Cape High senior wins state Shakespeare competition

After winning top honors in school and state contests, Cape High senior Ashlyn Moore will represent Delaware in the national English-Speaking Union’s 38th Shakespeare Competition. 

Ashlyn is also a candidate for a People’s Choice Award, a new competition category this year in which the public can view videos of student performances and vote for their favorite recital. The winner earns a $1,000 scholarship to use toward college. 

Cape High Theater Director Sadie Andros said this is Ashlyn’s third year participating in the event. 

“All finalists have won their school and state competitions, so there is some pretty stiff, talented competition at this point,” Andros said.

In Cape’s competition, Ashlyn finished first and freshman Ella Charkow placed second; at states, Ashlyn also placed first, and Ella finished third.

For nationals, Ashlyn will reprise her award-winning performance of Miranda’s monologue from “The Tempest” and “Sonnet 60.” The competition is typically held at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, Andros said, but it will be held virtually this year because of the pandemic. 

Ashlyn has performed in Cape High’s production of “Eurydice” and will play Helena in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which will be performed Thursday to Saturday, May 13 to 16, outside at Stango Park in Lewes, Andros said. Next year, Ashlyn will attend Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pa., where she will double major in theater and business.

To vote for Ashlyn in the People’s Choice Award, watch the video of her performance  at esuus.org and text NSC9 to 212-818-1200. Voting closes at midnight, Friday, April 23, and the winner will be announced Monday, April 26.