• March 3, 2017
     
    Eighth graders advance in Shakespeare contest

    Kate and Morgan A team of Fort Couch Middle School students was one of five finalists in the Upper Division Scenes category in the 23rd Annual Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest at the Pittsburgh Public Theater. Eighth graders Morgan Meddings and Kate McQuillan performed a scene from “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.”

    More than 1,000 students in grades 4-12 from 100 area schools competed in the preliminary rounds in early February. Students in grades 8 – 12 competed in the Upper Division while grades 4 – 7 competed in the Lower Division. A panel of judges evaluated each performance and selected the finalists to compete in the Showcase of Finalists on Feb. 20, 2017.

    “It was a particular achievement to be the only eighth grade group selected for the Showcase of Finalists from the Upper Division,” Connie Gibson, gifted education teacher, said.

    All participants receive a contest t-shirt and a voucher for two complimentary tickets to a Public Theater production.

    According to the Pittsburgh Public Theater’s website, “This is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience the excitement of live performance while learning the works of William Shakespeare.”