This year’s 13th Annual Vento Shakespeare Festival was an overwhelming success, with approximately 120 students and eight teachers participating. The event, well attended by the general public, was overseen by Shakespearean scholar Pamela New, with the assistance of Pistarckle Theater’s project manager Julie Baber.
Sponsors included the Vento Charitable Trust, Auven Therapeutics, Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, Emerald Beach Hotel and the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts.
Students and faculty from St. Thomas and St. Croix gathered at the Nisky Center Moravian Church to recreate scenes from some of William Shakespeare’s most memorable plays. The tremendous talent these children displayed warranted several awards. The eight ‘Best Of’ Awards included:
Best Monologue/Senior Monologue: Kade’jah Stevens of St. Croix Educational Complex;
Best Scene/Senior Ensemble: Seventh Adventist School Ensemble;
Best Scene/Junior Ensemble: Nisky Moravian School;
Best Actor/Senior Ensemble: James Nosty of 7th Day Adventist;
Best Actor/Junior Ensemble: Teague Hewlett of Nisky Moravian School;
Best Actress/Senior Ensemble: Shenee Charles of Ivanna Eudora Kean High School;
Best Actress/Senior Monologue Actress: K’Maia Clouden of St. Croix Educational Complex;
Best Actress/Junior Ensemble: J’Nya Etienne of Lockhart School.
Other Awards included:
Clear Energetic Storytelling/Senior Ensemble: Seventh-day Adventist School;
Clear Energetic Storytelling/Senior Monologue: Martina Florent of St. Croix Educational Complex;
Clear Energetic Storytelling/Junior Ensemble: Lockhart School;
Physical Transformation/Senior Ensemble: St. Croix Educational Complex;
Physical Transformation/Senior Monologue: Liza Perdomo Alvarez of St. Croix Educational Complex;
Physical Transformation/Junior Ensemble: Nisky Moravian School;
Commitment to Character/Senior Ensemble: Ivanna Eudora Kean High School;
Commitment to Character/Senior Monologue: Jahmaris Martha Nesbitt of St. Croix Educational Complex;
Commitment to Character/Junior Ensemble: Nisky Moravian School;
Energetic Opening/Senior Ensemble: Ivanna Eudora Kean High School;
Energetic Opening/Senior Monologue: Adelle Cuffy of Charlotte Amalie High School;
Energetic Opening/Junior Ensemble: Lockhart School;
Supportive Ensemble/Senior Ensemble: Charlotte Amalie High School;
Supportive Ensemble/Junior Ensemble: Nisky Moravian School;
Most Creative Production Elements/Senior Ensemble: Seventh-day Adventist;
Most Creative Production Elements/Senior Monologue: Cassandra Guadalupe of St. Croix Educational Complex;
Most Creative Production Elements/Junior Ensemble: Nisky Moravian School;
Rising Stars/Junior Monologue/Duo; Ashley Cypre and Oliver Bredy of Tutu Church of God.
For more details on Pistarckle Theater’s Youth Education and Enrichment Programs, call 775-7877 or email marketing@pistarckletheater.com.