Across the country, branches of the English-Speaking Union are sponsoring the 2020 English in Action National Shakespeare Competition. The ESU Los Angeles Branch will host its local competition at 10 a.m. on Feb. 22, at the Marlborough School.

Open to the winners of area high school competitions held earlier this school year, the event will feature over 20 students. Each will perform a Shakespearean monologue and recite a sonnet from a curated selection. Competitors will be judged on their understanding of the texts and on their ability to communicate that understanding to an audience.

In April, the winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to represent their branch on the national level, where a panel of judges will select seven to 10 finalists to perform their selections.

The first-place award is a full scholarship to attend a summer Shakespeare program. Past winners have received scholarships to the British American Drama Academy and the American Shakespeare Center’s summer theater camp in Staunton, Virginia.  

The competition is free and open to the public, but reservations are required due to the limited capacity of the venue. To reserve tickets, call Leigh Hansen at (323)313-9214.

The Marlborough School is located at 250 S. Rossmore Ave. For information, visit esuus.org/esu/programs/shakespeare_competition.