A few months ago I realized that we would be in Los Angeles during the running of Rafe's Shakespeare play by his 5th graders.  His students stay after school every day, all year to practice the play.  I called the number on his website expecting to get the school answering machine.  I almost fell out of my chair when the man himself answered the phone!  I was able to reserve tickets and we talked for a good 10 minutes. He said that last year he turned down 5,000 ticket requests.

I wondered if the play would live up to the hype.  It didn't take long to realize that it not only lived up to it, but exceeded it!  It's simply impossible to describe how impressive the performance was.  You have to witness it for yourself.  In fact, if it all possible, you must witness it for yourself.  It would be worth a flight to L.A. just to see the play.  No joke.  

This year they performed The Merchant of Venice.  To watch these 10 and 11-year-olds master unabridged Shakespeare was one of the most impressive, inspiring things I've ever seen.  Simply a prime example of students rising to the expectations of their teacher.  Not only did they master a difficult play, but they mixed in live rock songs.  That's right.  Rafe taught his "Hobart Shakespeareans" to sing and play guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, and harmonica.  Why don't they use the normal Shakespeare music?  "It's too easy."  The first song they rocked out was Right Now by Van Halen.  My friend Greg came with us, and we looked at each other when the music started and both said at the same time, "Are you kidding me?"  Among others, they also played songs by The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Temptations, Radiohead, Neil Young, The Clash, and U2.

See the following video to see them in action in prior years.  But like everything else, these clips don't do it justice.  You must witness it for yourself.

If you cannot see/use the above player, watch the video here.