“Did you know that the word d-o-t-h is pronounced [duth], not [dawth]?” This quote, vocalized by Hamlet cast member Ellen Poplavska, encompasses the very spirit of the Youth Shakespeare Society of Pittsburgh: meticulous, uncommon, and just a bit wacky.

Formed in 2019 by a band of high school students, the YSSP aims to allow Pittsburgh’s youth to more easily develop an interest in and interact with classical works of literature, such as those of Shakespeare. It does this by giving teens opportunities to engage in the play production process, partaking in director, cast, and crew roles.