On Jan. 16th, the drama class embarked on their annual Shakesfest event, held at Walnut Creek’s Del Valle Center. While the program has faced several changes, Shakesfest has continued to remain a highlight of the class and of the year, according to current drama students.

“It’s always a great way to get to know people from the other schools in the district and build that broader drama community,” explained senior Cassidy Mintz, who had led one of the three Campo groups performing a reenactment of different Shakespeare plays including “Taming of the Shrew” and “Macbeth.” “You spend so much time working on your performance with your little group, but then you get to go to Walnut Creek and perform in front of other groups and see how they interpreted Shakespeare.”

Shakesfest has typically been a district collaboration, involving not just Campo but also Acalanes, Miramonte, Las Lomas, and others, bringing together students who would otherwise not have a reason to stay as connected. “It was really cool to see people’s creativity,” reflected sophomore Airis Lomelli. “Shakesfest is all about modifying and changing different Shakespeare plays, and you’re only allowed to use four chairs for enacting them,” Lomelli said. She also brought up the nature of the friendships made among drama students during Shakesfest: “My favorite part is the connection between the different schools. It’s always a nice contrast from sports rivalries that people usually see.”

Freshman Vittoria Laezza, for whom this was her first Shakesfest experience, reported how it changed the way she saw drama as an art. “It really involved me having to step out of my comfort zone and try new things, since it also involves everyone contributing and working together to create the performance.” She added, “in drama, you might say it’s just about acting, but Shakesfest proved that it’s a lot bigger than that – completely changing the script, going along with creativity and imagination, bonding with new people…it was super exciting.”

Shakesfest wasn’t just an exhilarating field trip, but also a way for all drama students in AUHSD to get together for a common cause and to celebrate and support one another. To create such a supportive environment and community requires a steadfast tradition rooted in passion and artistry – exactly what Shakesfest is to Campo drama.