Mercer Island High School student Katie Parkinson earned first place in the Seattle Shakespeare Competition held March 3 at the Frye Art Museum.

Parkinson, who has performed in many MIHS and Youth Theater Northwest productions, performed a monologue from Two Gentleman of Verona and one of Shakespeare’s sonnets at the event sponsored by the Seattle branch of the English-Speaking Union (ESU). She now will advance to the ESU National Shakespeare Competition April 28 to 30 in New York City. Manisha Maru of MIHS also competed in the Seattle branch event.

Each year, more than 20,000 high school students participate in the English in Action National Shakespeare Competition at the school, regional and national levels through the help of more than 2,500 teachers and 55 ESU branches nationwide. As part of the competition, students perform a monologue and recite a sonnet from Shakespeare and are judged on their understanding of their selected texts and on their ability to communicate their interpretation to the audience.