Southern Shakespeare Company announces 2023 Sonnet Contest winners

Special to the Tallahassee Democrat
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Southern Shakespeare Company and the Sonnet Man are pleased to announce the winners in its 2023 Sonnet Contest.

After being submitted from as far away as England and India, sonnets were judged blind by Devon Glover, the internationally celebrated educator and emcee known as the Sonnet Man, with FSU English Department professors David Kirby and Celia R. Caputi, Ph.D.

Devon Glover, The Sonnet Man, was the middle school judge for the Southern Shakespeare Company's sonnet contest, shown performing in 2015. The 2023 Sonnet Contest winners will read their poems on May 13.
Devon Glover, The Sonnet Man, was the middle school judge for the Southern Shakespeare Company's sonnet contest, shown performing in 2015. The 2023 Sonnet Contest winners will read their poems on May 13.

The first place Middle School sonneteer, Timothy Hughes, and second place High School sonneteer, Benjamin Hall, are both Tallahassee residents.

All contest finalists are invited to perform their work live in Cascades Park before the 7:30 p.m. performance of “Antony & Cleopatra” on Saturday, May 13.

Read the winning sonnets and learn more about SSC at southernshakes.org/sonnet-contest

Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" is performed by the Southern Shakespeare Company during the final night of the company's 2021 annual festival at Cascades Park Sunday, May 9, 2021.
Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" is performed by the Southern Shakespeare Company during the final night of the company's 2021 annual festival at Cascades Park Sunday, May 9, 2021.

2023 free Shakespeare in the Park Festival events

All events take place at the Adderley Amphitheater Stage at Cascades Park.

Thursday - Sunday, May 11-14, 2023, 7:30 p.m.: "Antony & Cleopatra"

After the fallout of Julius Caesar’s murder, his once-great, would-be successor Mark Antony seeks solace in the arms of Egyptian queen Cleopatra. Yet far from providing an escape, their doomed love affair will spark another calamity between their empires.

Friday, May 13, 7 p.m.: 2023 Sonnet Contest Finalists Read Their Poems

All finalists of the 2023 Sonnet Contest are invited to read their work before the evening performance of Antony & Cleopatra; performer line-up will be announced on the day of the event.

Saturday - Sunday, May 13-14, 2023, 5:30 p.m.: The Bardlings present As You Like It (Abridged)

Newly lovestruck Rosalind flees an oppressive court for the Forest of Arden, where she finds her beloved Orlando has also fled! Disguised as a shepherd boy, Rosalind teaches Orlando how to woo and love with the help of friends and forest dwellers.

Learn more at southernshakespearefestival.org.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Southern Shakespeare announces winners of the 2023 Sonnet Contest