Founded and originally produced by Chicago Youth Shakespeare in 2014, Battle of the Bard® was Chicago’s first region-wide Shakespeare Slam program for high school teams. Designed to cross boundaries of geography, culture, and experience — Battle of the Bard® brought high school students from across the Chicago area together through performance, team spirit, and friendly competition.
Battle of the Bard 2014
How it all began!
Battle of the Bard® 2015
In partnership with Chicago Shakespeare Theater
“When I looked at all those kids on stage, a feeling of great hope came over me. I thought about all that language, all that creativity and thought, all that discipline and focus, all that collaboration and conversation—and I thought: those young people have all that it takes to lead us through this century. ”
Battle of the Bard® 2016
In partnership with Chicago Shakespeare Theater
“Our process was wonderful and my students felt transformed and grateful for being a part of it. ”
“The amazing people I met have such unique talents and it scares me that I might have never met them. Also, my appreciation for Shakespeare has gone through the roof – (now I can’t wait to read Lear and Hamlet and The Tempest next year)! ”
Battle of the Bard® 2017
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An afternoon of FREE acting and Shakespeare workshops just for high school students!
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A Halloween (and Bard)-inspired performance showcase for high school students.
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A two-day acting intensive for high school students during the winter holiday vacation. Learn how to:
- “unpack” and personalize Shakespeare's words and characters to make them their own
- honor your impulses and bring truth to your acting
- devise original work that communicates your artistic voice, (using Shakespeare's text as a launchpad)
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An online competition open to high school students featuring works of original art inspired by the Bard!