Mundelein Theatre takes top prize at 2017 Shakespeare Slam

The Mundelein Theatre Shakespeare Slam team was the winner of the 2017 Chicago Shakespeare Slam. This is the second year in a row the team advanced to the final round of competition. Roughly 50 teams from across the Chicagoland area participated in this program, sponsored by Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Nine schools advanced to the final bout, which was held Dec. 11 on the Courtyard Stage at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier. It was a close competition, with teams from Niles North and Warren earning runners-up honors.

The team developed two pieces for this performance. The first, known as the Scene Round, can come from any play in Shakespeare's canon. The Mundelein team decided to use a scene from "Much Ado About Nothing." The second, the Dream Round, is a creative exploration inspired by "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Both pieces were five minutes long.

The team is made up of eight performers - Kimberly Barr, Anooha Dasari, Dan Haller, Rachel Larson, Sydney Litka, Miriam Mitry, Allan Rodriguez and Ginny Zundel - as well as two student coaches: Ellie Mellen and Colin Nacion. In addition, several students from last year's team wanted to help develop and coach this year's team. Known as the Bard's Circle, these students, Maddie Martorana, Brianna Moderhack and Natalie Williams, attended every rehearsal and served as additional resources for the team. The team is coached by Mark Landuyt and Jonathan Meier.

"This program has turned out to be one of the highlights of our theater season," said Landuyt. "It is a completely student-centric program, with the kids taking the lead on both the development of the material, as well as the staging of the pieces."

The Slam competition is described as first and foremost, an ensemble building program, building community, first among the members of a school's team, and second among the many school's participation across the Chicago region.