Harlem Academy Presents "MacBeth"

Something exciting this way comes! It’s highlights of our middle schoolers’ performance of Macbeth – just one of the many Shakespeare plays our students have staged over the years. In case you missed the live performance last June, check out these highlights.

Shakespeare’s works have been a core part of Harlem Academy’s middle school curriculum dating back to 2011. Students study a Shakespeare play in both sixth and eighth grade, and a performance-driven approach inspires students to engage with the material more deeply.

“Our program also includes a weeklong workshop with professional actors from the Classical Theatre of Harlem,” says Mohan Bell, middle school English teacher. “Together, the actors and our students delve into a play’s themes, language, character, and plot, culminating in a student performance of scenes for family and friends.”

We don’t stop there. Middle schoolers can also opt to take a Shakespeare elective, which ends with students performing a full-length play. Take a look at our students in action over the years in this online gallery.

We’re so proud of our middle schoolers for the exciting way they bring Shakespeare’s words to life year after year – from Othello to The Comedy of Errors to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and more. Their hard work, depth of understanding, and creativity show in every scene.