The Utah Shakespeare Festival is an year round event taking place at Southern Utah University. High Schools across the United States come to compete in a two day competition and to enjoy the true pleasure of Shakespeare. Over fall break, theatre made a long journey up to Utah to compete and take part in several workshops.

The group consisted of around twenty students in theatre, both actors and technicians, who had to audition for their spot to attend. Theatre and Film Studies teacher Randy Duren as well as Theatre teacher Shawna Marquis helped the students prepare for this event. Knowing that theatre was going on this trip,  PTC’s summer assignment consisted of Shakespeare to get the class in zone for this trip

Leading up to the trip, a lot took place to help the actors and technicians to be ready to compete and have a better year than years prior. Senior Michael Gerardi had been in years past and got to go for the last time during his high school career. He was also able to grow from prior experience.

“Last year we were a little under prepared for the festival,” said Gerardi, “then when we went, we still had a fun time but we didn’t do so well in the competitions.”

With more motivation to do well, they took all thing into account of how this year could be better. Actors competed in many events including monologues, duo acting, group scene, improv and dance. During the competitions where some of the actors weren’t competing in, they had to options to do workshops. Most of the time they stayed and watched the competition to help support their friends.

“This year we spent a lot more time in class preparing” Gerardi said, “as well as we did Twelfth Night”

The class was able to pull their group scene directly from “Twelfth Night” that they had been preparing months prior to take place on the school stage. They were much more prepared for that event. Perry is one of the only school in Arizona to compete in this event as most of the events cater to the schools in the area.

Advance technical theatre also made their way on this trip. Although the events cater more to actors rather than technicians, they prepared to compete in both tech olympics and stage management. This was Junior Skyler Christensen’s first year attending and she competed in tech olympics.

“[the hardest part is] trying to fit everything into the short amount they give you and also preparing,” Christensen said, “They change it up every year so your have to be prepared for anything.”

Duren thinks of all his years at Perry, this was theatre’s most successful year at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Although this competition is a little different than most competitions, theatre still got straight superiors and excellents across the board.