Shaking Up Shakespeare

The youth produced Shakespeare’s As You Like It with an 80s theme, complete with neon costumes, big hair, and dance moves like “the running man.”

People make choices every day.  For youth, the choices they make play an integral role in their future.  This summer, HIRE LA’s Youth Interns had the opportunity to explore their choices through a paid internship at Shakespeare Festival Los Angeles (SFLA).

The youth produced Shakespeare’s As You Like It with an 80s theme, complete with neon costumes, big hair, and dance moves like “the running man.”  The production also reflected this year’s topic of “choices.” HIRE LA interns created three new characters to specifically reflect the theme: the journeys of Adam, a young man struggling with career options, Lovely, a woman envisioning her future family, and Rose, a senior who desires to attend a college her parents disapprove of.

Besides writing characters for the play, interns also designed sets, made costumes, choreographed fight scenes and composed music.  In particular, HIRE LA intern Shaun Reoliquio was involved in a variety of areas.  At 19, he is the epitome of the word “artist.”  His character Silvius was the lead singer and guitarist in many of the music numbers, as well as the unrequited lover of Phebe.  Shaun also worked behind the scenes as lead of the writing team and member of the sound team.  He wrote the lyrics and composed all of the musical numbers.

Shaun has spent the past two years with SFLA and plans to continue with the program.  Last year, he had a major role in A Midsummer’s Night Dream.  When not at SFLA, Shaun is enrolled at Santa Monica Community College to become a freelance graphic designer.  He also plays with The Six Shooters, a band he formed with other interns on the side.

Shakespeare Festival Los Angeles gives interns a creative outlet to influence their interests in art.  The organization has also enriched lives of teens by providing a place to develop teamwork, learn about art, and build confidence.