CA State Thespian Festival 2026

Think Shakespeare is stiff, stuffy, and only performed with the most proper of English dialects? Think again! Modern audiences often struggle to understand the similarities between Shakespearean characters and people alive today, partly due to the structure of the verse, old-fashioned slang, and references to events that occurred long ago. When we don't understand something, it's easy to think it's boring and irrelevant. But the enduring legacy of Shakespeare is that his stories, characters, humor, heart, and observations of human behavior still ring very true in modern times if you can decode the text and find the meaning underneath. In this workshop, we will speak the speech trippingly on the tongue and put the words of Shakespeare into a modern context by working on scenes both in their original form and in your own words. We will also explore how Shakespeare used sounds, verse, and language to help actors understand their characters, relationships, and place in the story. By the end you will realize just how many times you've seen a Helena, Hamlet, or Hal in your favorite movies and TV shows (and maybe also in your own life). I am passionate about helping young actors find the fun in Shakespeare in ways that will benefit them, whether they aspire to tread the boards at The Globe or present at the Golden Globes.