Strange ‘Shakespeare Nerd’ off to New York

Live Theatre is active and strong in the community, including the classics like Shakespeare at EmilyAnn and all their productions. One of those local actors is just a sophomore at WHS and she is already winning awards.

Hallie Strange is that local actor. She entered the English Speaking Union’s National Shakespeare Competition and won on the community level that is by winning the State competition in Austin and now has a trip to New York City in April.

She will perform sonnets and monologues from the Bard of course, in front of a “distinguished panel of judges… Based on their performances, seven to ten students advance to the final round. Finalists, performing their selections along with a cold reading of a monologue, compete for cash prizes and the opportunity to attend a summer drama program,’ according to the ESU’s website.

“I’m excited about the competition. I’m such a huge Shakespeare nerd. It was awesome to be with kids, like me, who love Shakespeare like me,” she said.

“With one parent, an all expense paid trip and to compete at the Kennedy Center. It hasn’t set in yet. I won and now have to study monologues and sonnets… it still doesn’t feel real.”

She has been acting since she was six. Now she’s 16, that’s a full decade and has performed not only at EmilyAnn but other playhouses in the Austin area and with the Wimberley Players. Her first production was Alice in Wonderland at EmilyAnn performing as the shrunken Alice.

“I knew from that point on that’s what I will do, the theatre for the rest of my life.”

She’s also had the lead in Diary of Anne Frank and her favorite role, Puck in Midsummers Night Dream.

The contest is nation-wide and approximately 2,500 teachers and 20,000 students in nearly 60 ESU Branch communities participate each year.

“Going to New York City. That’s awesome,” Strange said.