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PortlandESU
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Founding of the Portland branch
The Portland branch of the ESU was founded in the late 1920’s. Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Strong had visited Great Britain where they met members of the ESU. On their return, the Strongs assembled the first ESU group in Portland. | Recent Events
Report of the 2009 Shakespeare Competition
Kudos to Margaret Norwood for putting together another highly successful Shakespeare Competition on, quite appropriately, Valentine’s Day. Love was certainly in the air! Ten students from High Schools as far away as Grants Pass entertained the audience in Fir Acres Theatre and competed against one another for the honor of performing in the National Shakespeare Competition at Lincoln Center in New York, April 25-28. The judges’ task was not an easy one, but they awarded 1st place to Erin Cunningham for her recitation from Troilus & Cressida and Sonnet 141. Erin attends Corvallis High School and this was the first year the school has participated – but definitely not a case of beginner’s luck! Austin McKee from Tigard took 2nd place, with Angie Keefe from Lakeridge in 3rd.
An event of this kind needs a lot of behind-the-scenes help: thanks go to Lewis & Clark College for allowing us to use the wonderful facility, to Rosalie Stevenson and her “catering staff” for the delicious refreshments, to the 3 judges, Stephen Weeks, Amy Gonzalez and Louane Moleoean and to everyone who came to encourage and applaud. Edmund Stone of KPBS All Classical Radio kindly agreed to be Master of Ceremonies again. He told the audience he has a “good face for radio”! He does indeed have a good voice for Shakespeare!!
Did you know that William Shakespeare’s actual birth date is unknown, but it is traditionally observed on April 23rd, which is St. George’s Day in England? It is a fact that he died on that date in 1616 at the age of 52.
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