There is one thing folks in Washington, DC, on both sides of the aisle can agree on: politicians performing Shakespeare is loads of fun.
On Tuesday, July 23, Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Will on the Hill returned for its 22nd year as a bipartisan bridge for arts education. The event has raised over $6.6 million in support of arts education in its history, and continues to bring together a lively group of Washington’s very own political figures, talented actors, students of the arts, and lovers of the Bard for one night on stage full of comedy and collaboration—and let’s not forget funny costumes.
Composed of short scenes from iconic Shakespeare plays, Will on the Hill is performed by a blend of local actors, politicians, important DC figures, and students. It’s an all-hands-on-deck celebration of the stage and page, reminding us that you don’t have to be a professional to dabble in any art form.
The event began with a virtual dispatch from Simon Godwin, artistic director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC). From across the pond on a summer holiday to Shakespeare’s own homeland, Godwin welcomes the audience and compares the lively performance about to take place to the “high theatrics of Capitol Hill.”
Emcee Mike Evans took the stage to give opening remarks and remind us what Will on the Hill is about: celebrating students, bolstering a healthy political community, and having fun. Joined by WOTH Co-Chairs Gail McKinnon and Karishma Shah Page, the three speakers emphasize the role that this event plays in the DC arts education community.
After introducing the audience to the values behind this beloved event, it’s off to the races—or rather, off to the pages. The centuries-old texts of William Shakespeare are the foundation of the rest of the evening. Scenes from familiar favorites like Macbeth, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Romeo and Juliet make up the bulk of the program, with one outstanding monologue from one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known plays, A Winter’s Tale, performed by Annabel Stefanov.
The performances are anchored by special guests Holly Twyford and Felicia Curry, two award-winning local actors who hop easily from scene to scene. Both are outstanding performers, never failing to extract a laugh from the audience, or even their fellow actors.
One phenomenal piece of the program was a hair-raising fight scene, demonstrated by Robb Hunter and Bess Kaye, that had audience members gasping as the actors feigned injury and insult. Theater magic does its trick, with the talented Hunter and Kaye easily able to masquerade kicks, punches, and even stabbings.
If there’s one thing Will on the Hill honorably excels at, it’s bringing forward some of the best young talent in the nation’s capital. A bright cohort of STC Summer Intensive students delivered wonderful scenes from A Winter’s Tale and Romeo and Juliet. The physical comedy that the students displayed in a scene from Romeo and Juliet—one where Romeo and his friends approach a party and Romeo recounts an ominous dream—was fantastically sidesplitting.
A marvelous group of young actors from Lee Montessori Elementary School performed an iconic scene from Macbeth. In a pre-recorded video displayed on screen, we learn that these students rehearsed this scene with none other than Ralph Fiennes, who played the titular Macbeth in STC’s production earlier this year. The young actors tackled the script fearlessly and hilariously, delivering a memorable performance that was surely a highlight of the program.
Will on the Hill is an event that captures the joyful heart of DC’s theater and arts community.
The prized program is more than a celebration of the Bard. It reflects this city’s continuing commitment to promoting arts education, and reminds us that the support for this honorable cause bridges all political persuasions.
Running Time: 45 minutes.
Will on the Hill was presented July 23, 2024, by Shakespeare Theatre Company at
Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F Street NW, Washington, DC.
The program for Will on the Hill 2024 is online here.
CAST
Lee Montessori Elementary School Students: Dahlia Berger, Adeline Bloom, Teodors Girard, Aziz Jarrar, Ryan Stevens, Nora Wendel, Camille Wilkins
STC Summer Intensive students: Kashvi Ramani, Annabel Stefanov, Corvid Thomas, Olivia Tirol
Special Guests: Felicia Curry and Holly Twyford
Director: Samantha Wyer Bello
Stage Manager: Jess Hagy
Production Manager: Hilary Surface
Government Affairs and Sponsorship Lead: Shelagh Grimshaw
Event Logistics: April Powell Harris
Emcee: Mike Evan
SEE ALSO:
STC’s annual Will on the Hill benefit to feature Holly Twyford and Felicia Curry (news story, July 12, 2024)