This year’s Production featuring: King Lear and THE Taming of the Shrew! was a smashing success!
Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits (SGH) is a high-quality drama performance class for students ages 12-18 (with occasional exceptions for younger or older students). It was created primarily for Christian homeschooled students, but we welcome students from schooled settings. It is an exciting, educational, ten-week course culminating in performances of selected scenes from two of Shakespeare’s best plays. It is taught and directed by professional actor/storyteller, Christopher Leebrick, and class is limited to 20 students (with occasional exceptions solely at the discretion of the director).
PDF’s of the 2022 SGH Registration documents can be viewed and downloaded below:
- SGH Calendar 2022 Calendar 2022
- Read 1st – SGH Enrollment Letter 2022 Read 1st – SGH Enrollment Letter 2022
- Shakespeare Information Letter 2022 Shakespeare Information Letter 2022
- Student Information Sheet – 2022 SGH Student Info Sheet
- SGH Consent Waiver Release Agreement SGH Consent Waiver Release Agreement
Plus, for more information about SGH, see our FAQ section below.
(King Lear, 2022)
(The Taming of the Shrew, 2022)
(Hamlet, SGH 17)
(Othello, SGH 20)
(The Tempest, SGH 20)
(A Midsummers Night’s Dream, SGH 16, and Hamlet, SGH 17)
Program FAQ:
Is there a deposit?
Yes. There is a non-refundable deposit of $100, due at the time of registration. Checks should be made out to Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits.
Can I get my deposit back if there is a family emergency?
Families should consider the deposit to be non-refundable when enrolling. However, occasionally deposits may be refunded at the discretion of SGH for true family emergencies (e.g. severe illness, sudden move across country, etc.) All deposit refunds must be requested before the program start date in January.
(Much Ado About Nothing, SGH 18)
What will my student get from this program?
- Your student will get a high-quality theater class that focuses on performance.
- Your student will get a very good understanding of two of Shakespeare’s plays.
- Your student will receive 1 Carnegie unit’s worth of fine arts.
- Most students learn more about speaking and presenting themselves from this program than they do from a specific speech class. Students learn diction, volume, facial expression, body language, and overall presentation.
Where does my tuition go?
Your tuition is Mr. Leebrick’s professional fee to expertly direct this program.
Where does the program get its operating costs?
The program gets its running costs in two ways:
- Each student is required to sell two $25 ad spaces in our play program to local businesses. This is usually a “win-win” situation, as the business gets to advertise, and we get funding!
- Ticket sales.
Do families have to purchase tickets? How much do they cost?
Yes, families of the cast do have to purchase tickets. We depend on ticket income for costs associated with the program, and your students are worth it!
(Julius Caesar, 2019)
Can I use this program on my student’s high-school transcript?
Certainly! The class is worth 1 Carnegie unit (equivalent to a full high-school year) based on the number of hours involved. This is a great deal!
Are the students graded?
Yes. Mr. Leebrick will supply grades to all of the students for use on a transcript as the parent chooses. Alternatively, the class can be counted as a great extra-curricular activity.
(Love’s Labor’s Lost, SGH 19)
Are costumes supplied?
Parents and students are responsible for coming up with a costume. Parents should expect that they may have to make, rent, or buy a costume for the performances.
However, as the program has been running for many years, we have begun to collect many costume pieces that past parents/students have generously donated. This means that we often have costumes or good portions of costumes available to use (particularly for male acting parts). So, one should expect to have to come up with a costume, but feel blessed when it is not necessary.
Can I choose the day that would be best for my student?
No. We do not usually allow a day preference. We do this for a number of reasons:
- It is better for the student. It allows the director to place the student into the best part in the best play for that student’s development.
- It is better for the play. We want each part to be filled in a way that makes the play performance as excellent as possible.
Very occasionally, we will allow a day preference when the student has a very good reason. Students who need a day preference will be put on a waiting list. If the program does not fill before December, then these students will be permitted into the program with their day preference.
(Love’s Labor’s Lost, SGH 19)
I have a 9-year-old that would love to be in SGH. Do you make age exceptions?
We rarely make age-exceptions. We do allow students who are older than 18 into the program if they have already been in the program and we know them.
We occasionally will allow an 11-year-old into the program if there is room and with director approval. Students who fall outside the age-restrictions should expect to be placed on a waiting list. If the program is not filled by December, then the student may be allowed in with director approval.
We are not Christians. Can my student participate?
The class assumes a Christian worldview. However, we do not have a specific Statement of Faith or religious requirements for students. If your student is comfortable with a Christian worldview, then he or she may participate.
We are not homeschoolers. Can my student participate?
Yes, while the class is primarily intended for homeschool students, we do take non-homeschooling students.
(Richard III, SGH 18)
We are going to be busy for two of the practices. Can my student still enroll?
Unfortunately, no. Mr. Leebrick and the cast pull off some outstanding plays in a very short amount of time. Because of this, each practice is very important, and no one should join the program with the thought that it would be okay to miss any practices.
In many ways, being in a play is like playing on a sport’s team. Each actor depends on each other actor to be there, be prepared, and do their best. So, being on time and ready to work each and every time is important to the rest of the cast.
What happens if my student is sick?
If a student is too ill to come to a practice, then please inform Katie Minter as soon as possible.
If the student can manage to come and at least sit in the back of the room (away from the other actors and adults), then that is appreciated, as he or she can still benefit from being in attendance.
It is the student’s responsibility to ask someone to take notes and/or video their part if he or she must be absent. In addition, the student should come to the next practice even more prepared.
A regular cold or minor illness is not an acceptable reason to be absent. Please wash your hands a lot and let the rest of the cast know, but come to practice anyway.
(Christopher Leebrick directs the famous Closet Scene in Hamlet; SGH 17)
Do parents have to help?
Yes. A parent (or designated stand-in adult, such as an older sibling) needs to volunteer to be a rehearsal assistant or to help in another way during the program. This program would not be possible without parent help. There are parent jobs that can be done mostly from home, and others that simply require your presence approximately 4-5 times during the quarter. There is a job available that will fit you comfortably.
(Hamlet, SGH 2017)
(Much Ado About Nothing, SGH 18)
(Full cast bow, SGH 18)
During 22 seasons SGH–Woodburn– has featured the following “greatest hits” by the world’s greatest playwright, William Shakespeare:
Hamlet
Macbeth
Othello
King Lear
Romeo & Juliet
Antony & Cleopatra
Richard III
Henry V
Julius Caesar
Much Ado About Nothing
A Comedy of Errors
Taming of the Shrew
Twelfth Night
As You Like It
A Midsummer Nights Dream
Love’s Labors Lost
The Merchant of Venice
A Winters Tale
The Tempest.
n
Thank you!
(Macbeth, 2021)
Christopher Leebrick 