Great Works Speaking Competition

BY MAGGIE KLEIN

KONKLIFE STAFF WRITER

An exciting opportunity is coming to the high school students of Key West and the lower Keys this October. Books & Books at The Studios of Key West is hosting the Great Works Speaking Competition, a competition that will grant students the opportunity to show their reading and performance skills to a panel of judges, and potentially win a cash prize!

The students that wish to participate are asked to select a work from either a suggested list of authors, or any author that has a connection to the Keys. The suggested authors are Elizabeth Bishop, Jimmy Buffett, Ralph Ellison, Robert Frost, Ernest Hemingway, John Hersey, Alison Laurie, Jose Marti, Harry Mathews, Joy Williams, and Tennesse Williams.  In addition to the reading of the piece they select, each participant will also prepare a short presentation of the work they chose, as well as an introduction of themselves. At the time of the event, Saturday, October 16th at 2pm, each student will present their chosen piece to an audience at Hugh’s View Rooftop Terrace. Each participant is to read their work with drama, nuance, and almost in a performative way. The panel of judges will rate the students on all sorts of things, from the work they selected, to their introduction, and the way in which they “performed” the piece. The list of judges include Ben Harrison, Erin McKenna, Rebecca Bennett, Leda Andrews, and Lori Reid. The best part? Participants receive a Letter of Recognition and a line on their college resume, just for participation. Oh! And the cash prizes! First place receives $750, second gets $500, and third wins $250! The winners of the event will also be interviewed on their experience within the competition. 

The beauty of this competition is the versatility of it. Many high school students are less inclined to participate in an event if it requires memorization, or something along those lines. However, in this instance, because participants are able to have the piece in front of them, all they have to do is perform. They are able to select a work that has resonated with them, in whatever way that may be, and execute it in a personal and dramatic way, exercising their own talent. The Manager of Books & Books, Emily Berg, states, “It shouldn’t be quite as scary as having to memorize a whole script, it should be more attainable, and allow these students to tap into something they’ve already got.” This competition is accessible for students that aren’t necessarily actors, but still have talent. The competition was inspired by Fred Klein, a Key West Snow Bird, who had originally put this idea into place in his home town of Roslyn, New York. Those that are organizing the event are hoping that this initial year will spark an annual competition for the students of the Keys, and for the event to bloom into something bigger. 

Registration for The Great Works Speaking Competition is open now through Thursday, October 14, 2021! In order to find more information and to register, visit booksandbookskw.com/great-works. There is no fee to register, there’s nothing to lose! Only to gain. The event is funded by the donation of Fred and Joanne Klein, a couple of passionate Snow Birds of Key West. 

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]