Shakespeare in the City

Lincoln loves Shakespeare! We celebrate the Bard every chance we get—not just by reading his work in class, but by performing it out loud, the way it was intended.

Every spring, the Middle School hosts a lively Shakespeare Recitation Contest. Every middle school student memorizes a monologue and presents it in her English class. The class votes, and the finalists from each class participate in the big contest—a highlight of the year.

Since 2009, Lincoln’s Grade 8 students have participated in Shakespeare in the City, with 20+ other schools in and around Providence. Lincoln English teacher and Shakespeare in the City founder Martha Douglas-Osmundson carefully condenses a Shakespeare play and students rehearse in their English classes. The culmination is a performance at a large venue in downtown Providence (most recently Veterans Memorial Auditorium), produced and performed by more than 250 students from the greater Providence area. It’s an unforgettable experience that deepens students’ appreciation for Shakespeare while exposing them to every aspect of theater production.