Area high school students bring Shakespeare to life, lending their own interpretations of his monologues and sonnets as they compete for a berth in the national competition in New York City.

The 33^rd annual event, sponsored by the Kansas City Branch of the English-Speaking Union, is designed to develop students’ speaking and critical thinking skills as they explore Shakespeare. It features the winners of preliminary competitions at KC-area high schools, plus a contest for home-schooled students. Local champions twice have gone on to win the national event in New York, this year tentatively scheduled for late April.