Local Student Leaves Mark on Reading

Laura White, an upcoming senior at , is working on her Girl Scout Gold Project, which aims to increase the exposure and appreciation of Shakespeare’s works in the Reading community. 

She has been involved in Girl Scouts and theatre for 11 years, and decided to combine her love for both by completing the project. 

"The Girl Scout Gold Award recognizes a Girl Scout’s leadership skills, creativity and commitment to making a lasting impact on her community, world and the future and is the highest award a Girl Scout can achieve," she said.

White must complete a minimum of 80 hours of work, which has to be sustainable years in the future, she "should be able to return to Reading and still see an impact on the community." 

"My project will be sustainable through education of the community, through 'How-to Shakespeare' videos, and through a recording of the main performance," she said.

According to White, for her 80 hours she will raise money to fund the project; stage a play; help students interpret Shakespeare; teach students about Shakespeare and his life, times, language, and theatre; book performance spaces and more.

"My project involves a series of four workshops at the culminating in a performance of Shakespeare's hilarious comedy Twelfth Night," White said. "I partnered with the library for the workshops because their teen summer reading program is 'Shaking Up Shakespeare' and they were looking for events to draw students in."

The main event will be a performance of Twelfth Night, which White will direct and produce with students from RMHS, , and . The free show will be on August 24 at 7 p.m. at the RMHS William Endslow Performing Arts Center.