Updates

Ticket Sales: We are no longer accepting online reservations, but additional passes may be purchased in-person at student registration on Sunday, May 1st (based on availability).

Judging Board Photo: A quick reminder for students to send in a photo of in your performance attire. Again we will be accepting photos until the end of the day on Friday (April 30th).

Orientation Packet: To help students prepare for the upcoming event, we have created a student orientation packet. Students, please review it (and come ready with any questions) for student registration on Sunday (May 1st).

Important Notes

Travel:

Travel arrangements to and from NYC for competitors will be made by their parents/guardians. They are supplied arrival and departure guidelines by the ESU, so they can make the appropriate plans. See the Travel Arrangements Form.
The ESU reimburses families for their child's airfare, train fare or bus fare to and from New York City. Due to funding limitations, however, the ESU unfortunately cannot reimburse travel costs for those accompanying the competitors (companions).
If a competitor is traveling alone to New York City, we will assign an ESU chaperone to pick them up at the airport, bus or train station. See the Special Travel Arrangements Form.

Accommodations:

Competitors stay together at Hostelling International-New York Hostel (891 Amsterdam Avenue) in Manhattan with ESU staff and chaperones. The contestants will be under adult supervision throughout their stay.
The ESU makes the reservations with the hostel and covers the cost of accommodations.
The ESU does not make accommodation arrangements for those accompanying the competitors. We can, however, give recommendations of places to stay in New York City.

Activities:

The ESU arranges activities for the competitors during their stay in New York (such as acting workshops, Broadway shows, sightseeing and a cast party). All planned activities are covered by the ESU.

National Shakespeare Competition

2016 National Competition

Welcome to our page on the 2016 National Shakespeare Competition (scheduled from May 1-3, 2016 in New York City). Please check here for information and updates on this event.

FOR STUDENTS

FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS

FOR TEACHERS

FORMS TO BE COMPLETED (by march 21, 2016)

Note: Our West Coast participants (Denver, Desert, Hawaii, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle or Tucson ESU Branches) should use the forms directly emailed to them (not the ones posted below).

Contestant Agreement Form
Parental Permission Form
Travel Arrangements Form (Student Traveling with Parent/Guardian) OR Special Travel Arrangements Form (Student Traveling Alone) (whichever applicable)

Questions? Please contact: Katharine Strobel, Manager of Shakespeare Education Programs, at kstrobel@esuus.org or 212-818-1200 x 223.

NOTE: We are no longer accepting online reservations, but additional passes to the Competition may be purchased in-person on Sunday, May 1st (based on availability) from 12:00 PM-1:15 PM or 6:00 PM-8:00 PM at ESU National Headquarters (144 East 39th Street, New York, NY 10016).

The English-Speaking Union invites the families and teachers of competitors to join us in New York City for the 2016 National Competition.

EVENT DETAILS:

2016 ESU National Shakespeare Competition
Monday, May 2, 2016
SEMI-FINALS: 8:30 AM-1:00 PM
FINALS: 4:00 PM-6:00 PM
The Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center Theater
150 West 65th Street, New York, NY 10023

Please note: Competitors have a full schedule during their stay in New York City. They will be involved with the other contestants in their own separate competition activities (which are not open to families or teachers).