In late February, seniors Lara Ozdogan and Amelia Sentveld represented PDS to showcase their theatrical capabilities at the 2024 National Shakespeare Competition held at the Peddie School in Hightstown, NJ. The event ended with Sentveld taking home the first place prize. Both Ozdogan and Sentveld possess extensive experience in PDS productions and acting classes, enabling them to bring diverse backgrounds onto the stage within the realm of theater. have had a long history of involvement in PDS productions and acting classes. Reflecting on the event, Ozdogan described it as an “incredible learning experience,” highlighting how she enjoyed meeting people from other schools. The highpoint of her time there, Ozdogan recalls, was all the unique ways the students performed their Shakespeare monologues and sonnets. She noted, “I haven’t had much experience with sonnets before, and being able to see everyone’s takes on it has prepared me to dive into the world of Shakespeare.” This experience and exposure to Shakespeare will come in handy in Lara’s upcoming theater journey at the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, which promises further immersion in Shakespearean literature.
Despite encountering “technical issues”, preventing her from receiving an award, Lara remains undeterred. Her partner Setveld, explains, “They forgot to put her on the list, but luckily she was still able to participate.” Sentveld shares Ozdogan’s sentiments, emphasizing the lasting impact of the competition. “I remember sitting with Lara, talking about how incredible everyone was as we were listening to the judges announce the winners,” she recalls. “We were sure we would not get anything since this was our first time competing, and all of a sudden I heard my name.”
Competing against schools such as Lawrenceville and Peddie, Sentveld exclaims just how shocked she was, remembering how she had to scramble to memorize their lines during the intermission of the PDS’ production of the musical The Prom the night before the competition. “I’m glad it all paid off in the end,” she added.
As Sentveld advances to the next rounds of the competition, she is excited to see what new challenges and opportunities lie ahead.
