The Shakespeare Club of Encinal High School (EHS) will host a citywide William Shakespeare monologue competition on Saturday, Feb. 1. The competition is open to all high school students who live or attend school in Alameda. 
“We established our club this year to offer EHS students the opportunity to come together to read, talk about and perform the works of William Shakespeare,” said club president Linnea Arneson. “Now we’d like to share our interest in the bard with all of Alameda.”
The club modeled the event on the Shakespeare monologue competitions run by the English-Speaking Union. Students choose a monologue from one of Shakespeare’s 38 plays. They read, analyze and then perform the one- to two-minute speeches for a panel of judges, an audience of their peers and the general public. 
“Contests like ours are held in communities all across the country and involve more than 15,000 students each year,” Arneson said. “We will offer prizes to the winners of three different categories: drama, comedy and audience choice.” She pointed out that this marks the first time that anyone has ever held a competition like this in Alameda.
The competition will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, on the cafeteria stage at EHS, 210 Central Ave. There is a $5-$10 registration fee. The deadline to register is Friday, Jan. 24. 
The club is requesting a $5 donation from each audience member, but Arneson said that no one will be turned away. Learn more (and download the registration form)  at https://ehs-alamedausd-ca.schoolloop.com/shakespeare or by emailing Shakespeare@circusforarts.org or telephoning 629-1538.