Holly Hartman

“Uintah Elementary School has a Shakespeare Festival and it has been happening for 20 years! It has included thousands, of students. However, it almost ended shortly after it began. Four years into the “Labor of Love,” unforeseen circumstance entered that threatened to end it all. We were in desperate need of someone to step in and direct approximately 50 students in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” Enter Holly Hartman. The things she learned at Utah State like blocking scenes, vocal exercises, performing in general have been invaluable. But the real gift here is how Holly interacts with the kids. The growth that we see in the students is amazing. Some come to us and they are so shy and self-conscious but Holly gets them to trust in their own ability. They forge petty social differences and support each other for the success of the performances. They even learn how to sell “being in love” a tough thing for 11 & 12 year olds. We’ve had students with speech difficulties, Autism and English as a second language. They all Triumph! They all do the work! Holly has the ability to bring out the best in our cast. I’m convinced the program would have been shelved had Holly not stepped in and rolled up her sleeves. It was a learning experience for all involved but it worked!

We are coming up on 20 years of since this brainchild started but it never could have survived without Holly.” – Jane Hartman