Shakespeare Meets Taylor Swift In New Rochelle 'Pop-Up' Performance

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- Eight students from New Rochelle High School turned the patio of the Wykagyl Starbucks into a stage Thursday afternoon in a "pop-up" performance as part of the City's "Art Ecounters."

New Rochelle High School's first Senior Acting Company.
Photo Credit: *Jeanne Muchnick*

The group did mini skits and songs.
Photo Credit: *Jeanne Muchnick*

Jeanne Muchnick

04/23/2015 4:30 p.m.

An audience of about 20 stood in the unseasonably chilly temperatures to watch the group -- all members of the Senior Acting Company -- do five Shakespeare sonnets in honor of the Bard's birthday (he was born April 23, 1564 and actually died on the same date in 1616).

"We wanted to bring Shakespeare up to date," said Colin Taylor, and so the theme for their fifteen-minute show was "Shakespeare meets Taylor Swift," albeit with a modern twist.

Skits and songs were performed, all centered around the universal theme of love, specifically a typical high school romance.

"We wanted to do something young people can relate to," added Natalie Warhit.

The group selected Starbucks as their locale since it's normally very busy after school. The performance was at 4 p.m. and despite the cold, got a very warm response.

Along with Taylor and Warhit, other performing members included Nicole Wells, Jennie Harary, Peter O'Sullivan, Maia Wilson, Talia Oliveras and Scott Gordon.

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