Return to Headlines

Chester County Students Bring Shakespearean Adaptations to the Stage in West Chester

Chester County students will gather to perform their versions of Shakespearean classics at the Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre in West Chester on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.

The event, which is free to attend and open to the public, celebrates Shakespearean literature while providing an avenue for students to perform their interpretations of classic stories, provided that their performances stay within the main themes of the original plays. Additionally, the students and their audience will be entertained by a Master of Revelry, played by a professional actor who will present facts about Shakespeare, his works, and his life in Elizabethan England.

"Participating in the Shakespeare Festival isn't just about creative expression," said Jay Della Ragione, special events coordinator for the Chester County Intermediate Unit. "The event provides a platform for fostering literary appreciation, cultural insight, critical thinking, and camaraderie among student participants."

The Chester County Shakespeare Festival annually brings together over 300 talented students from elementary, middle, and high schools across the county. Each participating school is allotted 20 minutes to perform an adaptation of a Shakespearean play. While not a competition, individual and group awards are presented to students and their schools to recognize notable contributions to the stage. To learn more about the Chester County Shakespeare Festival, please visit www.cciu.org/shakespeare.