STEAM takes Shakespeare to DC

Way back in March, the high school class went (on a very very early morning) to Washington, DC for the annual Secondary School Shakespeare Festival at the Folger Shakespeare Library

The Folger is an incredible resource in DC for theater, special educational events, and research-it’s an actual library with a wealth of Shakespeare-related texts. It’s also beautiful inside and just a wonderful space to be in. There are a few exhibits and a cafe, as well.

The festival has been held for decades in this venue. Each year, students from the DMV region gather at the Folger to perform selected scenes, enjoy the work of other students, and participate in theater games and merriment. The atmosphere is lively and joyful and low-pressure-a perfect match for our STEAM School vibe 🙂

Our students performed Act V, Scene iii of Hamlet and titled their production "All Mortals Shall Die." They did such wonderful work and with only a few class sessions to prepare. They projected their voices, engaged in some impressive sword fighting, and enjoyed their time on stage.

One of the highlights was the post-performance feedback from the audience. Students and teachers from other schools offered praise and comments on their performance. It was such a wonderful part of the experience to be lifted up by peers and to do the same for others.

Upon return to STEAM, the students were super positive about their experiences and said they were definitely interested in doing this again another year. Next year, we hope to bring the middle school class to the Folger (you have to apply, so there are no guarantees!). This may be a new STEAM School tradition!

You can see a performance of this scene at the End of the Year Picnic on May 16th!

These awesome kids will be performing in the amphitheater.