A Message from the Hawaii Branch President

Welcome Message

President's Update May 2023

The 2023 ESU National Shakespeare Competition, during which 41 ESU branch competition winners from around the country competed in New York City at Lincoln Center, took place on Monday, April 24th. Each student performed a Shakespearean monologue of their choice and recited a sonnet. Ten students were then chosen to advance to the finals round and be evaluated by a new set of judges. The competitors were judged on their understanding of their selected texts and on their ability to communicate their interpretation to the audience.

Elena Hollenbeak not only became a finalist but achieved first place in the 40th national competition for her stellar performances of Sonnet 14 and a monologue by Lady Macbeth from Macbeth. Lyn Ackerman, Elena's drama teacher at St. Andrew's Schools: The Priory in Honolulu, attended the national competition and was awarded the $1,000 Teacher Recognition Award.

Elena's grand prize is a scholarship to the British American Drama Academy Midsummer Conservatory Program in London.

The 2023 ESU National Shakespeare Competition Finals can be viewed at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2ZWzNU_Otw

Left to right: ESU Chairman Quinn Peeper, Elena Hollenbeak, and Lyn Ackerman at Lincoln Center in New York City, April 24, 2023

For additional information regarding the English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition, please visit www.shakespearecompetition.org.

The English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition is a performance-based education program in which high school students nationwide read, analyze, perform, and recite Shakespeare's works. Through the program, students develop communication skills and an appreciation of the power of language and literature. In the Competition's three progressive levels, students perform in their own schools, at ESU Branch community competitions, and at the National Shakespeare Competition in New York City. Since 1983, more than 400,000 young Americans of all backgrounds have taken advantage of this opportunity to bring the timeless works of Shakespeare to life and learn to express his words with understanding, feeling, and clarity.

ESU Hawaii, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is operated entirely by volunteers and relies on charitable contributions (tax deductible!) to continue the mission of ESU founder Sir Evelyn Wrench "to bring together in the bonds of friendship the English- speaking peoples of the world." The Hawaii Branch of the English-Speaking Union has had more national winners than any other branch in the history of the ESU National Shakespeare Competition: Connor Lawhorn (2011), Sarah Spalding (2015), Ari Dalbert (2016) and, now, Elena Hollenbeak (2023). If you would like to support our efforts to continue bringing Hawaii's students together to celebrate the language of Shakespeare, please consider becoming a member via the link on our site or making a contribution (or both!).

An Appealing Sonnet

To fund the ESU Hawaii Branch

Is what this humble sonnet asks of you So that deposits, which we long to bank, Increase enough to let us follow through

In nurturing young minds we cherish dearly. If Bard of Avon's your fond proclivity, 

Help underwrite our competition yearly 

And more Shakespearean activity.

To "ESU Hawaii" make out your check

In an amount best matching with your means, 

And a noble difference you will make

In lives of brave, performing island teens. 

The truth of this is ineluctable:

Your gift is fully tax deductible!

Checks made out to ESU Hawaii may be mailed to Mark Lawhorn, 2121 Ala Wai Blvd., Apt. 2705, Honolulu, HI 96815.

Thank you for visiting the ESU Hawaii web site. The ESU president and other executive committee members may be contacted at esuhawaii@gmail.com

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