Pittsburgh Public Theatre Announces Shakespeare Nation Project Feat. Gillian Jacobs

Pittsburgh Public Theater announces the Shakespeare Nation Project, with Honorary Chair Gillian Jacobs, co-star of NBC's "Community" and formerShakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest competitor. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the competition, Pittsburgh Public Theater wants to hear from past Shakespeare Contest participants, many of whom are now scattered across the country. Along with Gillian's, your comments will be compiled into a commemorative program book that will include photographs from the Shakespeare Contest archive. The program will be distributed at this year's Showcase of Finalists, on February 17, 2014 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District. The comments will also be available online at ppt.org.

To be included, please email the information below:

· In a sentence or two please describe: What you gained from your experience in Pittsburgh Public Theater's Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest. Include your name and the year and school you attended when you took part in the competition. Feel free to attach a current picture. Email your info to Margie Romero at mromero@ppt.org by November 15, 2013.

The Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest was created by Education DirectorRob Zellers in 1994 to give students an opportunity to find, rehearse, and then perform selections from the works of William Shakespeare onstage at Pittsburgh Public Theater. Mr. Zellers has presided over the competition for 19 consecutive years and is now preparing for the 20th anniversary of the competition. The first year featured 75 contestants. Last year's event included more than 1,200 participants in grades 4 through 12.

Gillian Jacobs, who is best known for her role as Britta Perry on the popular television comedy series "Community," participated three times in the Shakespeare Contest beginning in 1996 as a student at Mt. Lebanon Junior High School. While still in school she appeared in The Public's productions of As You Like It, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and The Cherry Orchard. Since then she has appeared in several New York stage productions as well as numerous movies. Gillian recently completed the film comedies Hot Tub Time Machine 2, Walk of Shame, and Bad Milo. Upcoming is a role in the Kevin Costner drama Black & White.

Pittsburgh Public Theater is led by Producing Artistic Director Ted Pappas. Support for the 20th Anniversary Shakespeare Contest is provided by The EQT Foundation and by Richard E. Rauh. Pittsburgh Public Theater's Education and Outreach programs are generously supported by the BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Additional funding is provided by The Grable Foundation. Media Sponsors: WYEP & WESA.