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The regional level of the National Shakespeare Competition was held yesterday at Playhouse Square. Aric Floyd, a junior at Hawken School, placed first in the final round and will represent the Cleveland Branch of the English Speaking Union at the national competition in April at Lincoln Center in NY. I have been working with Aric since January when his coach and teacher Julia Griffin took a maternity leave, as a coach to help him prepare for yesterday's contest and I am exceedingly proud of him and the honor he has brought his school and city. 26 high schools- public, parochial, and independent- participated yesterday. If you are a coach or adviser to high school actors and/or students of Shakespeare an are not yet involved with this competition, I can't overstate the value and rewards participation brings to each student who enters. It is open to all schools in the Cleveland area and stretched this year all the way to Painesville to the east. It costs nothing but pays back more than can be counted. All it takes is a committed volunteer teacher and a minimum of three interested students to get started. The Cleveland Branch of the English Speaking Union can answer your questions and will provide massive files of information and teacher training sessions for newbies. This is my second go-round with the contest. I advised/ coached for 8 years at Cleveland Heights High School before my retirement and in '04 we sent a student to New York,a thrill I can't believe I have the chance to experience a second time! There are incredible prizes for the top placers, but really, everyone wins who tries. Please think about joining next year. It is SO worth the time and effort. <br> </div></div> </div></body>
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