Cape students recognized in statewide Shakespeare Honors program
Cape Henlopen High School junior Mairin Curran received the inaugural Prestwick House Shakespeare Honors Best Monologue award March 10, when she was recognized in a ceremony along with Cape’s four other finalists.
“This is really exciting,” said Curran, who won for her role as Lady Macbeth in a performance of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” “I worked so hard on my monologue, [and] it’s really an honor to have some recognition.”
Prestwick House is a Delaware-based educational publishing company that supports English and language arts teachers nationwide. It launched its Shakespeare Honors program this year in collaboration with teachers across the state to recognize excellence in high school Shakespeare performance.
“When a school wins a state football championship, the whole community knows about it and celebrates it,” Program Director Jason Scott said. “We believe theater students deserve that same level of recognition. What Cape Henlopen has built is nothing short of a championship-caliber program, and their students’ achievements should be celebrated just as proudly.”
The four other finalists for the award included Marley Fyock for her role as Helena in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Julia LaCrette as Phoebe in “As You Like It,” Taylor Ruark as Lady Macbeth in “Macbeth” and Addison Varney as Julia in “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.”
Other participating schools included Dover High School and Newark Charter High School.
“I’m so proud of the students, and it’s really wonderful to see them have opportunities like this in Delaware to be recognized for their hard work and talent,” said Sadie Andros, Cape’s theater teacher and director.
Each finalist received a certificate and a glass plaque from Prestwick House. Additionally, Cape received a banner recognizing Curran’s achievement.
Curran, who’s been acting since she was 5, said she’s excited to see the banner hanging up in the school, and she plans to display her certificate and plaque in her room at home. She hopes to pursue a career in acting and theater after high school.
Ellen McIntyre is a reporter covering education and all things Dewey Beach. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Penn State - Schreyer Honors College in May 2024, then completed an internship writing for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In 2023, she covered the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand as a freelancer for the Associated Press and saw her work published by outlets including The Washington Post and Fox Sports. Her variety of reporting experience covers crime and courts, investigations, politics and the arts. As a Hockessin, Delaware native, Ellen is happy to be back in her home state, though she enjoys traveling and learning about new cultures. She also loves live music, reading, hiking and spending time in nature.
