Hope Academy Students Flourish at Annual Shakespeare Contest

Hope Academy of Music and the Arts, an outreach program of ELPC, had it’s largest-ever showing at Pittsburgh Public Theater’s 2020 Shakespeare Monologue and Scene Contest, sending 40 students, who performed 40 monologues and 8 scenes.

We’re pleased and blessed to announce that Hope Academy’s Chloe Baker earned first place for her upper division monologue of the Jailer’s Daughter from The Two Noble Kinsmen, and duo Marco Petrucci and Zora Rose tied for first place with their lower division scene from Romeo and Juliet.

In its 26th year, the competition attracted 1,066 talented, young performers from 110 local schools. From the preliminary group, the field was narrowed down to 13 monologues and 12 scenes for the Showcase of Finalists, which was held on Monday, February 17. Hope Academy was well represented in the Showcase of Finalists, with four students competing (click on images to enlarge):

• Chloe Baker | Monologue: Jailer’s Daughter, The Two Noble Kinsmen
• Angelo Collins | Monologue: Trinculo, The Tempest
• Marco Petrucci and Zora Rose | Scene: Romeo and Juliet

“We are happy to have so many students selected as finalists and honorable mentions,” said Linda Addlespurger, director of Hope Academy. “But the best part of this experience is that every single one of our students did so well and learned so much in the process.”

Nine Hope Academy students were recognized as honorable mentions: Zaida Collins and Saniya Mason, Shayla Esquivel, Bella Gonzales, Burke Keener, Luca Leisher, Madeleine Mocker, Lucia Pelling, and Quinn Seif (click on images to enlarge). Click these links for a full listing of finalists and honorable mentions.

Congratulations to Linda Addlespurger

We also are pleased to announce that Linda Addlespurger (pictured center), director of Hope Academy, received the 2020 Rob Zellers Award for Excellence in Arts Education.

When announcing the award, Shaun Hall, director of education and community engagement, Pittsburgh Public Theater (pictured right), said that this year’s winner is an outstanding educator—year in and year out.

“Her school made for one of my favorite days of the preliminary round,” Hill added. “It has also been said of this year’s recipient that she has brought hundreds of students to Shakespeare’s work. Her dedication to students is boundless. Many students who have never heard of Shakespeare before blossom into young, dedicated actors. She makes Shakespeare fun, personal, accessible, and a way for all of us to learn together through passion, dedication, leadership guidance, friendship, vision, and love. She is focused, grounded, respectful, and inspired. She makes sure marginalized voices feel seen, included, and inspired. Her passion to serve families through arts education is evident. We are overjoyed to announce this year’s recipient, Linda Addlespurger, director of Hope Academy.”

“This is so generous and kind,” Addlespurger said after accepting the award. “But this award is really about these students—who are so amazing—and the Pittsburgh Public Theater, which continues to support young people who are studying the beautiful language of Shakespeare and finding personal and deep connections to really big ideas in their lives. So thank you all, and thank you to Shaun and to the Public Theater.”