Prestwick House · 2026 Season
Shakespeare Honors
Student theatre deserves to be seen, celebrated, and supported.
The Program
Recognizing Excellence in High School Theatre
Prestwick House Shakespeare Honors is a student recognition program created to celebrate outstanding Shakespeare performance and production in high school theatre programs.
Launched as a pilot in 2025, the program exists for one simple reason: students who bring Shakespeare to life deserve visible, lasting recognition in their schools and communities.
- Interest Forms Due
- October 9, 2026 11:59 p.m.
- Monologues & Scenes Due
- November 26, 2026 4:00 p.m.
- Outstanding Production Due
- January 29, 2027 4:00 p.m.
How It Works
Three Ways to Be Recognized
Each year, participating schools may submit performances for consideration in three categories.
Category
Best Monologue
Submissions dueNovember 26, 2026 · 4:00 p.m.
Category
Best Ensemble Scene
Submissions dueNovember 26, 2026 · 4:00 p.m.
Category
Outstanding Production
Submissions dueJanuary 29, 2027 · 4:00 p.m.
Submissions are reviewed by experienced theatre professionals and educators. Selected students and programs receive school banners, public announcements, and media outreach that spotlights the work happening in high school theatre.
For Teachers
The 2026 Teacher Handbook
Everything a theatre program needs to take part: category rules, filming and submission guidelines, judging criteria, and the full season calendar.
- Category rules for all three honors
- Filming, format, and submission requirements
- Judging criteria and recognition details
- 2026 season calendar and deadlines
Free PDF, no registration required.
2025 Honors
Meet the First Class
The students and programs first recognized by Shakespeare Honors.
Best Monologue
Mairin Curran
Cape Henlopen High School · Lady Macbeth
Monologue Finalist
Eugene Watts
Dover High School · The Tempest
Best Ensemble Scene
Newark Charter
Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2
“This is not a high-pressure competition. The emphasis is on craft, collaboration, and growth. Not elimination or ranking.”
What Makes It Different?
Recognition Without a Bracket
- No participation fees
- Low workload for teachers
- Flexible submissions: monologues, scenes, or productions
- Feedback and encouragement alongside recognition
Whether a school mounts a full Shakespeare production or works with selected scenes or monologues, there is room to participate.
In the Papers
The 2025 Coverage
Cape Gazette, Daily State News, and the Newark Post helped put student achievement in the public spotlight.
2026 Season
Interested in Getting Involved?
To receive updates, be included in future planning, or submit student work in an upcoming year, fill out the form. There is no obligation. Signing up simply keeps you in the loop.
If your students perform Shakespeare in any form (a full play, a scene, or a monologue), you are already most of the way there.
Questions? Contact
Jason Scott
Program Director, Prestwick House Shakespeare Honors
jason@prestwickhouse.com