For the past 12 years, the AUHSD Drama Departments has come together in January for the annual Shakespeare Festival — a whole day of performances dedicated to Shakespeare. In preparation for this festival, each Drama Department has been individually preparing with their students for months on end — rehearsing and perfecting their 10-minute Shakespeare pieces.
The idea started when Miramonte’s drama teacher, Heather Cousins, saw a documentary called “Shakespeare High,” which depicts hundreds of high school students from Southern California sharing their unique works of Shakespeare together to receive feedback and connect on a theatrical level with their peers. Inspired, Cousins sought to imitate the activity. “I sort of said to the other drama teachers, ‘We are doing this,’ and it’s been a cherished tradition ever since,” Cousins said. The festival, affectionately known as “Shakes Fest,” is an anticipated event that Drama students from all levels look forward to every year. “This year was my first time attending Shakes Fest and I was blown away with not only the incredibly welcoming atmosphere, but also just the pure talent and creativity with the adaptations…definitely an experience to remember,” first-year Talia Kardon said.
When arriving at the festival, teachers and staff like to open up the day by having a big breakfast with every drama department. Students mingle with each other and develop connections immediately as the festival begins. After breakfast, each drama teacher leads a short warm-up. Then come the mainstage performances.
Every year, each school chooses two performances from their drama class to perform in front of everyone attending the festival. Receiving a “mainstage invitation” is extremely important to some, as it usually means that your performance is one of the best of the entire class. “I’ve been on the main stage two years in a row, and although it’s nerve-racking to perform in front of so many people, it’s also an honor to perform something we, as a group, have worked so hard on,” senior Lia Verrico said.
After around four mainstage performances comes a short break, before leading into the final four mainstage performances. When all of the mainstage performances come to a close, there is a large lunch and everyone moves into small breakout rooms so every other performance group has a chance to showcase their own work. Once performances have finished, feedback is given from the drama teacher watching your breakout session and from the other students within your breakout room. Every performance receives different and beneficial feedback, helping these performers continue to perfect their works.
The Shakespeare Festival creates an atmosphere of unity between schools as everyone is there for the same reason: to showcase the works they have been working tirelessly on. Each school has their own “thing:” “Miramonte used to be known throughout the district for its innovative and insane ‘chairography,’” Cousins said—chairography is considered to be using chairs as both props and set pieces to elevate the performance. “Now I believe we are known more for our beautiful harmonies and the way we incorporate music in each of our pieces.”
Knowing that each school has its own niche and unique performance style helps future generations of Shakespeare performances get an early start on their performance blocking,or figuring out where characters and chairs should be. The Shakespeare Festival allows drama students to evolve from each other and connect through individual loves of performance.
Overall, the Shakespeare Festival is more than just a day of performances—it’s a celebration of the shared love for theatre. It’s a chance to showcase individual talent, learn from one another, and experience the power of collaboration in the world of theatre. Year after year, the Shakespeare Festival not only honors the legacy of Shakespeare but also ensures the next generation of performers continues to grow, connect, and be inspired by the timeless art of theatre.
