LA JOLLA — While the Oscars were slogging along Sunday night, a group of San Diego-area students were creating some entertainment-related suspense of their own at La Jolla Playhouse — and working with, it must be said, much better material.

The event was the 28th annual San Diego Shakespeare Competition, sponsored by the local branch of the national English-Speaking Union.

Students from 26 high schools took part in the competition, performing Shakespeare works and excerpts for an audience of friends, teachers, family and fans at the Playhouse’s Mandell Weiss Theatre.

The first-place prize, as always: a trip to New York City to take part in the national Shakespeare competition, held at Lincoln Center.

Five finalists ultimately vied for that prize on Sunday, including Annika Gullahorn of Pacific Ridge School, Laura Parker of Carlsbad High, Chris Torborg of Valhalla High and first runner-up Carson McCalley of the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts.

And the winner: Chrissy Taylor of the Coronado School of the Arts.

Read the entire Union Tribune article here.