Students in grades 6-8 provided a memorable morning of entertainment at last Friday’s Middle School Shakespeare Festival in the amphitheatre.
The day began with sixth graders reciting 27 of the 154 sonnets written by Shakespeare. Akira Vijay ‘32 provided the introduction and her classmates followed with recitations. Seventh graders in Ms. Bess Gildersleeve’s classes followed by reciting a series of soliloquies. Aaliah Jerome ’31 began this segment with an introduction. Several sixth and seventh graders were finalists competing for the Streib Cup and Grace Gonnella ’31 and Aaliah Jerome ’31 tied for first place and were announced as co-winners. This marks the first time since 1995 that there has been a tie for this prestigious award.
Eighth graders in Ms. Dorri Ramati’s English classes delighted the audience with their performance of Macbeth. Leading players included Sasha Buezo ’30 as Macbeth, Shaina Patel ’30 as Lady Macbeth, Jaxson Simeonidis ’30 as King Duncan, Jeremiah Simeonidis ’30 as Banquo, and Lexington Donahue ’30, Harper Rubinsky ’30 and Melanie Diaz ’30 as the witches. Logan Celentano ’30 and Sanaya Joshi ’30 were the narrators. Others in the class assisted with production, designing sets, creating props and organizing costumes in addition to taking roles in the onstage ensemble.
Congratulations to the students and their teachers for their collaboration and efforts to continue the Shakespeare tradition at W+H!