By Jennifer Georgia (with profound apologies to the Bard)
Will on the Hill is the annual fundraising event hosted by Shakespeare Theatre Company that brings together bipartisan members of Congress, lawmakers, and other Washington insiders to perform Shakespeare in support of arts education. In the spirit of Shakespeare, DCTA writer Jennifer Georgia got creative with a blank verse review of the event:
In muggy DC where we set our scene,
a mingled throng of worthies did alight.
To Sidney Harman Hall they bent their steps
Their cares to banish, be it for a night.
These actors, politicians, and their trains
Their retinues in business wear bedecked
and stalwarts of the philanthropic throng
(their purses did not long remain unchequed)
T’was for Arts Education all had come!
The Bard to bring to those who need him most
to kids of far-flung schools the district round
The Shakespeare Theatre Comp’ny playing host1.
First up a scene from Midsummer Night’s Dream,
Mayhap the fave of those who love the Bard
Helena (Renea Brown) and fierce Hermia (Felicia Curry)2 did spar
With hum’rous barbs and energy galore.
But then much sharper weapons came to bear!
Prince Hal (Bess Kaye) and Hotspur (Jon Beal)3 broadswords keen did cross
Clamorous rang metallic battle sounds
E’en gory blood drawn at the bitter end!
Then Antony’s speech o’er Caesar we did hear,
Who murdered was for craving too much pow’r…
None of his ilk has ever since been seen!
(Ignore ironic chuckles in the crowd).
Two students (Bella Olawareju and Melanie Seevers), fine of voice and stern mien
Quoth “Brutus is an honorable man!”
And brought to mind how quick the fickle crowd
Blown by the winds of rhetoric can bend.
Three witches then their prophesies did make
That Thane Macbeth high king would be e’re long.
But such a king! A pint-sized prodigy!
A student actor (Sebastian Cummiskey) ably filled the role.
Diminutive in size but strong of voice,
This small colossus did bestride the stage,
With dignity and power did declaim
And brought the patrons, cheering, to their feet!
As for the worthies of the politick class4,
A different kind of courage they displayed
For gamely – sans rehearsal! – did contend
With Shakespeare’s comic words to much applause.
At first in fair Verona they appeared,
And bit their thumbs – at whom? They would not say…
And last as Bottom’s players capered they,
Complete with wall and moon and lovers twain.
Two houses both alike in dignity,
Forgetting strife and worry for a night
Laid down their party banners for the nonce
And joined as one in cause of levity
Reminding us that Washington’s a town,
and all are neighbors who here work and dwell,
Community is something needed sore,
And where to find it better than onstage?
For twenty years this grand tradition’s reigned
So let us now all raise our tankards high,
Here’s hope that it will shine for twenty more
Will on the Hill forever be our cry!
Will on the Hill played one night only, June 8, 2026, at Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St NW, Washington, DC, where STC is now presenting Othello through June 28.
SEE ALSO:
Shakespeare Theatre Company’s annual ‘Will on the Hill’ set for June 8 (news story, May 19, 2026)
- Speakers:
STC’s Executive Director Angela Lee Gieras
Emcee Mike Evans
Carol Danko, Will on the Hill Committee Chair
Karishma Page, STC Learning Committee Chair
Production directed by Aïsha Sidibé, STC’s Senior Director of Learning
↩︎ - (Additional actors: Murphy Coons
Faith Lee) ↩︎ - Stage Combat Demonstration
↩︎ - Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE)
Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI)
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL),
Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL)
Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR)
Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA)
Former Representative Carolyn Maloney
Former Representative Jim Moran
Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough
DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson
DC Councilmember At-Large Christina Henderson (At-Large)
DC Councilmember Charles Allen (Ward 6)
DC Councilmember Wendell Felder (Ward 7)
Marla Allard
Olivia Beavers
Maureen Dowd
Rich Edson
James Hohmann
Mara Liasson ↩︎
