For the love of Shakespeare

When 16-year-old Erika Burton was assigned to do a project about something she loves and express how her choice could change the world, she picked Shakespeare.

”I believe Shakespeare can change the world,” said the Ramona student, who is in the United Scholar Academy home school program. “Shakespeare had an extreme understanding of human nature. He teaches moral standards that I think the world could use right now.”

Burton spent the first week of April teaching 9- to 12-year-old students in the academy about Shakespearean language and plays and about Elizabethan costumes. Aspiring to become a children’s theater director, she concluded the week with her students performing an excerpt or “play within a play” from “Midsummer Night’s Dream” in front of family members.

Burton plans to attend Brigham Young University and major in theater arts.