2010 ESU National Shakespeare Competition - A Summer in England
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John-Micheal Lyles in front of Buckingham Palace |
The Globe Theatre |
John-Michael with his RADA classmates. |
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John-Michael Lyles from Texas, winner of the 2010 ESU National Shakespeare Competition, received the ESU’s Amanda Steele Scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art’s Young Actors Summer School in London. Here’s what John-Michael had to say about his opportunity to study Shakespeare in the Bard’s homeland, England.
I never thought that a monologue, sonnet, and cold reading at the ESU National Shakespeare Competition could earn me a two-week intensive at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London! The experience was truly unforgettable, and I am thankful for every moment that I was able to grow, learn and develop myself as an artist in one of Britain’s most exciting cities.
During my first week at RADA, I was in an amazing group with a stellar director, and we focused solely on acting Shakespeare. The thing that I appreciated most about the way that they ran the Exploring Shakespeare course was the way in which they taught everyone from the ground upwards. We began with the very basics and grew from there. Taking classes like Acting, Scene Study, Stage Combat, Movement, Voice, and Dance was astoundingly thrilling because I felt as though I was immersed into so many facets of acting. All of the teachers were masters of their trade, and they were even more skilled at passing their knowledge on to a diverse group of students from all of Europe and America.
Overall, my trip to London was life-changing. I visited the Globe, which was breathtakingly beautiful and so incredibly inspiring. I was also able to tour downtown London, see all of the famous bridges and Trafalgar and Leicester Square. During my “off time,” I was able to go with some RADA friends to see shows in London’s West End. All the while on my trip, I was reading a book about a man living an exciting story in his life, which I was able to do with the ESU’s Amanda Steele Scholarship.
 
John-Michael with a friend at the National Gallery &, right, in front of St. John's Cathedral.
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