Shakespeare in LA

On May 30, City Hearts will hold its 5th Annual Shakespeare Challenge bringing together students from across LA County who have been studying Shakespeare to perform scenes and monologues before a panel of encouraging judges at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum. 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, anything related to Shakespeare, Acting, Drama, and also general School Supplies. 

City Hearts: Kids Say Yes to the Arts works only with our 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.

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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 annually and just celebrated their 30th anniversary and 30,000 children who have been through the program.

We hope that you will consider supporting City Hearts and this year’s Shakespeare Challenge. For more about all of the City Hearts programs visit www.cityhearts.org. If you are able to donate prizes to the Shakespeare Competition, please contact Rebecca at r.rasmussen3@earthlink.net.