Applause filled the auditorium as students took the stage to deliver memorized monologues in the William Mount-Burke ’54 Theatre for the 158th annual declamation contest on January 16. This historic theatre, familiar to many as the home for our school musicals and plays, took on a different role for the contest. Stripped of its usual sets and orchestration, the stage became a platform for the 10 finalists for the night captivated the audience through their powerful performances.
The finalists included Bryan Cheng ’26, Aarushi Gupta ’26, Alyssa Bolshtyansky ’29, Ethan Sbarro ’26, Riley Elizabeth Alleny ’29, Myles Onion ’27, River An ’27, Brennan Caldwell ’28, Hannah Fahmy ’27 and Lincoln Boone ’26, with excerpts spanning from classic American drama to contemporary comedies. In one night, we jumped from the heavy, heartbreaking conversation of a classic like Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” to the hilarious excerpt from “Moby Dude” or “The Three Minute Whale” by David Ives.
After careful deliberation, the judges announced the winners. Claiming first place was Hannah Fahmy ’27, whose poignant performance deeply resonated with the audience with her hilarious rendition of “Last First Kiss.” Second place was awarded to River An ’27 for an emotional performance of “Slowgirl.” Ethan Sbarro ’26 secured third place with his compelling delivery from Howard Korder’s “A Boy’s Life.” Honorable mentions went to Brennan Caldwell ’28 for his unique take on “Undertale” and to Lincoln Boone ’26 for bringing the comedic chaos of “Moby-Dude” to life.
“Thank you so much for the support,” said first-place winner Hannah Fahmy ’27. “I think it’s a really great experience if you want to get into acting. It’s a really great vibe, and all the people who are doing it are so talented. If you feel like you want to be on stage, this is the perfect thing for you — or join Peddie theater.”
For sophomore Brennan Caldwell ’28, the contest offered a chance for a long-awaited debut. “I regret not doing this last year, and it was really great getting to be up there,” he said. “I would 100% recommend declamation.”
As the applause faded, it was clear the evening was more than a celebration of individual talent, honoring the idea that a single voice can be just as captivating as a grand audience.
