SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL TONIGHT

ADVANCE -- When students in Lois Vavak's English class read `Romeo and Juliet,' they were excited.

"Usually Shakespeare is intimidating, but this group really enjoyed it and wanted to do something to show how they felt," Vavak said.

So the 17 freshman students are hosting a Shakespeare festival tonight to show everyone what they learned.

The festival will begin at 7 p.m. at the elementary school building. The public is invited to come see the booths with information about the food, history and music of the Shakespearean era.

Students, dressed in somewhat authentic costumes, will serve food, dance and perform three scenes from the Shakespearean play.

The festival started out as a little project, Vavak said, but the students didn't look at it as an English assignment.

"It's rather funny because they work and work," she said.

As part of their research, the students went to Kent Library at Southeast Missouri State University. While looking through the encyclopedias and books, the students found food recipes for dishes they will serve tonight.

During the project, the students have learned everything from how to work in groups to self-discipline, Vavak said.

The Shakespeare festival was the idea of Vavak's third-period class and a student teacher.The students began planning for it about two weeks ago.

"You can't plan until you've got the play read," Vavak said.

College students from Southeast also will present a fencing demonstration during the festival.