Shakespeare in LA

On May 31st, City Hearts will hold its 5th Annual Shakespeare Challenge bringing together students from across Los Angeles County who have been studying Shakespeare for the past year to perform scenes and monologues before a panel of encouraging judges at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga. The Shakespeare Challenge utilizes Shakespearean drama to inspire students in the study of history, culture, vocabulary, literacy and stagecraft, as well as to promote skills in creative movement, group cooperation, teamwork and conflict resolution.

Organizers are currently looking for businesses and organizations that would be able to donate prizes for the competition. (There will be 1st & 2nd place winners and everyone else comes in 3rd, so all the participating children will receive prizes.) You can give almost anything, such as stickers, dolls, books, or anything related to Shakespeare.

City Hearts: Kids Say Yes to the Arts works only with the community’s most impoverished, and at-greatest-risk children who would never have access or opportunity for quality Arts education and experiences without City Hearts efforts. They provide ongoing, daily classes in Dance, Shakespeare, Musical Theatre, Photography, Filmmaking, and Playwriting. Here are the particulars of the event:

City Hearts: Kids Say Yes to The Arts Presents “A Day of Enchantment”
5th Annual Shakespeare Challenge, Dance Recital & Photography Exhibition
Saturday, May 31, 2014
10:00 am – 2:30 pm
Locations: The Will Greer Theatricum Botanicum
1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd. Topanga, CA 90290
This is a Free Community Event for friends and families.
Please RSVP by May 28th: info@cityhearts.org

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City Hearts began with classes for 60 impoverished children from the Skid Row area of downtown L.A. in January, 1985. Sharon Jason and her husband, Bob, met as attorneys in the Juvenile Division of the L.A. County Public Defender’s Office in 1977, representing kids charged with crimes. As a result of seeing the tragedy in children’s lives on a daily basis, and utilizing Sharon’s background as a former Ballerina, the pair formulated specific theories on the nature of delinquency and how to use the Arts to intervene, impact, inspire and prevent the terrible revolving door of gang violence and juvenile crime. They currently work with over 2,500 children ages 5-18 each year and just celebrated their 27th anniversary, and 30,000 children, who have been through the program.

For more about all of the City Hearts programs visit www.cityhearts.org.