# Utah Shakespeare Festival High School Shakespeare Competition

49th annual competition at the Utah Shakespeare Festival: high school students compete in acting, dance, music, and technical theatre before industry judges in Cedar City, October 1-3, 2026. Register by Sept 4.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | Utah Shakespeare Festival |
| Category | arts |
| Cost | Not listed |
| Deadline | 2026-08-14 (verified 2026-07-27) |
| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 |
| Format | In person |
| Location | Cedar City, UT |
| Program dates | 2026-10-01 to 2026-10-03 |
| Apply | https://competition.bard.org/registration-info/ |

## About this program

# Utah Shakespeare Festival High School Shakespeare Competition

Each fall, the Utah Shakespeare Festival and Southern Utah University's College of Performing and Visual Arts host one of the country's largest high school Shakespeare competitions in Cedar City, Utah. The 49th annual competition runs October 1-3, 2026. Students perform scenes, monologues, dance/choreography, and music built on Shakespeare's works and receive personal evaluation from working theater professionals.

## What You'll Do

- Compete with your school's team in acting, dance/choreography, music, and technical theatre events before panels of industry professionals
- Take workshops in stage combat, improvisation, movement, auditioning, ballet, modern dance, and choral performance
- Watch peer performances and attend Utah Shakespeare Festival and SUU productions
- Receive written and verbal adjudication to sharpen your ensemble's work

## Who Should Apply

High school students whose schools register a team - talk to your drama teacher. For 2026, schools file an Intent to Participate by August 14 (required in order to register), then complete registration between August 17 and September 4; no late registrants are accepted. Students who are sophomores, juniors, or seniors can earn one university credit through SUU for participating.

## Outcomes

Competitors get professional adjudication on Shakespearean performance, exposure to a Tony Award-winning festival's stages and artists, and awards across performance and technical categories. For many Western drama programs the Cedar City competition is the anchor event of the fall season and a proving ground for future theater majors.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the application deadline for Utah Shakespeare Festival High School Shakespeare Competition?

The application deadline is August 14, 2026 (deadline last verified July 27, 2026). Always confirm on the program's official site, as dates can shift between cycles.

### Who is eligible for Utah Shakespeare Festival High School Shakespeare Competition?

Utah Shakespeare Festival High School Shakespeare Competition is open to high school students in grades 9–12. Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is Utah Shakespeare Festival High School Shakespeare Competition online or in person?

Utah Shakespeare Festival High School Shakespeare Competition is an in-person program based in Cedar City, UT.

### How do I apply to Utah Shakespeare Festival High School Shakespeare Competition?

Apply directly through Utah Shakespeare Festival's official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Last updated: 2026-07-28.
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