespeare Out Loud.

Spearheaded by English teacher Mrs. Ortega, the whole event was, as usual, a huge success. Mrs. Ortega’s love for Shakespeare inspired her to create this event on campus when she started teaching here six years ago. “I feel like everyone’s initial perception of Shakespeare is that it is this foreign language, this poetry that’s impossible to understand, when actually he’s so much fun,” says Ortega. “I don’t think studying important or iconic writers is necessarily limited to a classroom. Part of appreciating literature is experiencing it… experiencing it physically and not only on the page. Shakespeare’s work is not meant to be read, it’s meant to be seen. I believe that the best vehicle for understanding Shakespeare is to perform it.” The entire English department encourages students to participate. Ms. Jenkins told Type One she likes the different opportunities Shakespeare Out Loud provides students to express themselves, as well as different opportunities for the actual works to be expressed. “It’s important to see students in different context and allow them to showcase different skills. I also think Shakespeare Out Loud helps to make the works more memorable by experiencing them through a variety of different media,” says Jenkins.

With colorful, flowing ribbons enclosing the courtyard circle, the performances began. Starting 4th period, students who had been practicing lines for weeks took center stage. Performances included raps, musical demonstrations, and scenes from some of Shakespeare’s most popular plays. The crowd was constantly filled, with attendees hearing famous lines such as  “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”. The performances even broke language barriers. Five juniors performed a Shakespearean sonnet in English, Portuguese, Russian, French, and Spanish. The global touch on a classic helped to portray Shakespeare’s influence world wide.

The day was rounded off by a final judging of Shakespeare inspired cakes in a contest called “Shake and Bake.” Students submitted Shakespeare inspired cakes to categories like best taste, most creative design, best symbolism, and more. Best in show was won by Samantha Meade for her detailed Macbeth inspired cake that included a dagger stabbing the center of the cake. Best taste was tied between Sam Wurth, Andres Soto, and Madeleine Turner, all of us focusing on interpreting Shakespeare’s rich language into a flavor. Best tragedy representation was won by Samantha Lent and Elizabeth Brown, while best comedy was won by Hannah Virgin and Alex Rios. Sammy Koolik took the award for best symbol. Anya Volter and Roshni Singh won for best depiction of a quote and Leslie and Lindsay Siegel won for best representation of a Shakespearean pun. Best setting shown in a cake was won by Audrey Hollow with Grace Correa winning best depiction of the Globe Theatre. Phoebe Scheidegger looked to the past and won an award for recreating a historical recipe and using it in her cake. Finally, the best depiction of Shakespeare himself in a cake was won by Roxy Ackerman and Eliza Moldow.

Overall, students were grateful for the opportunity to honor Shakespeare’s work. Junior Tommy Sullivan performed a scene from a popular Shakespeare play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Sullivan says that the highlight of his experience is being able to be a part of the transcendence of Shakespeare down yet another generation. He notes that “there are endless references to Shakespeare poems, puns, and plays and it’s important to remember the man who gave us all of those.” Marisol Beaufrand, who brilliantly performed an angry, loud, and belligerent character during the day loves how the different aspects of Shakespeare Out Loud highlight the different contributions of Shakespeare. “Some people bring forth their acting, while others utilize their skills with instruments or dance. I think it emphasizes the fact that Shakespeare has had an influence influence in all forms of art, not just those strictly associated with drama” says the junior. Sophomore Sammy Koolik, who participated in the baking contest of Shakespeare Out Loud remarked: “I really like that we are able to take classic literature that we learn in class and then turn it into an edible masterpiece.”

The entertaining and successful event leaves all students excited for next year’s tribute to the iconic playwright and poet William Shakespeare.